Ground Cover

Ground Cover Plants – The Living Carpet of the Garden

Ground cover plants are the unsung heroes of the garden — quietly weaving their way across soil, softening hard edges, suppressing weeds, and adding lush texture where other plants struggle to thrive. Whether you're looking to fill awkward spaces, reduce maintenance, or bring visual harmony to borders, these low-growing, spreading plants offer beauty and function in equal measure.

Why Grow Ground Cover Plants?

1. Weed Suppression
Dense, low-growing foliage forms a living mulch that shades out weed seeds and prevents them from germinating — reducing the need for manual weeding or chemical controls.

2. Soil Protection
Ground cover helps prevent soil erosion, especially on slopes or bare areas, and can retain moisture by shading the ground from direct sunlight.

3. Year-Round Visual Interest
Many ground covers are evergreen, providing green structure even in winter, while others offer seasonal colour, flowers, or vibrant foliage shifts through the year.

4. Fill Difficult Spaces
They’re ideal for shady corners, underplanting beneath trees and shrubs, or covering bare patches between stepping stones, rocks, or paving.

5. Naturalistic Design
Ground cover adds softness and a sense of maturity to gardens, mimicking natural woodland floors or meadows and encouraging biodiversity.

Popular Types of Ground Cover Plants

Ground cover comes in many forms — from flowering perennials to creeping evergreens and low-maintenance grasses. Here are a few garden favourites:

• Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed) – Glossy leaves and blue flower spikes; thrives in shade.

• Vinca minor (Periwinkle) – Evergreen with violet, pink or white flowers; spreads steadily.

• Geranium macrorrhizum – Tough, semi-evergreen, fragrant foliage with delicate blooms.

• Thyme (Creeping varieties) – Aromatic, drought-tolerant, and pollinator-friendly.

• Sedum and Sempervivum – Ideal for dry, sunny spots with poor soil.

• Heuchera – Decorative foliage in a range of colours; excellent for shade or part sun.

• Hedera helix (Ivy) – Evergreen climber or ground hugger for difficult, shaded areas.

How to Plant and Care for Ground Cover Plants

1. Prepare the Ground
Clear weeds thoroughly before planting, and enrich the soil with compost or organic matter to give new plants a strong start.

2. Spacing Matters
Plant closer together than you would for larger shrubs — typically 15–45cm apart, depending on the plant’s spread — to ensure quick coverage.

3. Water Well at First
Keep the soil moist while the plants are establishing. Once mature, many ground covers are drought-tolerant or low-maintenance.

4. Mulch and Feed
Mulch after planting to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Fertilising isn’t always necessary, but a slow-release feed in spring can boost growth.

5. Prune or Trim as Needed
Trim back dead or leggy growth in spring. For more vigorous spreaders like ivy or vinca, occasional cutting may be needed to keep them in check.

Best Situations for Ground Cover

• Under trees where light is limited and grass won’t grow.

• Along paths or edging garden beds for a neat, finished look.

• Rock gardens or gravel borders, where creeping sedums and thymes thrive.

• Banks and slopes, where their spreading roots help prevent erosion.

• Containers and hanging baskets as trailing accents.

Final Thought

Ground cover plants may be low to the ground, but they play a big role in creating a beautiful, balanced, and easy-care garden. Whether you're cultivating a lush woodland floor, a sunny gravel garden, or simply trying to fill those tricky gaps between stepping stones, these versatile plants offer a natural solution that’s as practical as it is pleasing.