The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden
- Heuchera. 1/11. An evergreen perennial, heuchera is known for its vibrant foliage, which ranges in color from silver to green to brown. …
- Honeysuckle. 2/11. …
- Brass Buttons. 3/11. …
- Creeping Phlox. 4/11. …
- Creeping Jenny. 5/11. …
- Stonecrop. 6/11. …
- Vinca Minor. 7/11. …
- Lamium. 8/11.
What can I use instead of ground cover?
Eco-Friendly Alternatives to a Grassy Lawn
- Groundcovers. Groundcovers sprawl across the ground but don’t grow tall, eliminating the need to mow, providing the perfect alternative to grass. …
- Corsican Mint. …
- Creeping Thyme. …
- Clover. …
- Ornamental Grasses. …
- Evergreen Moss. …
- Native Perennial Beds. …
- Artificial Turf.
What is the cheapest ground cover?
Cheap Natural Perennial Ground Cover Options
- Creeping Periwinkle – $1.07 per plant.
- Walk-on-Me Thyme – $3.99 per plant.
- Moss Phlox – $4.59 per plant.
- Violets and Pansies – Seeds range from $0.95 to $2.95.
- Early Snow Glories – $2.40 per plant.
What is a good ground cover to prevent weeds?
Ground Covers For Suppressing Weeds
- Fight Plants With Plants. The best ground covers for suppressing weeds.
- Thyme. Fragrant, eye-catching, and hard-working.
- Cranesbill. Powerful, yet easy to control.
- Bugleweed. Durable, reliable, and bold.
- Creeping Phlox. …
- Stonecrop. …
- Mazus. …
- Creeping Speedwell.
What is the easiest ground cover to grow?
In addition to its fragrant spring blooms, lily-of-the-valley is one of the easiest groundcovers to grow. It’s perfect in a shady spot off under a big tree in your backyard because it tolerates dry conditions well.
What is the hardiest ground cover?
Under even the most unforgiving of conditions, lamium prevails. This vining plant, also known as dead nettles, can tolerate cold, heat, drought, and is deer-resistant. There are more than 40 species of lamium, but the best are those that are flowering perennials like the Pink Chablis.
Can you walk on creeping thyme?
Thyme Alternative to Grass
A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon, and will rapidly spread to fill in a space.
What is the cheapest way to cover dirt in backyard?
A Cheap Fix to Cover Up Dirt in a Backyard
- Planting grass is a frugal option that requires more sweat than money. …
- If you’re not sure what your future landscape plans may be, cover the bare soil with a 4-inch layer of mulch, such as shredded bark or wood chips. …
- Paths and patios are inexpensive alternatives to plants.
How do you do a backyard makeover on a budget?
Your DIY Guide to a Backyard Makeover on a Budget
- Build a DIY Deck or Patio. Photo via @seekingalexi. …
- Lay Down an Outdoor Rug. Photo via @alexandmike. …
- Create a Stone Path. Photo via @plaids.and.poppies. …
- Construct a Tree Bench. …
- Set Up a Trellis. …
- Create Shade with a Pergola. …
- Invest in a Fountain. …
- Use a Stock Tank Pool.
What ground cover does not need water?
Artificial Grass
If you want the look of a green, lush ground cover without the water requirements, synthetic turf is a great choice. Because it is a non-living ground cover, it can be used in full sun, partial sun or shade, and even in spots where nothing will grow.
Can I just put mulch over weeds?
How to Use Mulch to Keep Weeds out. Weeds need light and warm soil to survive. To use mulch as a natural weed barrier, you need to put down a 2- to 3-inch layer. That’s enough to keep most weed seeds from sprouting.
How do you cover soil so weeds don’t grow?
Apply a thick layer of organic mulch approximately 2 inches deep in the garden area – take care to avoid the base of individual plants and shrubs. Not only will mulch help the soil retain moisture, it also smothers out any small weeds and creates an unfriendly environment for tilled up weed seeds.
What is the fastest spreading ground cover?
16 Options for Fast Growing Ground Cover Plants
- Wild Thyme(Thymus serpyllum) …
- Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) …
- Trailing Periwinkle(Vinca minor) …
- Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) …
- Variegated Snow on the Mountain(Aegopodium podagraria) …
- Aubrieta (Aubrieta deltoidea) …
- Firecracker Sedum (Sedum) …
- Dragon’s Blood Sedum (Sedum)
How do you cut ground cover?
Start by removing any damaged or diseased stems and branches. Cut back to a healthy section on the stem or branch. Next, make cuts for training purposes, removing any wayward branches growing in an undesirable direction. Finally, thin out any ground cover with a solid canopy.
Can you mix ground cover plants?
Ground covers are perennial plants or, sometimes, low-growing shrubs that form a stable, solid mat of growth, replacing either lawn or garden beds. … It is best not to mix too many kinds of ground covers into the same area, for they will spread and become intermixed in a way that is hard to handle.
Is Moss a good ground cover?
Using moss as lawn provides wonderful springy groundcover that can be walked on moderately — a no-mow alternative with rich, deep color and texture. It just might be a good choice for your lawn needs.
Is Lavender a good ground cover?
Lavender (Lavandula spp.) makes a fragrant ground cover for dry, hot areas. Place the plants 12 to 18 inches apart in well-draining, sandy soil. Within two or three years, they’ll spread to form a thick ground cover.
How do you spread ground cover?
Groundcover Care
Most groundcovers spread by underground runners or by rooting along their stems, so use a loose mulch such as shredded bark that allows the plants to penetrate the soil. Your groundcovers won’t be able to spread if you mulch with plastic or landscape fabric.
Is Mint a good ground cover?
