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Great Ground Cover Plants You Can Grow to Replace Mulch
In other to late Spring many head to the garden center to buy bag and bags of mulch to put in their gardens . Mulch has long been the go - to for garden enthusiasts for weed controller , wet retention , and to cover scanty daub .
But there ’s an even more attractive and eco - well-disposed choice : primer cover plant .
Note : some spell out this “ ground cover ” industrial plant yet after looking it up , the correct spelling is two disjoined words .
These low - growing plants can heighten your garden ’s visual involvement while offering many practical welfare .
allow ’s talk about some excellent groundcovers that can replace mulch , add biography to your garden , and help check erosion .
I have grow each of these in my garden but there are many more ground cover choices available ! A big plus with ground covers is that you’re able to plant when you have the fourth dimension .
Most of these you may plant anytime , early summer , early spring , or even late summertime . ( just avoid when it is very hot as the accent can hinder their getting established )
Many of these are perennial plant in most USDA growing zone . One admonition , always check locally to find if any of these perennial priming coat covers are listed as invading works in your expanse .
The list in this clause is what I have used in my garden and feel helpful in keeping my garden low sustentation but you may find native ground cover plants or others that work better in your gardening circumstance .
These are low growing ground covering that many call steppables ( for engraft between stepping stones or in pathways as they create low - growing mats across the soil surface ) .
We will cover other low-spirited - care priming cover plants that are tall in another post . thing like coral ship’s bell , mondo Mary Jane , and Japanese forest grass .
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Roman chamomile is a delightful herbaceous plant that forms a dense , aromatic mat . It ’s lie with for its daisy - like flush and the pleasant fleeceable apple aroma it emits when you take the air on it . This ground masking thrives in gay spots and well - drained dirt , making it complete for cheery garden path and mete .
A special motley of creeping camomile ( Chamaemelum nobile‘Treneague ’ ) is used in the UK as an substitute lawn , in fact , it is named Lawn Chamomile . I count walking on that is a dainty !
zone 4a to 9b
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping thymes are versatile drouth - tolerant priming coat cover that produce diminutive blossom and have a wonderful scent . dissimilar varieties produce dissimilar colors of flowers . Being drought - large-minded it grows well in full sun to fond spectre . Use it between stepping stones or as a lawn substitute for a down - maintenance , fragrant garden .
What I enjoy about crawl thyme is there are so many multifariousness , colors , and texture . From lime thyme to muzzy thyme they all are a tight - growing ground cover for me .
In my TV ( linked below ) I talked about a friend of mine , who has a warmer clime than I do , she states that wooly thyme is an fast-growing flora for her yet in my garden it go well and it study minimum maintenance to keep it in check .
Hardy in zone 4 – 9(always take USDA zoning with a texture of saltiness )
USDA Zones
Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
disconsolate sensation creeper is a low - growing plant with star - work aristocratical blossom that blossom from springtime to strike . It thrive in part Dominicus or partial tincture and is idealistic for covering tumid areas , admit garden bed and pathways . It ’s also resistant of light foot dealings .
In my garden , this does quite well in a shady area too . Though many lay claim this will influence in a sunny surface area I have not found that to be completely true , it may look on how raging your vicinity perplex . I could see where somewhere coastal it could do well in full sun .
Where it did very well was under a bench where the slats of the tooshie provided some shade when the Dominicus was direct overhead .
you could find this with petty white-hot flowers instead of the blue .
dependably hardy in zones 5 – 9
Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)
Corsican mint is a tiny , redolent plant with small , bright green leaves . It favour partial wraith and moist , well - drained filth . This footing cover is excellent for umbrageous spots and emits a lovely minty fragrance when stepped on .
This is one of my pet . USDA zones 7 - 9
Lamium (Lamium maculatum)
Lamium , also known as dead nettle , is a hardy ground cover with variegated leaves and colorful flowers . It boom in shaded orbit and is perfect for adding grain and color to your garden . genus Lamium is also deer - resistant , make it a great choice for wildlife - friendly gardens .
Now , this is one I will give a stark monition about . In some areas of the area , Lamium is considered invasive . As lovely and soft to grow as it is , it is not deserving risking it get trouble . Maybe look for an alternative .
The laminum in the exposure below is called White Nancy and it is commercialize as non - invading . Other varieties may also be usable as noninvasive but vigorous .
Scotch Moss (Sagina subulata)
Scotch moss form a dense , moss - comparable carpet with tiny white bloom . It prefer full sun to partial spectre and moist , well - drained soil . This ground cover is excellent for rock garden , pathway , and as a lawn reserve in small areas .
Scotch Moss Heart
This plant also did better for me in fond shade . Unless you keep this moist it scorches in the hot sun . Morning sun and afternoon ghost have demonstrate to be the best way to get the most from this plant .
When we went toMendocino Botanical Gardensthey had this in direct sun but they are on the seashore and the medium quick temperatures are in the mid 70 ’s F.
When you look at unlike site about this plant it order it is hardy in Zones 4 – 8 and yet it is more than felicitous and thriving in Mendocino which is zone 9b . It is the climate and growing condition that make it hardy there not the geographical zone number . That is what I signify by taking the USDA zoning information with a food grain of salinity .
Strawberry Plants (Fragaria spp.)
Strawberry flora not only leave delicious yield but also make an attractive groundcover . They spread quickly , cover the ground with unripe leaves and white flowers .
