The secret to a great garden is creating layers. Trees and shrubs that are tall, then perennials that are taller, then some that are shorter, and finally plants that cover the ground.
I love to have something blooming at all times in my garden. By adding more varieties of plant material, you have more opportunities for blossoms. Ground covers often have stunning blooms that will attract a lot of attention (and pollinators, of course).
There are other benefits to adding ground covers to your garden besides their beauty. You don’t have to water the garden as much because they hold water and act as mulch. A thick mat keeps weeds down or hides them, so you don’t have to pull them out of the garden as often. Finally, they can help prevent erosion, especially in sloped gardens. The roots help hold the soil in place.
Read on to learn more about some of the toughest ground covers you might want to add to your garden this year!
‘Angelina’ sedum is a succulent ground cover with spires of soft, spiny foliage. When it emerges in the spring, it has bright red and orange tips. It looks like fall in the spring. Then it settles into a bright golden-yellow color in the summer. It has stalks of yellow flowers that aren’t really its best feature, but they are still interesting.
‘Angelina’ is perfect for full sun gardens. It forms a thick mat of succulent foliage that keeps weeds down. This sedum bariety also works great on hills and rock gardens. It will pop up from almost any nook and cranny. The shallow roots will help prevent erosion.
‘Angelina’ Sedum also doesn’t require much water and doesn’t care about soil. Rocky sand soil is fine. It won’t tolerate standing water.
Another application for this plant is as a trailer in a container. The bright foliage spills out and looks great. It stays in a pot while I dig it out of the garden. When the season is over, I put it back in the garden. It doesn’t mind being moved.
Candytuft is a creeping evergreen perennial. It explodes into a carpet of white ball-shaped flowers in the early spring. It prefers part sun-part shade conditions and does not like sitting in water. Plant in loose well-drained soil.
After it blooms in the spring, it looks green and scrubby. It has narrow leaves. You will barely notice it when it’s not blooming. I recommend planting some other flowers near it to take over after it blooms. It’s kind of a scraggly plant, in my opinion. But I do think that the spectacular spring blooms make it worth planting.
Creeping Jenny is my go-to ground cover. It can be mean, but it grows slowly and is simple to pull out if it starts to eat other plants. It will grow in almost any soil and sun conditions making it one versatile little plant.
Creeping Jenny is a green vine-like perennial plant. It has small circular leaves that line the long stems. It creeps and trails through garden beds. There is a green variety that is covered in small yellow flowers in the summer. Or there is a golden variety, which is my favorite, which has bright chartreuse foliage.
I use creeping Jenny in gardens as a natural mulch. It keeps the weeds down, the water in, and the soil in place. I love planting the golden variety ‘Aurea’ underneath a hosta garden. The bright golden color plays off the green and gold accents in hosta foliage.
It also is one of my favorite trailing plants to use in containers. It adds a pop of brightness to a variety of container combinations.
Cheddar pinks are a lovely evergreen perennial ground cover. The foliage is narrow and silvery blue. Then, when it blooms in the summer, it turns into a carpet of tiny pink flowers in the shape of stars. You may recognize these flowers because they are a type of dianthus. These plants are often grown as both annuals and perennials.
They like full sun conditions and well-drained soil. They cover the soil in a thick mat, which keeps the weeds down and stays green year-round. I like to plant this in rock gardens or along curbs and sidewalks. They are fairly salt tolerant so they won’t mind being along sidewalks.
Creeping thyme is an easy-growing ground cover plant. A creeping thyme lawn is something that many gardeners strive for. It is actually achievable in lower hardiness zone gardens. The plant grows in a low mat of tiny leaves. In the spring, the whole carpet bursts into purple flowers. As a bonus, it smells great when your walk on it or brush it with your hands.
It likes full sun and sandy soil. It can replace grass or creep through pathways and rock gardens. If you want to use it instead of grass, don’t put it in areas that get a lot of foot traffic. Use it in boulevards with sidewalks to walk on.
