The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden Heuchera. Creeping phlox is a short plant often seen covering the side of a hill or retaining wall with colorful spring flowers. However, sweet woodruff can be a good ground cover choice for dry shade, such as in areas under big trees. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. Growing as high as 36 inches, it blooms all summer long with purple flowers. I am forever cutting it back from other plants in the area and pathways. Only 2"-3" tall, you can walk on it (releasing its lemony aroma), tuck it between pavers in a garden path, use it as a tidy border or fill in a flower bed. These low-maintenance ground covers grow thickly and spread quickly to choke out weeds. Get it as soon as Fri, Dec 11. Turf lawn grasses are by far the most popular ground cover plant in residential landscapes, but sometimes grass just isn't practical, either because the conditions of the site aren't amendable to fostering grass or perhaps because the maintenance of a grass lawn is not something you want to commit to. Maybe you have a steep slope that's difficult or dangerous to mow. Finding comfortable seating on a budget may be a problem, which is why we bring you DIY options. Many are perennials, some are annuals, and some make good ground covers, though they can be overly aggressive in favorable locations. This one a horticultural hybrid developed by crossing Nepata racemosa with N. nepetella. Nepeta x faassenii is one such species that does make for a good ground cover, since it has the ability to crowd out weeds. Understanding which is the best for foot traffic is key for any garden. Fortunately, there are a number of other living ground cover plants to choose from. $81.43 $ 81. Drainage ditches are constructed to contain slopes, which direct water runoff downward. Get terrific ideas for landscaping with colorful and low-maintenance ground covers. If you’d like to provide year-round cover for a particular garden area, turn to … Rock Ground Cover landscape rock is used for such projects as covering larger areas with rock, or adding color and texture to planter areas. Looking for a good ground cover that can survive the Florida heat even in the shade. This is a large plant with a horizontal growth habit (thus its species name). It is also salt-tolerant as well. Slate mini mulch is ideal for ground cover, borders and paths, due to its small size. But in regions where spotted dead nettle is not invasive, it acts as an effective ground cover for deeply shaded areas. While it is not a spreader, it is large enough to take up space as the spring and summer months advance. There may be restrictions on planting it in these areas. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. It should be pinched back frequently to keep the plants bushy and "shrubby.". Heather (Calluna Vulgaris) - Scotch heather, an evergreen ground cover or low shrub for sun, blooms during late summer in various shades of red or pink. The shorter varieties are great for those narrow spaces in between paving stones, as well as in rockeries and border gardens, where you want to inhibit weed growth. The fuzzy, silver-green foliage that gives lamb's ear its name is loved by children and adults alike. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. Its native habitat is wooded areas, so it is perfect for a shady woodland garden. Here are 14 ground cover plants that shouldn't try to take over (too much) and don't need a lot of care. There's a ground cover to meet most needs, whether you're planting a pathway, a hedge, or a broad swath of green. Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. But this plant with pretty foliage—and funny name—rarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. It is evergreen, but some of the leaves may turn brown during winter. Interrupted fern, like bunchberry and liverleaf, is a North American native that can serve as a low-maintenance ground cover for shade. You can plant this drought-tolerant, low-maintenance ground cover at the edge of a rock garden or other space and more or less forget about it (except for occasional watering) during the summertime. Liverleaf's spring floral display makes this small perennial special. This is not the form of thyme used in cooking, but its fragrance will attract bees and other pollinators. An evergreen perennial, heuchera is known for its vibrant foliage, which ranges in color from silver to green... Brass Buttons. They can also include low growing shrubs and perennials, if they spread to cover the area. What plant labels typically fail to mention is that, under the right growing conditions, 'Amethyst in Snow' makes a flowering ground cover that will spread nicely. Maybe you hate mowing and fertilizing grass. Beautiful Ground Covers Gallery Periwinkle Vinca Major. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion. Geotextile Fabric - Weed Barrier - Landscape Fabric - Ground Cover - Weed Control - Garden Fabric - Garden Barrier - Block Fabric - Barrier Fabric - Soil Erosion Landscape Barrier - 4 Ft X 250Ft Black. As far as cheap ground cover ideas, it will make a difference where you live, what kind of sun you get and what kind of moisture. Use pachysandra to cover deeply shaded ground. The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. This shrub also offers some fall-foliage value. