The Best Ground Covers for Your Yard

October 31, 2024

Imagine a lush, vibrant lawn that requires minimal mowing, watering, and maintenance. This dream can become a reality with the help of ground cover plants - the unsung heroes of the gardening world. Unlike traditional lawns, these low-growing, spreading perennials and evergreens offer a wealth of benefits, from choking out weeds to preventing soil erosion.

Whether you're seeking a sun-loving carpet of color, a shady oasis of textured foliage, or a fragrant groundcover that attracts pollinators, the options are plentiful.

Understanding Ground Covers

Ground covers are low-growing, spreading plants that quickly fill in bare spaces and prevent the growth of weeds. Unlike traditional turfgrass, ground covers require minimal mowing, watering, and maintenance, making them an attractive alternative for homeowners seeking a more sustainable and low-effort approach to landscaping.

These versatile plants come in a wide range of varieties, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. From sun-loving perennials to shade-tolerant ferns, there's a ground cover to suit every garden's needs. Whether you're looking to control erosion on a slope, add pops of color to a shady nook, or create a fragrant, pollinator-friendly carpet, the right ground cover can transform your outdoor space.

The Benefits of Ground Covers

Choosing ground cover plants over a traditional lawn offers a host of advantages:

Reduced Maintenance: Ground covers require far less mowing, watering, and upkeep compared to turfgrass, freeing up your time and reducing your carbon footprint.
Weed Suppression: The dense, spreading habit of ground covers effectively chokes out weeds, minimizing the need for chemical herbicides.
Erosion Control: Many ground cover plants have extensive root systems that stabilize soil, preventing erosion on slopes and banks.
Improved Soil Health: Ground covers can enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen, improving moisture retention, and providing a habitat for beneficial microorganisms.
Increased Biodiversity: Ground covers, especially native species, offer valuable resources for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, supporting a healthier, more vibrant ecosystem.
Aesthetic Appeal: From vibrant flowers to lush, textured foliage, ground covers can add visual interest and curb appeal to your landscape.

Choosing the Right Ground Cover

When selecting ground cover plants for your garden, consider the following factors:

Sun Exposure: Different ground covers thrive in varying light conditions, from full sun to deep shade.
Soil Type: Some ground covers prefer well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, while others can tolerate poor, clay-heavy, or sandy conditions.
Climate and Hardiness: Ensure the ground cover you choose is suitable for your USDA hardiness zone and can withstand your local climate.
Foot Traffic: Consider the amount of foot traffic the area will receive, as some ground covers are more durable than others.
Desired Aesthetic: Whether you're looking for a carpet of blooms, a lush green mat, or an eye-catching texture, there's a ground cover to match your vision.

Sun-Loving Ground Covers

For gardeners blessed with abundant sunshine, there's a wealth of ground cover options that will thrive in the warm, bright conditions.

Sedum (Stonecrop)

One of the most versatile and hardy ground covers, sedum (Sedum spp.) is a succulent that excels in hot, dry conditions. Its fleshy, evergreen leaves form a dense, low-growing mat, while delicate clusters of yellow, white, or pink flowers attract pollinators. Sedum is an excellent choice for rock gardens, slopes, and areas with poor, well-drained soil.

Key Features:

Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
Evergreen foliage in a variety of colors
Attracts bees and butterflies with its blooms
Thrives in full sun to partial shade
Grows well in rocky, sandy, or poor soil conditions

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

With its carpet of vibrant, spring-blooming flowers and dense, evergreen foliage, creeping phlox is a beloved ground cover for sunny areas. This drought-tolerant perennial forms a cushiony mat that prevents erosion and suppresses weeds. Available in a range of colors, from vivid reds to delicate lavenders, creeping phlox is a pollinator-friendly addition to any garden.

Key Features:

Produces a stunning display of spring blooms
Evergreen foliage provides year-round interest
Excellent for erosion control on slopes and banks
Tolerates full sun and well-drained soil
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance

Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

For a fragrant, low-growing ground cover that can withstand foot traffic, consider creeping thyme. This hardy, evergreen perennial forms a dense, mat-like carpet that's perfect for planting between stepping stones or along garden paths. Its tiny, purple-pink flowers bloom in summer, attracting a host of pollinators to your garden.

