Low-maintenance plants for ground coverage are the ideal choice for anyone who doesn’t have time for weeding and other yard work. Originally from North America, these no-nonsense evergreens are low-maintenance plants that can cope with poor soil and sloping sites. Plus, they’re fragrant and have low water requirements. Listed below are some of the best plants for ground coverage you can try:
Sweet woodruff
A sweet woodruff is the best plant for ground coverage because it can tolerate shade, but can also grow in partial shade. Sweet woodruff can tolerate a slightly acidic soil. It is also tolerant of soil that is devoid of essential nutrients. To help it establish quickly, add decaying leaves or compost to the soil. You can also add a compost tea to the soil to improve the soil’s organic matter.
This perennial flower is also a good choice for edging shady areas. Sweet woodruff spreads to form a low mat and chokes out weeds. It grows well under pine trees and in acidic soil. It will also grow under black walnut trees, but be aware that it produces the toxic chemical juglone. If you’re concerned about the safety of your sweet woodruff, you should plant other plants in the area instead.
The sweet woodruff is a perennial that thrives in part shade to full shade. It thrives in slightly acid soil and will self-seed if it has enough space. The perennial will tolerate some drought conditions, but it will suffer the most in hot, dry climates. A lawnmower with a high blade height is helpful in controlling its spread. Sweet woodruff is generally a good choice for ground coverage. It is hardy up to USDA zone 4 or 5, and only rarely dies from full-blown drought. Sweet woodruff is also disease-resistant, making it an excellent plant to grow in shady areas.
Dianthus
Dianthus is a popular flowering perennial that thrives in soil that dries quickly. Its foliage is very fragrant, and it is also resistant to deer and rabbits. To grow your own dianthus, plant seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost date in your area. Seedlings will germinate in eight to ten days. You can start growing your seedlings indoors until they are about four inches tall, and then transplant them outdoors once the danger of frost is past.
There are three main varieties of dianthus, each with distinct characteristics. Miniature varieties form a compact lump, while giant forms can reach three feet tall and feature almost no basal foliage. The foliage is a soft, mat-like shape, and they can tolerate full sun or partial shade. Dianthus plants also like well-drained soil. They appreciate a little lime added at planting time.
Another popular form of Dianthus is Passion. This short-lived perennial forms an attractive mound and looks wonderful in front of taller companion plants. This plant also pairs well with creeping phlox, stonecrops, and alpine plants. Although Dianthus is known as Passion, it also comes in a Pink called Coconut Sundae. It has the added benefit of being the easiest to grow in a container garden.
‘Angelina Sedum’
‘Angelina Sedum’ is a stunning perennial groundcover with a golden mat and yellow flowering stems in the spring. It is extremely low-maintenance and does well in soil that is not very fertile. It is native to the desert and is called the ‘live-forever plant’ by some. ‘Angelina Sedum’ is similar to ‘Lemon Ball Sedum’, but is much more drought-tolerant.
Angelina Sedum is an excellent choice for xeriscaped beds and rock gardens. It is low-maintenance, drought-resistant, and adapts to a wide range of conditions. It is ideal for rock gardens, rocky sites, and rocky conditions, and it is easily propagated from cuttings. Though it requires regular watering, Angelina Sedum is a low-maintenance plant that will thrive in a garden with little care.
‘Angelina Sedum’ is a low-growing perennial that produces clusters of yellow star-shaped flowers in early to mid-summer. In fall, it bears needle-like foliage tips. Its succulent roots grow where the stems touch the ground. It is a great choice for drier soil, and does well in containers. ‘Angelina Sedum’ is also relatively easy to grow, and it thrives in containers. In addition to being drought and heat-tolerant, Angelina Sedum is also divided and can be propagated by cuttings.
Angelina Sedum is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial with yellow-green foliage. It can be grown in full sun or partial shade, and needs well-drained soil. Angelina Sedum is also a great choice for rock gardens because of its spreading habit. Its spread-across-rock walls and stone paths. It is a low-maintenance groundcover for rock gardens, and will provide a lush backdrop.
Creeping thyme
Creeping thyme is an evergreen perennial, so you won’t have to worry about mowing your lawn when it’s not in bloom. However, if it’s growing quickly and choking out weeds, you may want to call in a gardener to come take care of it. Although the plant is resistant to most diseases, it is susceptible to Alternaria blight and root rot.
When choosing thyme, you should take into account your soil’s drainage. It doesn’t like its feet wet, so select a soil that drains well. Loams with well-draining properties are best for thyme. Wet clay isn’t a good spot for thyme, which means you may want to consider mounded ground.
Another great use for creeping thyme is as a ground cover. It chokes out weeds and produces an amazing fragrance. Because creeping thyme is short and stocky, it is often used to fill in the gaps in stepping stone areas. But be careful – it can easily grow over stepping stones and causing havoc! However, if you do use it as a ground cover, it will fill in those gaps without much trouble.
Red creeping thyme is a common ground cover. It is a durable perennial that can withstand foot traffic. Its aroma attracts bees and keeps rabbits and deer away. It is also a great choice for landscapes with slopes. In addition to its attractive appearance, creeping thyme is safe to use around children and pets. So, if you want to make your garden look good, consider using red creeping thyme as your ground cover.
Sweet alyssum
If you’re looking for a ground cover that’s both fragrant and attractive, sweet alyssum is the plant for you. This short-lived annual grows four to six inches tall and forms a dense ground cover. Its foliage is one-inch long, and the flowers, which range in color from white to bronze, are 4-6 inches in diameter. Sweet alyssum’s flowers are reminiscent of snow, but they’re not as large as their brightly colored counterparts. They come in an array of colors, including white, bronze, rose, salmon, reddish copper, and wine red.
The sweet alyssum plant is widely available and easy to grow from seed. There are several varieties, each with a slightly different colour and shape. Many have white blooms, while others are more mauve, violet, or peach. Regardless of colour, sweet alyssum is a wonderful ground cover plant. They need partial to full sunlight, moderate water, and well-drained soil.
When preparing your sweet alyssum plants for ground coverage, it’s best to sow seeds indoors several weeks before the last average frost. They germinate in eight to 15 days at a temperature of 65 degrees. Although they are not hardy, sweet alyssum can tolerate drier soil, which makes them a great choice for those with xeriscaped yards.
Hens-and-chicks
A thriving plant for ground coverage, Hens-and-Chicks thrive in containers, sunny windowsills, and rock gardens. With leaves shaped like an artichoke, this succulent can tolerate temperatures as low as -5 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant can also thrive in a pot as a houseplant and has a low water requirement. This plant is easy to care for and is ideal for people who love plants.
Hens-and-chicks can be easily propagated. These plants have small roots and grow from shoots. The plantlets will take root wherever they are planted and may even blow away like tumbleweeds. These plants need bright sunlight and can be planted in containers. They also need good drainage. A sunny spot in a sunny spot with a pH of neutral is best.
Hens-and-chicks have many advantages. They are easy to grow and are not prone to insect infestation. Hens-and-chicks are also easy to transplant from pot to pot. Just make sure to place them near the edge of the pot, out of direct sunlight. If you have limited space, consider planting them near the edge of the container.
Hens-and-chicks make for great ground cover for sunny areas, and they are easy to propagate from plantlets. They grow up to hen size and produce their own bunch of chicks. They need a minimum of 6 inches of space, though larger varieties can reach up to eight inches. Hens-and-chicks are also great for containers, as they trail over the sides of pots. Besides pots, they make beautiful additions to succulent wreaths or pavers.