Or place it in between flagstone paths. Also, note that it isn’t always in bloom. It will be purple in the spring but green the rest of the season. I recommend layering it with a few other plants that bloom later. Cheddar Pinks, for instance, bloom later and like the same conditions.
This hardy little ground cover is my go-to plant for tough full-sun areas. Dragon’s Blood Stonecrop needs little water, sandy soil, and lots of sunshine. This succulent plant grows little rosettes of deep maroon clusters with green centers. It forms a thick mat that weeds have trouble growing through. It blooms pink in the late summer.
This plant is great for rock gardens, garden paths made of rocks, or anywhere else you want to keep weeds down with little work. It will spill out and creep through any small nook or cranny. The purplish foliage is a great way to add color to your garden as well.
Winter can be harsh on gardens, leaving beds bare and vulnerable to erosion and weed growth. Using ground covers is an excellent way to protect and improve your garden over the winter months. With the right ground cover, you can suppress weeds, prevent erosion, add organic matter, and even give your garden a decorative flair.
Why Use Ground Cover in Winter?
Here are some of the key benefits of using ground cover in your garden beds during winter
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Weed suppression – Ground covers form a physical barrier that blocks light and smothers weeds. This prevents weeds from germinating and getting established
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Erosion control – Bare soil is susceptible to erosion from wind, rain, and melting snow. Ground covers shield the soil and help hold it in place.
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Adds organic matter – Certain ground covers like leaves, straw, and cover crops add organic material to the soil as they break down. This boosts nutrients for spring planting.
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Protects soil life – A ground cover insulates the soil, protecting vital organisms like earthworms, bacteria, and fungi from extreme cold.
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Decorative appeal – Some ground covers like sedum and thymes add visual interest, even in winter. Evergreen foliage and textures keep beds looking tidy.
Best Winter Ground Covers
There are many suitable materials for covering garden beds through winter. Here are some top options:
Mulches
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Straw – This classic mulch is affordable and blocks light to prevent weeds. Use straw that’s free of herbicides.
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Leaves – Fallen leaves make excellent mulch. They slowly break down and are free. Avoid leaves from diseased trees.
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Wood chips – Coarser than bark mulch, wood chips take longer to break down. Avoid using diseased wood.
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Compost – Fresh compost boosts soil fertility and smothers weeds. Cover with a thin layer of straw to prevent nutrient runoff.
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Pine needles – Pine needles make a neat, insulating ground cover. They take a long time to decompose so don’t add nutrients quickly.
Living Covers
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Cover crops – Fast growing crops like clover, rye, and vetch protect soil through winter then break down in spring.
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Ornamental grasses – Hardy grasses like mondo grass, liriope, and sedges add texture and suppress weeds.
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Creeping thyme – Evergreen thyme offers a fragrant carpet in zones 5 and above. It flowers in late spring.
Other Covers
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Leaves – Fallen leaves make excellent mulch. They slowly break down and are free. Avoid leaves from diseased trees.
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Tarps – Heavy duty tarps block all light and smother weeds. Use them to kill overgrown patches and pernicious weeds.
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Landscape fabric – Fabric lets water and air through while suppressing weeds. Use UV-treated fabric rated for at least 3 years.
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Newspaper – Overlap sheets of newspaper by 6 inches to block weeds. Top with mulch or compost for a finished look.
When to Apply Winter Ground Covers
Time the application of winter ground covers carefully:
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Remove existing vegetation and prep beds in late fall.
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Apply compost and mulches after the first hard frost when plants are dormant.
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Cover crops can be planted in late summer to early fall depending on variety.
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Wait to apply covers until soils have cooled fully to avoid stimulating growth or rotting plants.
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Add further layers of mulch after the ground freezes fully to insulate soil.
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Remove mulch and living covers in spring before growth resumes.
How to Apply Ground Covers
Follow these tips when applying ground covers:
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Remove existing plants, leaves, and weeds to expose bare soil before adding ground covers.