Key Features:

Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil
Releases a pleasant, herbal aroma when stepped on
Tolerates moderate foot traffic
Produces colorful, nectar-rich blooms for pollinators
Spreads quickly to form a dense, weed-suppressing ground cover

Clover

Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens) is a powerhouse, capable of controlling weeds, preventing erosion, and reducing the need for herbicides and fertilizers. White clover spreads horizontally, forming a dense mat that typically grows 4-8 inches tall. For a slightly taller option, consider red clover (Trifolium pratense), which produces lovely purple flowers but may not spread as aggressively as its white counterpart. Microclover, a smaller-leaved variety, blends seamlessly with other grasses while still offering the same nitrogen-fixing and weed-suppressing properties.

When establishing a clover-based ground cover, it's best to combine it with other grasses or plants to create a diverse, resilient landscape. The clover will help enrich the soil and reduce the need for mowing.

Seashore Juniper (Juniperus conferta)

Seashore juniper is an excellent ground cover for sunny, coastal gardens. This low-growing, spreading shrub forms a dense, mat-like carpet, making it an effective choice for erosion control on slopes and banks. With its soft, needle-like foliage and compact growth habit, seashore juniper adds visual interest to any landscape.

Key Features:

Tolerates full sun and poor, well-drained soil
Excellent for erosion control on slopes and banks
Maintains an evergreen, textured appearance year-round
Compact, spreading growth habit
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance

Shade-Loving Ground Covers

These shade-tolerant perennials and ferns can thrive in the dappled light beneath trees or the cool, dark corners of your garden, providing a lush, low-maintenance groundcover solution.

Ajuga (Bugleweed)

This low-growing perennial forms a dense, spreading mat of glossy, green leaves, which can often take on reddish or purple hues. In spring, ajuga produces clusters of vibrant, blue-purple flowers that attract pollinators to your garden.

Key Features:

Thrives in partial to full shade
Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, from moist to dry
Produces colorful, nectar-rich blooms in spring
Forms a dense, weed-suppressing ground cover
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

A delightful native ground cover, bunchberry is a showy, low-growing option for shaded areas. This deciduous perennial features bright green leaves and a single, white dogwood-like blossom in spring, followed by eye-catching red berries in late summer. Bunchberry prefers cool, moist, and acidic soil conditions.

Key Features:

Thrives in partial to full shade
Produces a single, white flower and red berries
Requires cool, moist, and acidic soil conditions
Provides a lush, textured ground cover
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance

Spotted Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)

A member of the mint family, spotted deadnettle is a low-growing, shade-tolerant ground cover that brightens up shady areas with its colorful foliage and nectar-rich flowers. This resilient perennial features variegated leaves and produces a profusion of lavender blooms in spring and early summer.

Key Features:

Thrives in partial to full shade
Offers attractive, variegated foliage
Produces vibrant, nectar-rich flowers
Spreads quickly to form a dense ground cover
Deer-resistant and low-maintenance

Fragrant and Aromatic Ground Covers

In addition to their practical benefits, ground covers can also add a delightful sensory element to your landscape.

Chamomile Lawn

For a lush, low-maintenance lawn that offers a calming, herbal fragrance, consider creating a chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) groundcover. This hardy, flowering perennial grows just a few inches tall, requiring no mowing and minimal maintenance. As you stroll across the soft, cushiony carpet, the gentle fragrance of chamomile will soothe your senses.

Key Features:

Grows just 3-6 inches tall, eliminating the need for mowing
Releases a pleasant, apple-like scent when crushed or walked on
Attracts pollinators with its delicate daisy-like flowers
Tolerates full sun to partial shade
Requires little watering or fertilization once established

Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

This low-growing perennial features glossy, green leaves and delicate purple flowers that release a refreshing peppermint aroma when stepped on. Corsican mint thrives in moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, making it an ideal choice for pathways, between stepping stones, or in woodland gardens.

Key Features:

Grows 2-4 inches tall, forming a dense, cushiony mat
Releases a refreshing peppermint scent when crushed
Tolerates moderate foot traffic
Prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil
Offers a unique, low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawns

Ornamental Grasses and Ferns

While not technically "ground covers" in the traditional sense, ornamental grasses can serve a similar function in your landscape, providing a low-maintenance, textural alternative to turfgrass. These resilient, often drought-tolerant plants can add visual interest and depth to your garden, while also helping to control erosion and suppress weeds.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)

The glossy, deep green foliage forms a dense, upright clump, while its tall, graceful flower plumes add vertical interest to your landscape. Feather reed grass thrives in full sun and a variety of soil conditions, making it a low-maintenance and adaptable choice.

