How to Plant Clump Forming Ground Cover

If you have a vast backyard, you may want to plant clump forming ground covers. Planting ground cover as opposed to grass or lawns in areas where you would not walk on is a great alternative that can prevent constant maintenance such as mowing in conventional grass.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Rake
• Spade
• Shovel
• Compost or rotten manure
• Fertilizer
• Weed barriers or weed suppressing mulching sheets
• Utility knife
• Ground cover plants (evergreens preferably)

1. Clear the soil with weeds, rocks and debris. Make sure when removing weeds to use a spade to dig out the roots so that they do not grow back.

2. Add compost or rotting manure. Using a rake, add or spread controlled release fertilizer.

3. Cover the area with a weed barrier or weed suppressing sheet. The woven mulching sheet is preferred over polythene sheet.

4. Cut crossed slits through the weed barrier sheets where you would plant your ground cover. The size of the slit should not be too large that weed seeds can penetrate through or too small that the ground cover may suffocate.

5. Dig the planting holes big enough to fit each ground cover plant.

6. Remove the ground cover from their pots. Loosen a few roots apart before planting.

7. Water thoroughly and keep well watered until the plants have established at which time you can remove the sheets if desired.