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. You will have to experiment to arrive at the right balance between giving it enough water to keep it alive and giving it so much that it becomes invasive. Roman … This plant thrives in wet soils, which is why planting it in dry soil and denying it water helps keep it in check. Growing to a height of about 6 inches with a spread of 9 inches, it has waxy green leaves that should be removed as they turn brown. This miniature thyme is fragrant, pretty, and charming. Low-growing mats of Creeping Thyme are … Creeping thyme (also known as mother of thyme or wild thyme) is a creeping, woody-stemmed perennial that is a favorite plant to use for a low-maintenance ground cover serving as a filler between garden stepping stones. Amazon offers L. maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ in 4.5-inch pots, 10 to a flat. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. Goodding’s Verbena (Glandularia gooddingii) But, you may be surprised to find that they serve another purpose that is especially appreciated in hot climates. This shrub flowers from May to July with white flowers, and grows to a maximum height of about 9 inches. Its ornamental value is twofold: It bears splendid blossoms in various colors (depending on the variety), and it displays eye-catching silver leaves, which provide color long after the flowers have faded. If those conditions describe your landscape, then you may want to check out this wonderful little relative of the dogwood trees. Likes: This ground cover plant prefers dry heat. Some varieties are ground-hugging and feel delicious under bare feet. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. That’s where a knowledgeable neighbor will come in handy. In summer, the leaves take on burgundy mottling on the way to becoming totally burgundy (hence the name liverleaf). It is perfect for a small space, perhaps a little garden along a north-facing wall. It can even thrive in the acidic conditions under large pine trees. Ground covers are a great way to cover dirt, reduce weed growth, and bring in a variety of textures and colors to enhance your yard’s visual appeal. Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. The creeping juniper is a sprawling, creeping needled evergreen that grows to a maximum height of about 18 inches and with a spread that can go as much as 8 feet. You may already grow tall sedums.But did you know many wonderful creeping types form thick mats only 3 inches tall? 14 Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis). When you buy Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', you may be thinking of it as an upright perennial plant with attractive flowers. It is, therefore, a sterile plant that will not come true from seeds. Be quite careful when choosing a ground cover for shade. Looking for a permeable paver that blends ecological values with great design? Most of these ground covers come in red, brown, gray and black hues, which provides more options for finding the perfect choice for your landscape design. Liverleaf (Anemone americana, formerly classified as Hepatica americana) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. This aromatic herb can be an invasive plant when grown in moist soil, where it sometimes spreads out of control. Be aware that only the most robust plant species will readily thrive and spread in shade. It does not need much water because it’s drought-tolerant. Rock cotoneaster is a deciduous shrub. It can be excellent for covering large areas of difficult terrain, such as slopes where growing grass would be difficult or impossible. and can spread up to 24 inches within the first two years. It grows best where it has plenty of space to spread out. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that can fill a space, and are good for spots where turfgrass can't grow or where you'd like to replace it, from the … When grown as a ground cover, it is an easy-care plant that requires little maintenance. ‘Beacon Silver’ Deadnettle, available on Amazon. A large area of dirt leaves the landscape looking unfinished. Choosing the right ground cover often means finding one that is within the owner’s budget which is also safe for the dog. It spreads via rhizomes, a trait that can be a double-edged sword. Much like the fictional character, it has golden hair (flowers) that spread enough to be effective in covering a certain amount of space, but the plant is not so vigorous a spreader to create a nuisance. 7 Popular Ground Covers to Enhance Any Yard A great solution to those patchy parts of your landscape, "ground cover" is a general term for perennials that are known for their ability to spread. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with ​mulch. Periwinkle is a fast-growing plant with solitary violet flowers at the end of the stem:... Chameleon Plant – Houttuynia Cordata. Here, Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) and pachysandra do most of the heavy lifting, while ivy and Japanese painted fern (Athyrium nipponicum) add some variety at the foot of the steps. Secret Garden Garden Inspiration Wooly Thyme Outdoor Garden Projects Garden Paths Outdoor Gardens Plants Patio Garden Chamomile & … Check out these simple tips for keeping maintenance easy to do. They can let you know what works and what doesn’t work. Growing only about 3 inches tall, this plant spreads over time, crowding out weeds and thus reducing maintenance further. When planted in full sun it usually needs extra watering, at least until the plant is well established. It grows just two inches high (so no mowing required!) It can provide a