Maintaining a garden is more than just a one-off task. It is something you have to do often and use resources.
But there are strategies to help reduce the time and resources spent on garden maintenance. One of the strategies is to plant groundcover plants.
Ground covers are best for preventing weed growth. They cover the landscape to avoid erosion.
The plants are also suitable for protecting other plants from harsh weather. They also serve as a good attraction for pollinators. The groundcover plants also beautify the garden.
Types Of Ground covers crops
Two main types of ground covers are common among gardeners. They include:
- Clumping spreaders
- Carpeters
Type 1: Clumping spreaders
Clumping spreaders are common in gardens. They are known to spread out their outward-arching leaves. These plants are easy to maintain. Among the examples of clumping spreaders include Hosta cultivars.
Type 2: Carpeters
Carpenters are groundcover plant types, also referred to as creepers. Among the popular examples include Allegheny spurge and spotted dead-nettles.
Underground stems spread the carpenters to cover the ground. They are referred to as surface-rooting carpenters.
The difference between the carpenters and the clumping spreaders is the spreading speed. Carpenters grow faster and cover the ground quickly compared to clumpers. The good thing is that they can coexist in the same garden.
Fastest-growing ground cover plant
Ground cover plants that grow quickly are perfect for landscapes that do not support other plants. Among the common areas the fast-growing ground cover plants do well are under tree shades.
These plants are excellent for covering up bare spots. They are also used chiefly to beautify the barren landscape. They also come with aromatic and flavorful treats. They can survive almost every weather.
Among the most popular fast-growing ground cover plants with gardeners include:
1: Asiatic Jasmine
The Asiatic Jasmine is described as stunning, dense, and evergreen foliage. They are plants that do well in warm climates.
In summer, these plants bloom aromatic yellow flowers. They grow close to the ground. This makes them ideal for covering the bare landscape.
2: Strawberry
Strawberry plants are fast-growing. They are good because they survive for years. They have green leaves with white flowers when they bloom.
The strawberry plants are also good creepers. They are also excellent because they produce fruit. The fruit is a delicacy for a sweet, flavorful treat.
3: Sweet Woodruff
The Sweet Woodruff forms a dense cover on a landscape. They are also fast-growing during warm weather. They have clusters of white flowers when they bloom. They also have star-shaped green leaves. These plants do well at the start of the summer.
4: Golden-star
The Golden-star is a fast-growing ground cover plant. It has deep green leaves. The plant produces bright yellow flowers when it blooms.
The plant can grow up to four to six inches tall. The plants do well in medium to full shade. It is very popular across the northern and southern climates.
5: Trailing Periwinkle
The Trailing Periwinkle is known for its blue, white, or purple flowers. It also quickly grows into a dense cover. It is a low-maintenance plant. It also does well in areas with partial shade.
6: Japanese Pachysandra
Japanese Pachysandra is a fast-growing groundcover plant. It produces aromatic white flowers when it blooms. It is common along sloped landscapes. The plant resembles a dark green carpeted lawn.
Best and toughest ground cover crops
Besides the fast-growing plants, there is also a category of tough groundcover plants. These are plants that survive harsh conditions to produce well-spread ground covers.
Plant 1: Bugleweed
The Bugleweed is a semi-evergreen perennial plant. It is considered drought tolerant. But may also require water in arid conditions. It is known to do well in clay soils.
The plant has bronze-burgundy leaves. The plant does not tolerate foot traffic. But it makes a good lawn cover. The plant is popular in areas with shades.
Plant 2: Creeping Jenny
The Creeping Jenny is also a tough ground cover that does well in semi-shade areas. It is not considered drought tolerant. But can bloom in the sun.
The plant is aggressive in blooming. It has bright yellow flowers when it blooms. This plant also does well in cascading over walls or rocks. The plant is tough and pest resistant.
Plant 3: English Ivy
The Ivy is considered among the hardiest groundcovers. They can adapt to all conditions, including “unplantable” areas. The Ivy climbs walls and trees when it blooms. It is over 12″ tall when mature.
Plant 4: Lilyturf
The Lilyturf is a very drought-tolerant plant. They do well even without full shade. It is also resistant to predators, including deer and rabbits. The plant covers a large area when blooming. It forms clumps that are good for borders.
Plant 5: Mondo Grass, Monkey Grass
The Mondo Grass is a favorite plant for monkeys. This is why it is also popularly known as the monkey grass. It is in the lily family category.
It is considered a favorite for its dense ground cover. It is also tolerant of drought. But sometimes needs watering during scorching weather.
The best time to plant ground cover
It is essential to know when to plant the groundcover plants. They are fast-growing plants. They are also plants that are tough and survive everywhere. These plants can be planted in any season.
An excellent time to plant the groundcovers is during the fall and spring. That is when you can get great results. They bloom quickly and cover the ground. It is necessary to provide shade in the early stages of growth when the weather is too hot.
It is also necessary to continue watering this plant when you grow them. The watering helps to establish these plants. The watering can be reduced once the plants start blooming. It is also necessary for root growth and expansion.
There is a variety of groundcovers plants. No particular category or type can be referred to as the best. It all depends on the preference of the gardener. The choice should be based on what they expect from these plants.
