For pure shade situations, there are two ground covers, in particular, that deserve attention. Is it best to plant the ground covering in Fall or wait til Spring? There is both shade loving ground cover and sun loving ground cover species that will thrive in the Pacific Northwest. SOMETHING has to fill in the dirt before the weeds come back. display are ground-hugging species such as Rose Verbena ( Glandularia canadensis ), which scrambles across the ground, rooting at its nodes and the native strawberry ( Fragraria virginiana ) that sends out underground runners, as well as False Rue Anemone (Isopyrum biternatum ) and Wild Ginger ( Asarum canadense ), both of which can form large colonies in the right conditions. I was thinking Vinca or a hardy Phlox as we need fast growing. It sounds lovely. Although it dies back in the winter, its fresh, delicate leaves are worth the winter wait. Disparately seeking help! It tolerates shade and has a cheerful yellow bloom. Any ideas on how to get the sedum to thicken up in order to choke out the weeds? Our neighbor has a steep slope that is weeds. Can you advise any drought tolerant flowering ground cover for my yard, please? Depending on your soil and situation, any of these ground covers could be used to replace a lawn. An easy-to-care for ground cover, there are a few varieties of thyme to consider. Subject: non invasive ground cover. Yet very often gardeners will plant a fast-spreading ground cover without really giving thought to what it will do in the future. I am amazed at how hardy and successful creeping Jenny has been but am planning to incorporate creeping thyme for its change up in color and weed fighting abilities. Mazus reptans, commonly called mazus, is another low-maintenance perennial ground cover. (Major drought last year - ceaseless rain now). Planting ground cover in the Pacific Northwest must match with the area in your yard you wish to plant it. When flowering, it can reach up to 12 inches high. Jill Spencer (author) from United States on July 02, 2013: Thanks, Patricia. I have a pollinator garden in Florida. In summer, it has showy red flowers. Question: Can you tell me what ground cover begins with a p? This article has provided you with excellent choices ranging from 1 to 15, fast-growing ground covers for slopes. Create a landscape of non-invasive ground cover and clumping grasses with ornamental grass. Great choices! If you are looking for plants whose roots will stabilize a slope, you will need to install rooted plants or plant pieces that root easily such as hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis). Why nurseries recommend it: For fast-growing shade and privacy, as a ground cover, or for its edible blossoms. I was wondering if you might be interested in using a ground cover like red or white clover? Got your heart set on a plant but worried about its invasive qualities? How to Kill Invasive Ground Cover Plants. I hope it can rejuvenate the soil .. Answer: I don’t know. Use pachysandra to cover deeply shaded ground. Now: any additional suggestions besides Dragon's Blood for poor soil in dry, sunny spots? Do you have a slope that’s hard to mow? When the weather's hot, keep mazus moist. I have a Limelight Hydrangea tree nearby, but it hasn't grown much in two years. And it's easy to propagate; transplant small plugs from established plants in early spring or fall when they're not in bloom, or root cuttings during the summer and plant them in autumn. Dry and dusty hard packed clay soil on a dirt road (lovely!) So a large Rectangle shape running north to south. Not sure what to do. Thanks so much with help re groundcovers! #noninvasive #grasses #grass Zones: 4 to 7 Height: 3 to 6 inches Growing conditions: Part shade to full shade Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet The European ginger is a no-maintenance ground cover plant. Reply. So my question, is there anything could I plant that wouldn’t choke out the natural beauty but still cover the slope and choke out the weeds? Ground cover is really supposed to serve as a demure, understated underplanting to more important perennials, shrubs and trees. I’d rather replace my front lawn with ground over that dogs won’t want to walk on. Tell me your general geographical location, and I'll try to come up with some drought-tolerant groundcovers for you. Cotoneasters are popular garden shrubs and come in a range of forms and varieties. Jill Spencer (author) from United States on July 04, 2017: Paddy M, lots of herbs are distasteful to rabbits, including thyme and Greek oregano, both of which I use as a groundcover. Do you feel either the dragon's blood sedum or the Red Thyme wood work in fighting Leafy Spurge in sandy / dry soils (Saskatchewan near Saskatoon, Canada)? Ground cover plants for the shade help to provide greenery to areas where other plants don’t grow well. The word is derived f... I’m looking for some kind of bush or shrub or vine that will help to create a security barrier over a 3 foot high chain link fence, that will grow to around 5 or 6 feet or so, will look decent maybe with some nice blooms and if I’m lucky I can get aw... Red monkey flower (Diplacus puniceus) is an evergreen perennial that you ignore all year long for the sake of its arresting spring bloom, although it may flower on and off throughout the year. Relaible, Non-Invasive Ground Covers December 4, 2013 2 comments. Mazus works best in shade, but some cultivars of creeping phlox will also work. We want something that is nearly no maintenance (it is a large pong) and will keep out the weeds. Just be sure to choose the type of phlox that prefers moist soil. I need a good low growing, low maintainance, non vining ground cover to plant under a circle of red tipped photinias in my back yard. Well it is almost time to think of gardening again. Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 20, 2016: Hi Melissa! Good luck! Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 29, 2019: Before you select any plants, make sure they are right for your growing zone.You might try creeping raspberry, Rubus rolfei, which is a ground cover that does well in areas where moisture fluctuates. Just be sure to select ground covers that have the same light, water, and soil requirements. I always think of an ox when reading about it or hearing its name and for an obvious reason: it’s called oxalis. You might like Mimulus aurantiacus (bush monkey flower). You'll have to harvest the oregano to keep it looking good and low to the ground, but it's super hardy. http://extension.msstate.edu/vegetable-gardening-m... http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/tips/lawn_alte... https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/... http://extension.missouri.edu/main/aae.aspx. I'm glad the article was helpful and wish you much success as you experiment. It is so low growing, grows in the sunniest locations, survives drought, and although it grows pretty slowly...at least I don't have to worry about it invading my adjacent grassy areas. It's large variety. No surprise that successful ground covers can, in the wrong place, do their job too TOO well. You may have to divide the ground cover, too, and if you don't like the little flower stems that stick up after blooming, you'd have to trim them off. I just don't want to create a battle where I have to trim it back all the time. Read about the best flowering ground covers … I grow my calla lilies through creeping charlie. ps. 'Tricolor' has green, pink, and white variegated leaves. Question: Can I use ground cover plants as a mulch in my flower garden? I am excited to try all of these next spring. Struggling to grow grass in dry shade? Could you recommend a colorful ground covering that would be tolerant of that. Sorry about the lateness of this reply. We live very rural and the slope leads into a grassy gulley on the north and woodland on the east. Make a focal point with pampas grass, and feather reed grass, or grow a border along your garden with miscanthus, and switchgrass. Ruth Coffee from Zionsville, Indiana on June 11, 2018: Great information here. Houzz: Native Alternatives to English Ivy, Japanese Pachysandra and Periwinkle. Melissa has no green thump on August 20, 2016: I live near Republic, MO and we have a lot of weeds and the front of my house has big bushes I want to pull out, because they just collect a lot of leaves from our 30 trees we have on our 5 acres. Is 4 to 6 inches cover an area about 140 feet long and 55. Rather quickly, plant 2- to 3-inch seedlings or divisions on 6-inch centers shade and moist soil non invasive ground cover location! Cardboard or landscaping fabric and top with mulch for many years, but now it 's a lot of ha. 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