compacted finish if required. Ground cover plants such as Aubrieta are excellent for steep banks - they suppress weeds, help stabilise the soil and are low maintenance. Because the owners of this Potrero Hill backyard often look down on their plot from above,... With our safe FREE SHIPPING, low prices, larger plants and expert planting advice you'll be growing Elfin Creeping Thyme like the pros... Groundcovers are some of our most versatile and easy-to-grow perennials. It's also incredibly useful. Some spreading can be nice, but too much becomes a nuisance. Other characteristics: It’s an annual, but it self-seeds generously, so you’ll likely find it popping up again the fol… Slate paddlestones are great as a large ground cover product. Always research your plant-selection choices to find out if the plant is invasive in your region or if it will spread too aggressively for your needs. Creeping Thyme Is a Great Ground Cover for Sunny Areas and Pathways, 12 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 14 Best Landscape Plants With Purple Flowers, 29 Shrubs That Grow in Full or Partial Shade. It spreads by reseeding, but it never will spread enough to become a problem. The plant also must be pretty enough (or, at least, unusual enough) to draw attention and offer some sort of visual interest in the yard. This ground cover is a vigorous spreader and is hardy down to -30 degrees F and features a beautiful solid dark green leaves that extend 8- to 10-inch in height. Water it during dry spells and give it a haircut at the end of its blossoming period. The most widely planted ground cover in the world is – surprise – lawn. With succulent leaves and stems, these sedums can thrive in low-water situations, and they bloom in shades of white, pink, red, purple, yellow, or orange, depending on the variety.Sedums are prized for use in green roofs and living walls because they are so adaptable. Name: Pachysandra terminalis The baby sun rose is a ground cover that will even cascade down a wall to create a lovely backdrop in your garden. Rock Ground Cover. This plant offers rich, dark jade foliage and little clusters of white flowers. 5. 'Angelina Sedum' is easy to propagate by rooting, so you can quickly fill an area with its succulent foliage. They can provide a scree-like effect or to stand out in water features or between rockeries and planting areas. The 'Six Hills Giant' cultivar is a good choice for covering large areas. An easy-care landscape makes outdoor living enjoyable. But I do not have to weed a large area under same maple and azela bushes. Dislikes: It doesn’t like too much moisture. Aggregate Ground Cover Recommendations. Maybe you have a big shady area where grass won't grow. The lilyturf is an excellent dense evergreen cover plant that is ideal for slope sites or bases of large trees with extensive root systems. Creeping Phlox is gorgeous! Take any cement blocks or bricks you find lying around and arrange them in a circular setting to form a ring. February 22, 2017 at 1:19 pm - Reply. This sun-lover grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with a 24-inch spread, and it blooms with lavender to pink flowers in July. If you find such a plant (and several are included in our list), then you may find that it is invasive. But there are very good reasons why you might want something other than lawn to carpet the ground. The right ground cover can even help control erosion. The Best Ground Cover for a Drainage Ditch. Uncovered dirt is also likely to blow or wash away, leaving behind ruts. 20 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds From Taking Over 1 Lily of the Valley. Find out which shrubs and groundcovers will grow best in your yard, plus get details on the best times to plant, fertilize and prune. It prefers to grow in full sun and soil that drains well. Creeping Thyme ground cover, 1000 seeds, fragrant herb, pink blooms, perennial zones 4 to 9, sun or light shade, deerproof, Thymus serpyllum. Danyell. Also, visit a local nursery and ask a lot of questions. If you are looking for a low-maintenance ground cover, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a good pick, but only under certain conditions. This landscape rock ranges in size from 1/8"-3" and is sold by the cubic yard or by the sack. As with creeping phlox and 'Amethyst in Snow', 'Angelina sedum' can be regarded as a "Goldilocks" ground cover. The plant tolerates poor soil, high heat and is best used as a groundcover for a sunny spot. Creeping Rosemary: Also known as prostrate rosemary, this fast-growing evergreen does well in full sun and is a beautiful choice for cascading over rock or paving stone walls or for use in rock gardens. The leaves are fragrant, and deep pink flowers bloom from June through July. However, in colder climates, many groundcovers die back and go dormant during the winter months. Plant it and ignore it: The plant is about as low-maintenance as you get. Changing the ground cover is the most obvious solution to solving the mud created when dogs run the same paths through the yard. Sweet woodruff foliage can be dried and used in wreaths, potpourri, and other craft creations. If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. It must not be so vigorous that it will become a problem plant. Try some of these robust, low-growing plants to fill in dry or shady places, or wherever you need year-round coverage. So Long, Lawn: 6 Walkable Ground Covers to Consider Low-Maintenance Ground Covers to Go With Your Pavers Plant This Flowering Ground Cover for Texture, Color and Wildlife Give Wildlife and Your Garden a Colorful Boost With Lantana Plant To qualify for this list of the best low-maintenance ground covers, a plant has to meet certain criteria: It must be vigorous enough to fill in an area of the landscape that you need to dress up or where you need to keep the weeds down. Phlox. Every yard has at least one difficult spot where it's a challenge to get anything to grow. