Did you know that the Extension office can provide recommendations for landscape plant options to meet your needs? Many landscapes are designed with specific focal plants such as flowers, shrubs, and trees, or even a nice lawn. However, there is another category of planting I find is often neglected but can provide significant value and balance – ground covers.
Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread across an area to provide a dense layer of vegetation with little maintenance required. Many ground covers are perennial, meaning they come back every year and don’t need constant replanting, which can make them particularly valuable when trying to stabilize soil and reduce erosion. Often, these plants are found in areas where turfgrass or other plants are difficult to establish and maintain – such as in heavy shade, poor soil conditions, or on steep slopes. Ground covers, particularly evergreen ones, can also be included in more traditional landscape beds to provide some added visual interest low to the ground.
Ground covers can range from a few inches to a foot or more in height. Some can become invasive once established and require maintenance to maintain in the desired area. However, most ground covers are fairly low maintenance, requiring small amounts of weeding, pruning, or fertilization on an annual basis. There are a wide variety of ground covers that can be used in our area. If you prefer the look of grasses, something like Mondo grass can be used as a perennial evergreen option. There are a few different ferns that can be used, or a juniper might better suit your needs. If you’d like to add some additional visual interest, several ground covers produce pretty flowers, such as moss phlox, creeping gardenia, daylilies, or carpet bugle. A variety of ground cover options can be found in UGA Bulletin 625, Landscape Plants for Georgia. Be sure to select ground cover options that match our hardiness zone – 7b, preferred exposure (sun vs shade), and your desired growth height.
Fall is a great time of year to add things to your landscape, as it allows plants to become established throughout the winter and be better prepared for our hot, dry summer next year. Before planting conduct a soil test and incorporate lime and fertilizer as needed. If a soil test isn’t possible, apply three pounds of a complete fertilizer like 5-10-15 per 100 square feet of planting space. You may consider adding 2-3” of compost to the area if needed to improve soil texture, however you do need to till any amendments into the soil to a depth of 6-10”. Proper spacing is another critical factor when planting ground covers – spacing plants too far allows weeds to invade before the ground cover is established; but spacing too closely can add expense. Just remember the larger the plant and it’s spread, the larger the space between individual plants. For example, junipers may need 4-5 feet spacing, daylilies need 2 ft spacing, and small plants like grasses or phlox do well with 1 ft spacing. Once you plant, plan to lightly mulch the area, but be sure to pull the mulch away from the base of each plant. Mulching conserves moisture and helps reduce weed growth. As your plants get established, you might need to do some hand weeding, but applying a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring can also help. Fertilize your new planting again in the spring and early summer to encourage vigorous growth.
Ground covers may not often be thought as the star of the landscape, but they can add a lot of visual interest, particularly in areas where other options fail to thrive. Ground covers are hardy and tolerant of difficult conditions, low-maintenance, and can be visually appealing. If you’d like more information on ground cover options or landscape plants, please contact us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
