Ground Covers

Ground covers are nature's answer for beautifying and preserving soil in those areas where most grass simply won't grow: under trees, shady areas, wet spots and on dry slopes. They usually are low-growing, creeping plants that are usually no more than 18 inches tall. Although some ground covers thrive in sunshine, most are planted in the shade.

Ground covers are extremely practical. They treat the largest amount of area with the least amount of effort, thus minimizing costs and labor -- such as mowing and trimming. Once established, they require little maintenance. Ground covers discourage weed growths, and they keep soil moist and cool by shielding it from the sun. They help hold the soil, thus preventing erosion, and they help alleviate water runoff problems.

Ground covers include perennials, herbs, spreading vines and even low shrubs. They feature a wide variety of leaf textures, colors and shapes. These plants create multi-season interest to your yard and are ideal for layering. They are used to vary heights on beds and borders, along walkways and even in containers. Ground covers can be planted over large or small areas. Long in versatility, these covers can be used to unify other plants and areas within the overall landscape of the garden. For increased viewing interest, plant them with short-spring or fall-blooming bulbs.

Establishing Ground Covers

Prepare the soil to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches based on the needs of individual plants. Some plants grow quicker than others, so the distance you put between plants depends on how quickly you want to cover a given area as well as how many plants you can afford to buy. Most ground cover shrubs can be planted between 2 and 3 feet apart. The farther apart you space shrubs, the more you might consider a mulch to prevent weeds from growing in the gaps. Spring bulbs and annuals also can be used to fill the gaps until the ground cover plants have fully developed. If planting on a bank, either terrace or erect soil berms so that water will be retained for the plants. Monitor the gaps between ground cover plants and mulch and weed accordingly.

Buying Ground Covers

The more useful ground covers are low-growing, perennial and evergreen. They are grown primarily for their foliage and last all year. If year-round results are important to you, use an evergreen cover. If they aren't, you might want to use a deciduous cover and enjoy its beautiful flowers -- while they last. Deciduous covers die back to the soil each winter. In addition to unifying different plantings throughout a garden, some of the more interesting ground covers can also be used as the focal point for certain areas in the yard.