Mint has been around and prized for centuries for its fresh scent and flavor. There are more than 600 mint varieties, some with an upright habit and some low growing mint more suitable as groundcover. … Because mint forms runners, it is an excellent plant for use in areas that need soil stabilization.
Is creeping thyme poisonous to dogs?
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and creeping or wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) are drought-tolerant evergreens that are safe for dogs and bloom in the spring and early summer.
What ground cover chokes out grass?
One of the perennial ground covers below could be the perfect solution to your problem. Each grows thickly, choking out weeds as it spreads.
…
6 Best Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds.
| Name | Phlox Stolonifera |
|---|---|
| Water Requirements | moist conditions |
| Sun Needs | partial sun or shade |
| Zones | 5–9 |
Is Ajuga a good ground cover?
Ajuga is a commonplace groundcover, but this dark, coppery-burgundy one makes a great foil to taller or spiky-foliage dark plants such as black mondo grass. Don’t judge a plant by its size. Ajugas may be small, but these little groundcovers are durable and tough.
Do wood chips help with mud?
Wood chips on our mud road – AMAZING RESULTS! – YouTube
Can grass grow through a tarp?
A tarp can smother weeds before planting and also deter future ones in a bed. Its dark color absorbs heat and warms the soil, Fortier explains. “Weeds germinate in the warm, moist conditions created by the tarp but are then killed by the absence of light.”
Does sand help with mud?
Sand only increases drainage problems in poor, compacted soil. Muddy lawns are all too common when homeowners plant grass in areas that don’t have suitable drainage. Although sand isn’t a good amendment option, other methods can be used to mend a mud problem.
How do I turn my backyard into an oasis?
10 Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into an Oasis
- Retractable Shade. To shade a hot-spot, consider a retractable shade like the one on this pergola. …
- Privacy Screens. …
- Grow a Living Wall. …
- Space for Kids and Grown Ups. …
- Paver Pedestal System. …
- Add Texture and Interest. …
- Plant an Herb Wall. …
- Privacy and Parties.
What can I put on top of dirt in my backyard?
You can cover it with ground cover, green it up with grass, or wood mulch and crushed concrete, among other things. Your choice will vary depending on the look you’re going for. But if you don’t want to spend too much, covering the dirt with mulch or crushed concrete is your best bet.
How do I transform my backyard?
7 Amazing Ways to Transform Your Backyard
- #1 Go for a Total Yard Makeover. Before After. …
- #2 Dump a Dying Deck for a Pretty Patio. …
- #3 Swap Dying Grass for an Outdoor Room. …
- #4 Turn a Tiny Condo Yard Into a Mini Escape. …
- #5 Clear the Bramble and Make a Yard. …
- #6 Upgrade Your Pool Patio. …
- #7 Plant a Petite Patio in a Flower Bed.
Is Clover a ground cover?
Clover is a dense ground cover known for its shamrock-shaped leaves and pollinator-friendly flowers. It’s native to the Mediterranean but traveled to America in the 1600s, where it quickly became a favorite among farmers as a cover crop and livestock forage.
How do you plant ground cover on rocks?
How to Plant Ground Cover Perennials: Summer Garden Guide
Do you cut back ground cover?
Pruning ground covers is usually necessary only to remove unhealthy tissue, awkward or straggling branches, or to keep a plant from becoming too invasive. Many ground covers are prone to decline as they age, however. Others are so vigorous that controlling their growth is an ongoing maintenance task.
Will mulch attract termites?
While the material itself does not draw termites to the area, mulch spread over three inches deep creates an inviting habitat for the pests. Layers of organic matter trap heat and moisture next to the ground. Termites use this thick mulch as shelter from harsh weather.
What should I put down before mulching?
Clear away any weeds in the area you’ll be mulching. Again, you can use a garden hoe, a hand weeder or follow the instructions for using a weed killer. If you’re mulching around a tree, you can remove the grass or simply put down a layer of black and white newspaper to be covered with your mulch.
What mulch is best?
In the right setting, stone mulches (pebbles, gravel or rocks) can be a good choice. They stay put and don’t break down. Smaller sizes such as gravel and pebbles can eventually sink into the soil, requiring touch-up applications (this is where landscape fabric is best used-under stone mulches to prevent sinking) .
Is it better to spray or pull weeds?
Spraying. Digging up weeds removes the entire weed, roots and all, from the ground. Depending on the location and type of weed, this may require different tools. By taking out the whole plant, you are assured that that same plant will not regrow in the same location.
How do you keep weeds from growing in beds?
After applying a weed preventer over the ground, spread a blanket of mulch around your plants. It blocks the sunlight, preventing weeds from growing. Mulch also saves money on water. A thick blanket of mulch reduces evaporation, so you don’t have to water as much.
How do I keep weeds from growing in my gravel?
How to Keep Weeds Away from Your Gravel
- Weed the area thoroughly yourself.
- Use garden fabric to keep weeds away.
- Use salt for your weed control.
- Talk to your Lawn Doctor lawn care professional.
Is Creeping Jenny A good ground cover?
Creeping Jenny is a perennial with bright, small yellow flowers. Though the blooms won’t last long, they are pretty. For that reason, this low-growing “creeper” is best grown for its foliage, which makes an excellent ground cover.
What ground cover is safe for dogs?
Clover: Clover is safe for dogs to eat and is tougher than grass and less likely to stain. Synthetic turf: Turf is a low maintenance option that will not stain. It also reduces the need for other types of yard work, like mowing, and stops your dog from digging.
Will ground cover choke out perennials?
Once established, ground covers control soil erosion and form an attractive foliage blanket across your yard. These low-lying plants do not choke out other species, but they can hinder their growth with proper maintenance, especially during establishment.