Ground Cover Plant Selection
Ground cover plants are low-growing plants that easily spread over a variety of areas. These plants form a dense covering and are useful to limit weeds and prevent soil erosion. Grass is a common ground cover but it doesn’t always suit the location. There’s a lot of plants to choose from but this post will focus on several popular options, and provide general information about each.
Full Sun Ground Cover
Creeping Juniper is a woody evergreen that can grow 12 – 18 inches tall. This plant has wide spreading branches with blue-green, needle-like leaves that can take on a purple hue in colder weather. This plant does well in full sun, dry soil and withstands heat very well without much maintenance. Wiltonii (Blue Rug) is a popular Creeping Juniper variety that stays under 6″ tall. Unfortunately, Creeping Juniper doesn’t have much of a bloom to speak of.
Shady Ground Cover
Pachysandra is another evergreen ground cover. This plant grows to about 12 inches tall with glossy, purple-tinted foliage in spring, turning bright green in summer. Pachysandra may take a yellow-green color when planted in sunny locations as it’s best suited for shaded landscapes. Pachysandra should be placed in moist, well-drained soil. It has a white blossom that will appear in April – May. The Japanese Spurg is the most common variety which can spread fast.
Sun or Shade Ground Cover
Carex Divulsa is a very hardy ground cover grass. This tough plant looks great in either sun or shade and will thrive in areas under stress. It’s a good choice for areas with foot traffic or a dog yard. Carex Divulsa can grow to about 24 inches tall and wide and grows in clumps.
Invasive Ground Cover
English Ivy is considered a moderately invasive ground cover. That means it’ll spread somewhat aggressively, even to areas you may not have intended. English Ivy is a creeping vine that forms a dense mat. It thrives in shaded areas where grass may not. It can climb wall, trees and buildings, even damaging the structure. But English Ivy also has some great characteristics too. Studies have shown that English Ivy can help eliminate allergens like mold. Even after a few hours it clears up a majority of a few air-borne allergens around it. Here’s an article for more details.
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What do you think? What kind of ground cover do you have?
Image courtesy of Carl E Lewis
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5 Responses to Ground Cover Plant Selection
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March 31st, 2009 2:43 pm
My ground covers are wooly thyme/mother of thyme, ice plant, and vinca (periwinkle). The last two are invasive in some climates, so you your research!
i love the way thymes crawl among rocks and create a carpet!
March 31st, 2009 9:17 pm
We had Pachysandra at our first home and it took over the entire back yard! That stuff grows like wild fire!!!
April 1st, 2009 12:51 am
I personally like Pachysandra, probably because I had it as a kid in the house that I grew up in. I don’t like Ivy because it can do way to much damage! I remember a while back we had Ivy growing within a hedge and it actually was was choking the branches. It took quite a while to remove the Ivy, but had I not I would not have had the hedge.
April 1st, 2009 3:55 pm
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Installing ceiling box for a ceiling fan
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April 2nd, 2009 9:36 am
We have Pachysandra underneath part of our deck. It’s a steep slope and i doubt grass would last. I have found that it tries to creep into the rest of the yard but not enough to be a problem… yet.
@Eric, Glad you like the site.