Ground Covers, How To:

Whether you have a slope that is a bear to mow or a shady spot where grass refuses to grow, ground covers can be your best friend.  Once established, they are fast growing and low maintenance.  Ground covers will transform a difficult space into a living tapestry of beautiful leaf shapes, textures, and colors. 

There are two types of ground covers, the creepers and the clumpers. 

Creepers, such as, vinca, pachysandra, and lamium, spread either by underground rhizomes, or, root where stems touch the ground.  The number of plants required will depend on how quickly you want to achieve full coverage. 

Clumpers, like Hosta and Lady’s Mantle, cover the soil with their outward arching leaves.  Complete coverage is achieved by the overlapping of their foliage.  Quantity of plants needed is determined by mature plant size.

Creeper and clumpers can be planted on the same site, producing a visually appealing space. 

Analyze your site and soil:

Is your soil clay, loam, or sand?  Does your soil hold moisture or is it on the dry side?  How much sun does the area get?  These conditions will determine what plants will thrive, and those not suited, for your site.  If you have loamy soil, I am jealous and you are very lucky!  If you have sand or clay, you will need to amend your soil with a two to three inch layer of organic matter, such as compost or leaf mold.

How much light does the site receive on a daily basis?  Choose plants that match your locations sun exposure.    

Prepare your site:

Remove all vegetation from the site.  This can be accomplished by applying an herbicide, such as Roundup. Wait 2 weeks before planting in a treated area.  Non-chemical options include removal of vegetation by hand, or, if you can wait a season before planting your ground cover, prepare your site by laying down black plastic.  Lack of sun, oxygen and water will kill the grass and most of the weeds.  This process will take an entire growing season and you may still need to hand remove stubborn deep-rooted weeds.

Add your amendments, if needed, and turn the soil.

If you are planting on a steep bank use burlap to hold the soil in place.  Burlap allows the ground cover to root through it, and will eventually rot away.  Lay the burlap over the slope, prior to planting, securing it with metal landscape pins.  Cut an “X” in the burlap and plant one ground cover plant in each hole.  Before you know it, the plants will hide the burlap.

Select your ground cover.  There are many plants that make great ground covers.  The gardenoma™ plant database can help you choose.  Consider the following when selecting plants:

• Hardiness zone
• Sun exposure
• Growth rate and size
• Shape, texture and color
• Maintenance

Planting your site:

Plant your ground cover in spring, this will provide them the best opportunity for root development prior to winter, decreasing the likely hood of frost heaving.  Where winters are mild and summers are hot and dry, plant in the fall.  

Layout your plants in staggered rows.  How far apart you space your plants will depend on how quickly you want full coverage.  For creepers purchased as 3” plugs, the general rule of thumb is to space plants 6 to 12 inches apart.  Space larger plants 12 to 18 inches apart.  Clumpers should be spaced based on their overall size at maturity.

After planting, cover the area with a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to control weeds and retain moisture.

Ground cover maintenance:

During the first growing season, water and weed weekly.  Your new ground cover has not established itself and will need help from you to find water.  Weeding is also critical, they can quickly take over a new bed if not controlled.

Plant Suggestions:

• Evergreen, Shade Only:  Bearberry (Arctostaphylos), Wintercreeper Euonymus, Wintergreen (Gaultheria)
• Evergreen, Sun or Shade:  Creeping Juniper, Ivy, Liriope, Mondo grass (Ophiopogon), Moss, Pachysandra (will take on a yellow hue in full sun), Russian Cypress, Vinca minor
• Perennial, Shade:  Ajuga, Bishops Weed (Aegopodium), Blue Star Creeper (Pratia pendunculata), Brunnera, Creeping Dogwood (Cornus canadensis), Crested Iris, Epimedium, Euonymus, Hosta, Lamium, Lily of the Valley (Convallaria), Pulmonaria, Rubus Tricolor, Sweet Woodruff (Galiu), Tiarella, Wild Ginger (Asarum)
• Perennial, Sun:  Armeria, Brass Buttons (Leptinella), Creeping Thyme, Golden Moneywort (Lysmachia), Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum), Lamb’s Ear (Stachys), Nepeta, Prostrate Veronica, Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium), Soapwort (Saponaria), Sedum
• Shade or Sun:  Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia), Coral Bells (Heuchera), Hardy Geranium, Creeping Phlox, Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa), Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla), Lead Plant (Ceratostigma)

                                                                                    Happy Planting!