Improve Hard to Grow Areas with Ground Covers

Some areas are very difficult for plants to grow in. They may be very shady or on a steep slope.

Ground covers are an answer to your woes. They can be used for erosion control on hillsides and embankments or under large evergreens where needles make it hard for other plants to grow. Ground covers can be planted under the entire canopy of or over the exposed roots of older trees, or used as fillers while other plants grow to their full size.

There is no end to how ground covers can be used. They come in a variety of species. Some have flowers, and others have both beautiful leaves and flowers.

Any plant can be called a ground cover by the way in which it is used. Normally, the low growing, leafy evergreens are considered the true ground covers.

The blue rug, or spreading juniper, is a low growing evergreen that thrives in sunny areas, as does euonymus or purple winter creeper. In shaded areas myrtle, ivy, and pachysandra work as well. Deciduous perennials like snow on the mountain and ajuga, or carpet bugle grow well in rock gardens.

Ground covers are usually bought as rooted cuttings in flats of 50 to 100. Older and larger plants come in two-inch peat pots, which are soft-sided planters made of compressed peat moss that can be planted directly in the ground.

Before planting the ground cover, it is best to remove the sod in the area you want to plant and then cultivate the soil about six inches deep, and incorporate 20/25% (by volume) organic matter. You should space out the plants according to the supplier's recommendations and them mulch the area with shredded bark to no more than two inches deep, but do not cover the foliage.

Plant them now rather than in the fall, because the plants will have an entire season to become established before winter weather sets in, thus being less likely to be frost heaved. Ground covers will fill in quickly, within one to three years and give you much enjoyment.