Strawberries favor full sun and well - debilitate territory , take a crap them pure for cheery garden beds . Mine skin quite happily under other plants that give them some shade and they still grow and produce despite not getting full sunlight .
Letting strawberry run under other plants also invites chick to your garden and they will not only eat the Berry but insect pestilence as well .
Prunella Vulgaris (Self-Heal)
Prunella vulgaris , or self - heal , is a low - growing herb with purple flowers . It ’s bed for its medicinal properties and thrives in full sun to fond wraith . This land covering is idealistic for wildflower gardens and can help draw in pollinators .
Herons Bill (Erodium spp.)
Herons bill is a stout ground cover with fern - like leaves and small , pink , white or purple flowers .
It thrives in full sun and well - drained soil . Use it in rock garden , borders , or as a lawn choice in ironical , sunny areas .
In my garden it likes some good afternoon subtlety .
Sedums
Sedums , also known as stonecrops , are succulent plants that come in a wide mixture of flesh and color . They are drought - tolerant and prosper in full sun to partial spook . sedum are sodding for rock gardens , green roofs , and areas with poor soil .
Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga , or bugleweed , is a fast - circularise groundcover with colorful foliage and spikes of gloomy flowers . It thrives in fond to full shade and is first-class for covering tumid expanse speedily . Ajuga is also deer - insubordinate and attracts pollinator .
Just a mediocre admonition , in some gardens this industrial plant can be a bully so plant where you could well rend out what you do n’t want . It spreads by underground runner .
Lippia (Phyla nodiflora)
Lippia , also known as frogfruit , is a hardy ground cover with small , white to pink flowers . It thrive in full Dominicus and well - drained soil .
Lippia is drouth - tolerant and can handle foot traffic , making it idealistic for pathways and lawns .
Lippia is a California - native plant .
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
Creeping phlox is a vivacious groundcover that get a carpeting of colored blossom in spring . It prefers full sun and well - run out soil .
This land concealment is excellent for stone garden , slope , and borderline , total a burst of color to your garden .
The photograph above is the cower phlox in my front garden , I get it on that it blossom when most of the garden is still dormant and it add a carpet of gorgeous blooms to an otherwise somber vista .
Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa)
Lithodora is a stunning groundcover with brilliant blue flowers and evergreen foliage . It thrive in full sun to partial shade and well - drain , acidic soil . Lithodora is sodding for rock music gardens , borders , and as a groundcover for slopes .
The colouring of the flowers are actually a richer recondite blue , the photographic camera seems to desire to bollix up out the colors .
Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Baby tear mould a delicate yet slow mat of bantam , bright green leaves . They prefer fond to full tincture and moist , well - drain soil . This delicious plant is idealistic for shady spots , containers , and terrariums , total a lush , goody touch to your garden .
This one brings such a rich look to the underplanting of wraith - make out plants without being intrusive .
Ice Plant – Delosperma
Delosperma , also known as shabu plant , is a succulent groundcover with sarcoid leaves and shining flowers that can be pink , majestic , orange , or yellow . It thrives in full Sunday and well - run out soil . T
This is the lower growing specimen and not the heavy chunky industrial plant , and is perfect for coastal gardens and areas prone to drought .
There are a lot of option , I have had Table Mountain ( fuschia pink flower ) , Peridot ( yellow flowers ) and Fire Spinner ( orange and pinkish ) .
Herniaria Glabra (Rupturewort)
Herniaria glabra , or rupturewort , is a tough , low - growing groundcover with petite green leaves and small , invisible flower . It opt full Sunday and well - drained grunge . This ground natural covering is ideal for rock gardens , pathways , and as a lawn reliever .
This is also called Green Carpet which is a very expert name for it .
Veronica Repens (Creeping Speedwell)
Veronica repens , or creeping speedwell , is a low - growing ground cover with small , white to blue blossom . It thrives in full sun to fond ghost and well - drained land .
This fast - spreading low uprise plant life is perfect for rock gardens , pathway , and molding , add a delicate sense of touch of color . I love the chartreuse color of this one as liken to its green counterpart .
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
crawl Jenny is a vigorous ground cover with orotund , Paris green leaf and small , yellow flowers . It boom in full sun to partial subtlety and damp soil . Creeping Jenny is perfect for borders , containers , and areas where you want a splashing of bright green yet a intelligence of cautiousness , it can become quite a bully or pest in areas that get a set of wet , like the Pacific Northwest .
Benefits of Using Groundcovers
Here are some ground cover plants I would avoid using :
English Ivy : this is not a good option as it becomes invading in many areas . It can be great in sens or containers but is not a good thought in the ground . We have tall evergreen plant tree diagram that have been compromise and damaged by ivy that has taken over and now the trees must be taken down .
Sweet Woodruff : This plant is loved by many yet it grows speedily and in the right condition can become incursive .
Vinca Minor : I have a variegated shape of this in my garden and I do love it . For some folks it is great to raise on steep hillsides to help oneself with cover and erosion but it also can become quite a thug in the garden that gets watered .
By select ground cover or else of mulch , you could create a succulent , more vibrant garden that ’s easier to maintain and environmentally friendly . Many flower which helps pollinators . Try contain some of these ground hide into your garden and enjoy the benefit they fetch !
I wish you felicitous Ground Cover Growing !
Hi, I’m Pamela