Key Features:

Grows 2-3 feet tall, with 5-6 foot flower stems
Tolerates full sun and a range of soil types
Provides visual interest and texture to the landscape
Helps control erosion and suppress weeds
Requires minimal maintenance once established

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum spp.)

Depending on the cultivar, fountain grass can range from 1 to 4 feet in height, making it suitable for a variety of landscape applications. This heat-loving, drought-tolerant grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, adding movement and visual appeal to your outdoor space.

Key Features:

Grows 1-4 feet tall, depending on the cultivar
Offers graceful, arching foliage and showy flower plumes
Tolerates full sun and drought-like conditions
Helps control erosion and suppress weeds
Requires minimal maintenance once established

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

This native ornamental grass grows 1 to 3 feet tall, with delicate, fringy foliage that transforms from blue-green to reddish-bronze in the fall. Little bluestem is an excellent choice for dry, sunny areas, as it is highly drought-tolerant and well-suited for erosion control on slopes and banks.

Ferns

For a lush, textured ground cover in shady areas, consider incorporating a variety of hardy ferns into your landscape. From the delicate, feathery fronds of the maidenhair fern (Adiantum spp.) to the bold, architectural leaves of the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), these shade-loving perennials can create a striking, natural-looking groundcover.

Key Features:

Thrive in partial to full shade
Offer a diverse range of textures and forms
Require moist, well-drained, and nutrient-rich soil
Provide valuable habitat and cover for wildlife
Require minimal maintenance once established

Moss: A Lush, Low-Maintenance Ground Cover

In shady, cool areas where traditional turfgrass struggles to thrive, moss can be a remarkable ground cover solution. These resilient, low-growing plants form a dense, springy carpet that requires minimal maintenance.

One of the most popular moss varieties for ground cover is sheet moss (Hypnum imponens), which creates a dense, evergreen mat in moist, acidic soil and partial to full shade. Its soft, cushiony texture makes it a delightful choice for pathways, woodland gardens, and areas with limited foot traffic.

For a slightly taller, grass-like appearance, consider big star moss (Atrichum undulatum) or slender starburst moss (Atrichum angustatum). These species can tolerate moderate foot traffic, making them suitable for use around stepping stones or in high-traffic areas.

Combining Ground Covers for Maximum Impact

While individual ground cover plants offer a wealth of benefits, the true magic happens when you combine multiple species to create a diverse, layered landscape. By strategically incorporating a variety of ground covers, you can enhance the visual appeal, ecological value, and overall functionality of your outdoor space.

One effective approach is to use a combination of sun-loving and shade-tolerant ground covers. For example, you might plant creeping thyme or sedum in the sunny areas, while reserving the shady spots for ajuga or ferns. This layered approach not only adds visual interest but also caters to the unique needs of different ground cover species.

Another strategy is to pair ground covers with contrasting textures and growth habits. Mixing low-growing, mat-forming plants like clover or moss with taller, more upright species like ornamental grasses can create a visually striking and structurally diverse groundscape.

Maintaining and Caring for Your Ground Cover

While ground covers are generally low-maintenance compared to traditional turfgrass, they do require some attention to ensure their long-term health and vigor. Proper care and maintenance will not only keep your ground cover looking its best but also maximize its benefits, such as weed suppression and erosion control.

Most ground covers thrive with consistent, yet moderate, watering, especially during the initial establishment phase. Provide regular irrigation, adjusting as needed based on the specific ground cover species and your local climate. Once established, many ground covers can tolerate periods of drought, though they may require supplemental watering during extended dry spells.

Depending on the ground cover, some light mowing or trimming may be necessary to maintain a neat, tidy appearance and encourage dense growth. Be sure to follow the recommended mowing height and frequency for your chosen ground cover plants. For species that bloom, consider deadheading spent flowers to prolong the flowering period and promote a tidier look.

Despite their weed-suppressing abilities, ground covers may still require occasional weeding, especially during the establishment phase. Hand-pull any unwanted plants that emerge, taking care not to disturb the ground cover's roots. Additionally, consider edging around the perimeter of your ground cover plantings to create a clean, defined border and prevent encroachment.

While many ground covers are relatively low-maintenance when it comes to fertilization, providing occasional, light applications of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer can help maintain their vigor and nutrient levels. Additionally, amending the soil with compost or other organic matter can improve drainage, aeration, and nutrient availability for your ground cover plants.

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