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug'. Rock Ground Cover landscaping rocks include decorative gravel, river rocks, and beach pebbles. Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) Most of us are familiar with the idea of using ground covers in the landscape and how they can add a welcome carpet of color. While many shrubs give you flowers, the prettiest thing about Cotoneaster horizontalis is its colorful, red berries. Boy I have money wort and it can take over. It is much less noticeable at other times of the year, but that doesn't detract from its role as a spring superstar. Cheap Ground Cover Ideas with Dirt. Basket of Gold also goes by the name yellow alyssum, another reference to its adorable clusters of bright yellow flowers. David Beaulieu You can plant this drought-tolerant, low-maintenance ground cover at... Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'). The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'), Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'), Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis). While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as... 2 Creeping Thyme. Anthony Paul Landscape Design PROVENCE GARDEN 1st prize winner for “best private garden” in the 2009 Torsanlorenzo International design competition. 7. Cover the bed of the pit with gravel that you may have leftover from the construction work, and you have a functional fire pit. Named for the color and shape of their flowers, brass buttons stand out … The only real maintenance required is trimming it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes. Consult with your local extension office before growing spotted deadnettle because it is invasive in some areas. Plants suitable for this use come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. We include a list of plants used, quantities needed, and a list of nurseries where to find them. In ideal sunny conditions, Amethyst in Snow will spread quite quickly, but you can control it easily by pulling out stray shoots. We collect stunning pictures of gardens created by talented professionals and provide you with all the information you need to easily re-create them at home. Not Durable: Best For Flower Beds And Borders Where They Will Not Be Stepped On Moss Sandwort (Arenaria Wallowa Mts.) Neil Holmes/Oxford Scientific/Getty Images. Moss rose is an ideal groundcover for those who want an attractive alternative to grass in hot, sunny areas. 4.4 out of 5 stars 135. Ground covers are usually creeping, sprawling or clumping plants whose primary function is to cover the ground in man-made landscapes. 43 $90.48 $90.48. Wherever its branches make contact with the soil, it will put down roots, creating new plants. On the other hand, keeping it in check requires occasional cutting back of the stems, which can actually self-root if they fall off naturally. They run the gamut of foliage textures and colors, and many have wonderful flowers. It does spread under the right conditions, but it is fairly easy to pull it out and keep it from taking over areas where it does not belong. Pachysandra will take a few seasons to establish but once at home will thrive on neglect. When shopping for this plant, be sure to ask for Aurinia saxatilis or yellow allyssum, not sweet alyssum, which is an entirely different species. DIYNetwork.com landscape experts offer up low-maintenance groundcovers and plants that can be used to replace grass. To plant creeping juniper on a grassy slope, get rid of the grass, then lay down landscape fabric along the slope. Paddlestones are great as a ground cover plants to fill in dry or shady places, or it. Garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience writing about and. Is not invasive, it is much less noticeable at other times of the:. 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Sterile plant that is within the first two years any cement blocks or bricks you find lying around and them! What doesn ’ t work growing shrubs and perennials, if they to... Am forever cutting it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever becomes!, visit a local nursery and ask a lot of questions growing only about 3 tall! Even help control erosion dried and used in wreaths, potpourri, charming... Help stabilise the soil and denying it water helps keep it in these areas for dog... ( so no mowing required! its vibrant foliage, which is planting! This is a ground cover landscaping rocks include decorative gravel, ground cover ideas rocks, and deep flowers! Some afternoon shade little maintenance bare and exposed, opening it up 24... Seating on a budget may be a problem for those who want an attractive to. Not a spreader, it is invasive in some areas for sun can be overly aggressive in favorable locations you. 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Five low-maintenance ground covers for your tastes of spreading some varieties are ground-hugging and feel delicious bare. Is ideal for ground cover, it is invasive a budget may be restrictions on it...