Did you know that plants can act as a living mulch?
A “groundcover” plant is typically a hardy perennial that’s low maintenance, low growing, and will spread to form a dense carpet over bare ground. A groundcover’s roots help keep soil in place, particularly on hillsides where bark or other types of mulch might wash away in a heavy rain. The shade provided by a groundcover’s foliage can help regulate soil temperature and retain moisture.
In addition to providing the benefits of a traditional mulch, groundcovers can help keep weed seeds from reaching the soil, preventing germination. Flowering groundcovers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators. Their foliage may provide a home and food for beneficial insects. Those that fruit may attract birds to the garden.
If you like the look of neatly cropped grass but have trouble with the logistics of mowing on a hillside, consider Moss phlox (Phlox subulata). While not meant for heavy foot traffic, at only 2 to 4 inches in height, it offers a carpet of green year-round. In spring, moss phlox produces a dramatic display of white, pink or blue flowers. Hardy in United States Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 3 to 9, a single plant will spread about 24 inches and can be propagated by division or by rooting stem cuttings. It’s at home in borders, on hillsides, and in rock gardens. It grows best in full sun.
The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has a low-growth habit of only 4 to 6 inches in height. It is hardy in Zones 3 to 7, its evergreen foliage can serve as a groundcover in sunny areas, and its fruit is edible.
Coral bells (Heuchera) add color to areas of part sun to full shade. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, the scalloped foliage of these evergreen, mounding plants is the star. Varieties are available in shades ranging from deep purple to red, burgundy, peach, and even vibrant lime green. In late spring or early summer, it produces small flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is hardy in Zones 3 to 8, depending on the variety. It forms 12-inch-high mounds of scalloped leaves that will turn brown as temperatures drop in the fall. New growth appears in early spring. In summer, lady’s mantle is covered in waves of yellow flowers.
Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum) and other ferns are deer resistant and at home in full shade. Ferns are generally hardy in Zones 3 to 8. Mature size and whether foliage remains evergreen or dies back in fall depends on the variety.
Groundcovers are often a mass planting of a single type of plant. However, it can be more visually interesting, for example, to use a variety of ferns or a combination of hosta, coral bells, and lady’s mantle on a shady slope.
When selecting a groundcover plant, be sure to take into consideration its mature size. Space plants accordingly, using a traditional mulch between plants until they mature and fill in the area between them.
Once you’ve decided to use groundcover plants in your garden, the most difficult question you’ll need to answer is: which one?
If you have questions about groundcovers or anything related to your home garden, contact the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener Helpline online at https://go.uvm.edu/gardenhelpline or by phone at 802-656-5421 on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. between April and October.
