The shorter varieties are great for those narrow spaces in between paving stones, as well as in rockeries and border gardens, where you want to inhibit weed growth. When you buy Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', you may be thinking of it as an upright perennial plant with attractive flowers. Creeping Thyme ground cover, 1000 seeds, fragrant herb, pink blooms, perennial zones 4 to 9, sun or light shade, deerproof, Thymus serpyllum. In summer, the leaves take on burgundy mottling on the way to becoming totally burgundy (hence the name liverleaf). Heather (Calluna Vulgaris) - Scotch heather, an evergreen ground cover or low shrub for sun, blooms during late summer in various shades of red or pink. Creeping Phlox is gorgeous! It can even thrive in the acidic conditions under large pine trees. This is a large plant with a horizontal growth habit (thus its species name). Name: Pachysandra terminalis David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. This shrub flowers from May to July with white flowers, and grows to a maximum height of about 9 inches. Wherever its branches make contact with the soil, it will put down roots, creating new plants. Rock cotoneaster is a deciduous shrub. It does not need much water because it’s drought-tolerant. 7. But I do not have to weed a large area under same maple and azela bushes. The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. Changing the ground cover is the most obvious solution to solving the mud created when dogs run the same paths through the yard. Ground covers are a great way to cover dirt, reduce weed growth, and bring in a variety of textures and colors to enhance your yard’s visual appeal. Here are 14 ground cover plants that shouldn't try to take over (too much) and don't need a lot of care. Many are perennials, some are annuals, and some make good ground covers, though they can be overly aggressive in favorable locations. Interrupted fern, like bunchberry and liverleaf, is a North American native that can serve as a low-maintenance ground cover for shade. The 'Six Hills Giant' cultivar is a good choice for covering large areas. This plant thrives in wet soils, which is why planting it in dry soil and denying it water helps keep it in check. Use pachysandra to cover deeply shaded ground. It should be pinched back frequently to keep the plants bushy and "shrubby.". Find out which shrubs and groundcovers will grow best in your yard, plus get details on the best times to plant, fertilize and prune. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. They run the gamut of foliage textures and colors, and many have wonderful flowers. This landscape rock ranges in size from 1/8"-3" and is sold by the cubic yard or by the sack. Its ornamental value is twofold: It bears splendid blossoms in various colors (depending on the variety), and it displays eye-catching silver leaves, which provide color long after the flowers have faded. Finding comfortable seating on a budget may be a problem, which is why we bring you DIY options. It is perfect for a small space, perhaps a little garden along a north-facing wall. Pachysandra will take a few seasons to establish but once at home will thrive on neglect. But this plant with pretty foliage—and funny name—rarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. February 22, 2017 at 1:19 pm - Reply. Only 2"-3" tall, you can walk on it (releasing its lemony aroma), tuck it between pavers in a garden path, use it as a tidy border or fill in a flower bed. Try some of these robust, low-growing plants to fill in dry or shady places, or wherever you need year-round coverage. Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) Most of us are familiar with the idea of using ground covers in the landscape and how they can add a welcome carpet of color. Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. Take any cement blocks or bricks you find lying around and arrange them in a circular setting to form a ring. That’s where a knowledgeable neighbor will come in handy. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. Growing to a height of about 6 inches with a spread of 9 inches, it has waxy green leaves that should be removed as they turn brown. While it is not a spreader, it is large enough to take up space as the spring and summer months advance. 20 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds From Taking Over 1 Lily of the Valley. While many shrubs give you flowers, the prettiest thing about Cotoneaster horizontalis is its colorful, red berries. Looking for a permeable paver that blends ecological values with great design? I am forever cutting it back from other plants in the area and pathways. Much like the fictional character, it has golden hair (flowers) that spread enough to be effective in covering a certain amount of space, but the plant is not so vigorous a spreader to create a nuisance. Maybe you hate mowing and fertilizing grass. Maybe you have a steep slope that's difficult or dangerous to mow. Periwinkle is a fast-growing plant with solitary violet flowers at the end of the stem:... Chameleon Plant – Houttuynia Cordata. Looking for a good ground cover that can survive the Florida heat even in the shade. It has excellent resistance to damage by deer and rabbits. The only real maintenance required is trimming it back after it has finished flowering, or whenever it becomes too scraggly for your tastes. Maybe you have a big shady area where grass won't grow. ‘Beacon Silver’ Deadnettle, available on Amazon. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'), Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'), Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis). Consult with your local extension office before growing spotted deadnettle because it is invasive in some areas. In ideal sunny conditions, Amethyst in Snow will spread quite quickly, but you can control it easily by pulling out stray shoots. This drought-tolerant ground cover for sun can be used for culinary purposes and usually grows to about six inches in height. These low-maintenance ground covers grow thickly and spread quickly to choke out weeds. Boy I have money wort and it can take over. It grows best where it has plenty of space to spread out. But in regions where spotted dead nettle is not invasive, it acts as an effective ground cover for deeply shaded areas. The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden Heuchera. It prefers to grow in full sun and soil that drains well. Cover the bed of the pit with gravel that you may have leftover from the construction work, and you have a functional fire pit. Its native habitat is wooded areas, so it is perfect for a shady woodland garden. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug'. It is, therefore, a sterile plant that will not come true from seeds. The plant tolerates poor soil, high heat and is best used as a groundcover for a sunny spot. Slate paddlestones are great as a large ground cover product. 43 $90.48 $90.48. Roman … If you find such a plant (and several are included in our list), then you may find that it is invasive. Amazon offers L. maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ in 4.5-inch pots, 10 to a flat. and can spread up to 24 inches within the first two years. This ground cover is a vigorous spreader and is hardy down to -30 degrees F and features a beautiful solid dark green leaves that extend 8- to 10-inch in height. But there are very good reasons why you might want something other than lawn to carpet the ground. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with ​mulch. Secret Garden Garden Inspiration Wooly Thyme Outdoor Garden Projects Garden Paths Outdoor Gardens Plants Patio Garden Chamomile & … If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. The plant also must be pretty enough (or, at least, unusual enough) to draw attention and offer some sort of visual interest in the yard. Anthony Paul Landscape Design PROVENCE GARDEN 1st prize winner for “best private garden” in the 2009 Torsanlorenzo International design competition. 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