Ground covers just refer to any type of vegetation that grows over a particular spot on the ground. This can be for grass growth, to protect a patch of your lawn, or just to add some new aesthetics to the yard. The plants used as ground cover are usually shrubs, but can be vines as well. And there are slow growing as well as fast growing ground cover plants. This article will go into the different options you have available.

“The ground beneath you is shifting, and either you get sucked in by holding on to old ways, or you take a giant step forward by taking some risks and seeing what happens.” - Bonnie Hammer

Benefits

Green mossy paths open up to reveal protected grass
Try a moss pathway in the garden. Source: Gardening viral

There are many ways that ground covers can help out your lawn. For instance, a ground cover will reduce the amount of water your grass needs, thus saving you money on your water bills. In turn you won’t need as much irrigation for the yard. You won’t need to use chemicals for weeding. And overall, ground covers add a new dimension of texture and depth to your lawn. We’ll make it easy and list ground cover plants for you. Here are just a few of the different strains of plants that can act as ground covers:

  • Alfalfa
  • Clover
  • Dichondra
  • Bacopa
  • Ivy
  • Gazania
  • Ground-elder
  • Ice plant
  • Japanese honeysuckle
  • Junipers
  • Lantana
  • Lilyturf
  • Mint
  • Nasturtium
  • Pachysandra
  • Pearlwort
  • Periwinkle
  • Shasta daisy
  • Soleirolia
  • Spider plant

Types

All the purple colors you could imagine
Look at those purple flowers. Source: High Country Gardens

There are also different types of ground covers depending on what kind of plant you want in your yard. Low growing ground cover comes in basically five categories, all of which are different plants that can serve the same purpose.

So choose the right look for your backyard. It largely depends on personal taste.

  • Herbaceous - Non-woody herbs
  • Moss - Flowerless dense green clumps or mats
  • Ornamental grasses - exotic grass you won’t need to cut
  • Shrubs - Small to medium sized woody plants
  • Vines - Any plant with a growth habit of trending or climbing

Low-Maintenance

If you haven't heard of ground covers, they work exceedingly well.
Flowery paths and walls. Source: The Garden Glove

The best part about ground covers is how little effort they require to maintain. While they will spread indefinitely as long as they’re growing, they’re very easy to manage. Simple trimming and the occasional water is all that they need to keep growing happy and healthy. Just keep this in mind that when it comes to ground cover plants: full sun, low maintenance. You’ll be fine.

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