How to Use Ground Cover Plants in the Garden

Ground covers in the landscape can be in the form of spreading plants that form a carpet, or materials that create an artistic effect to cover bare soil. Here are some suggestions on how to use living ground cover plants in the garden.

Instructions

1. The term 'ground cover' can apply to any material covering the garden bed surface. Mulch is a ground cover. But low, spreading plants can provide a ground cover that is part of the living beauty of your garden.

2. 

   Ground cover plants can hug the ground or can be taller. For a neater, more manicured look, the lower plants will be more successful. You can even plant some low ground covers to spill over the top edge of a wall for a romantic effect. Taller ground covers are more successful in larger areas where their height is incorporated into the massed effect.

3. 

   Choose ground cover plants for their color of flower, foliage or growth habits. You can use ground cover plants to add color, fill in bare spots, add height variation to a landscape, to help control erosion or to help discourage weeds. You can even mix them to make decorative effects.

4. 

   Try small Fescues, Dwarf Phormium or Carix grasses for colorful low grass-like effects either loose or in clumps. Ameria or Sea Thrift looks like small, neat hummocks of grass until it blooms with its little pink lollypop flowers. Some groundcovers are filled with colored flowers like Vinca, Lantana, Gazania, Epimedium, Soapwort, Evening Primrose, Thyme and Trailing Bell Flower. Some add green like Lady's Mantle, Pachasandra, Ivy or the fuzzy, soft Lamb's Ears. Others can add color with interesting leaf shades or patterns. Try Lamium, Ajuga, Golden Moneywort, variegated Bishop's Weed, or the multicolored Heuchera for colorful leaves. Yet others have multiple color offerings like Ornamental Strawberries, Tradescantia, Trailing Rosemary (also edible)or Dwarf Plumbago.

5. There are a number of succulents that can be used as ground cover. 'Iceplant' covers a group of succulent plants that form huge carpets smothered with a blaze of brilliant flowers in the springtime in warmer climates. More cold tolerant succulents can be found in the Sedum and Sempervivum families. Succulents are great for wildfire resistance, low water usage and interesting textures. Because they retain so much water in their leaves and stems, foot traffic will crush them and they can become slippery and slimy when walked on, so avoid stepping on them.

6. There are hundreds - maybe thousands - of wonderful ground cover plants you can use in a garden. Make your selection for the look you like, but also consider what will grow best in the exposure, climate and soil where you want to plant them. For more information on how to use ground cover plants in the garden, please check the Resources listed below.

Resources

• A selection of ground cover plants
• Garden design and growing information
• eHow Spring Guide