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For mulches, apply 2-4 inches in depth, adding thinner layers over time rather than one thick layer.
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Living covers should make direct contact with soil. Rake soil smooth before planting or seeding.
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Take care not to bury crowns of perennial plants. Leave them uncovered.
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Mulch around the base of trees and shrubs but avoid piling mulch against trunks.
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If using fabric or plastic covers, secure the edges well with stones, stakes, or landscape staples.
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Water cover crops and living ground covers well after planting to establish roots.
Caring for Garden Beds Over Winter
Even protected beds need occasional maintenance through winter:
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Inspect beds after windy conditions and replacelost or blown mulch.
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Punch holes in plastic covers or fabric if heavy rain or snow is causing puddling.
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Remove sodden, matted leaves or other decomposing covers to prevent rotting plants.
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Monitor living covers and remove any that get established as weeds like hairy vetch.
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Clip back hardy grasses and living covers if they get unruly or encroach on other plants.
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Sprinkle new compost or thin mulch layers over beds periodically for added insulation.
Ground Cover Tips
Here are some additional tips for success using ground covers in your winter garden:
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Avoid using hay or grass clippings from lawns treated with herbicides. Chemical residues can damage garden plants.
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Turn or roll back mulches and covers in spring once soils thaw. This allows the soil to warm faster for planting.
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Consider the decomposition rate when selecting mulches. Fine shredded leaves break down faster than buckwheat hulls.
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Check soil temperature under mulches periodically. Lift them if soils are staying too cold and delaying growth.
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Living covers that winterkill like oats and annual ryegrass don’t need removal in spring. Just plant through them.
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Cut back excessive foliage on ornamental grasses and living ground covers to keep them tidy before applying winter mulch.
Using appropriate ground covers is one of the wisest steps you can take to protect your garden from the ravages of winter weather. Consider trying different options like mulches, landscape fabrics, and living covers to see which you prefer. With the right ground cover in place, you’ll start spring gardening season with healthy, weed-free beds.
Chequers Spotted Dead Nettle
Checkers Spotted Dead Nettle is a fairly aggressive low-growing plant with green-white foliage and purple flowers.
| botanical name Lamium maculatum ‘Chequers’ |
| height 8″ |
| hardiness zones 3-9 |
Dead nettle is a love or hate plant. It is quite aggressive and can swallow up other plants if you don’t keep it under control. But the green and white foliage with purple flowers of chequers spotted dead nettle are lovely. Not much will grow in this area, or you want to cover a lot of ground. Dead nettle will do the trick.
It can take a variety of sun conditions, however, I think part sun is the sweet spot. It likes well-drained soil. It takes water to make dead nettle grow, but after that it will grow and spread on its own with little extra water.
It comes up and blooms in the spring and adds greenery throughout the season. It also spills and looks great in containers. You can just dig it up from the garden and put it in the pots because you’ll have so much of it.
This plant blooms in spring with small pink, purple and blue bell-shaped flowers.
| botanical name Pulmonaria officinalis |
| height 12″ |
| hardiness zones 3-9 |
Lungwort is a great ground cover for tough-to-grow areas. It can grow in dry and shady conditions. For anyone struggling with growing under large evergreens, lungwort will grow here, as this perennial is shade-friendly.
It blooms little bell-shaped pink and purple flowers in the very early spring. This is why I really like this one. When my garden is a brown sleeping mess, the lungwort comes out and reminds me it’s spring. Then it grows large pointed leaves with irregular frosted spots on it. The leaves are fuzzy and irritating so make sure you use gloves while handling it.
I find in late summer, lungwort will often get powdery mildew. I’ll use clippers to cut off all the leaves, and then a few new leaves will show up.
Creeping Phlox is a perennial plant that produces bright star-shaped flowers in pink, lavender, and white.
| botanical name Iberis sempervirens |
| height 6″ |
| hardiness zones 3-9 |
Moss Phlox is a great evergreen perennial ground cover. It has spiky green foliage and creeps low along the ground. Most of the time, it doesn’t look like much, but in the spring, star-shaped flowers cover the whole thing. There are many varieties of colors, including, white, pink, and lavender. There are also multi-colored and candy-striped varieties.
Moss phlox likes part sun-part shade conditions. It forms a thick mat that weeds can’t grow through. It stays green year-round. Any brown bits can be trimmed out.
This plant looks best when creeping through rocks, pathways, or garden borders. I like to plant it as a river flowing through a bed. This quick-growing ground cover is perfect for sloping areas of your yard or garden.
Variegated Bishop’s Goutweed forms a large lush mound of variegated foliage and buds of delicate white flowers.
| botanical name Aegopodium podagraria |
| height 24″ |
| hardiness zones 3-9 |
This one might be controversial. It is extremely aggressive and hard to get rid of once it is planted. Some gardeners even consider it a weed. So put a lot of thought into this one before planting it. It will swallow up other plants and even start creeping into your lawn. The roots are tough and hard to remove. It will keep coming back no matter how hard you try to remove it.
Ok, after that glowing review, you may wonder why anyone would even plant this. But there are times when this ground cover is just what you need, especially if you have places where nothing can grow.
There may be bare spots near the foundation of your house, under tree wells, or on narrow garden strips that are always empty. Goutweed will cover these areas. They will form a big puffy mound of variegated foliage with spikes of white flowers.
Goutweed can handle shade-sun conditions and doesn’t care about soil. Once they get established, they only need water. After that, they will grow quickly without much else (except when it’s very dry).
When I use this in my garden, I make sure it’s not near anything it can grow into, like grass or other perennials. You probably don’t need to purchase this one. You can likely find a neighbor with it and ask to dig some up.
This variety of stonecrop has beautiful blue-gray succulent foliage.
| botanical name Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’ |
| height 8″ |
| hardiness zones 3-9 |
Blue spruce stonecrop has succulent foliage that resembles a blue spruce (obviously). This full-sun creeper grows great in the nooks and crannies of rock gardens. It will pop out of the tiniest crack and add a punch of color and texture.
Another option is to use it as an alternative lawn. While it won’t take much actual foot traffic, it is low-growing and green. And as a bonus, it doesn’t need much water, and it doesn’t need mowing.
Bright yellow flower spikes will grow on it in the summer, which will look great against the blue-gray leaves. This plant looks best when spilling out of containers, as well as creeping along the ground. Or topple over or use a broken terracotta pot and have it spilling out and onto the ground.
This is a low-growing perennial plant with delicate white flowers and silvery foliage.
| botanical name Cerastium tomentosum |
| height 8″ |
| hardiness zones 3-7 |
Snow-in-summer is a herbaceous perennial ground cover. It has narrow silvery foliage. It lies flat in the ground and forms a thick mat that keeps the weeds down. This perennial likes sandy soil and full sun. It looks great spilling over ledges and as edging in a perennial bed.
The spectacular show comes in summer when the whole thing is covered in dainty white five-petaled flowers. It looks like a carpet of snow. The silvery foliage looks great when paired with deep purple foliage, like a blackjack sedum.
This plant prefers partial sun and moist, rich, well-drained soil.
| botanical name Galium odorata |
| height 12″ |
| hardiness zones 3-8 |
Sweet woodruff is an easy little woodland ground cover. It prefers partially shaded areas of the garden. It also prefers moist, rich, free-draining soil. The little leaves are shiny green and deeply lobed. In the late spring, it explodes into tiny white flowers.
I like planting this Sweet woodruff under other perennials, like hostas, rhubarb, and astilbe. It keeps the weeds down, keeps the moisture in, and looks really lush.
It is so easy to transplant in the garden. Simply dig it up and plant it in a new space. It doesn’t even go limp, but rather happily grows in its new location.
Winter Warriors : Top 6 Cold Hardy Ground Covers for a Winter Wonderland // Gardening Ideas
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