6 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds

Jill enjoys cooking, abstract painting, stewardship & learning about gardening through the MD Native Plant Society.

6 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants

Hardy ground covers can not only improve the appearance of your yard, but they can also significantly reduce the amount of time you spend weeding.

Need coverage for a dry area that gets full sun? Struggling to grow grass in dry shade? Or perhaps your landscape suffers from boggy patches marred by bald spots and scraggly weeds.

One of the perennial ground covers below could be the perfect solution to your problem. Each grows thickly, choking out weeds as it spreads. And each requires little care to thrive where few other plants will grow.

1. Golden Creeping Jenny

Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a rugged ground cover hardy in zones 3-9.* It thrives in wet areas. Although it grows in partial shade, for best color, grow it in full sun. Its long, trailing stems have round chartreuse leaves and yellow flowers.

Creeping Jenny covers large areas quickly, putting out roots all along its stems and choking out weeds.

Use it to ring a pond, trail along a wall, or edge a walkway. It even makes a great spiller in mixed container gardens. Although creeping Jenny can be an aggressive grower, the cultivar "Aurea" is relatively well-behaved.

2. Mazus

Mazus reptans, commonly called mazus, is another low-maintenance perennial ground cover. Suitable for Zones 4-9, it performs best in part shade, but it will grow in full shade, too.

When the weather's hot, keep mazus moist. In mild climates, it remains green year round and begins blooming in early spring. If conditions are right, it will bloom throughout summer, sometimes even into fall.

At just two inches tall, mazus is the perfect ground cover to plant between stepping stones and along walls. 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.

3. Phlox Stolonifera

Tufted creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is a North American native that prefers partial sun or shade and moist soil. It has needle-like evergreen leaves that form a dense mat to effectively suppress weeds. In full-sun, dry areas, Phlox subulata forms a thick, pretty carpet that keeps weeds at bay.

In early spring, it produces small white or pink flowers. The 'home fires' variety is a fragrant cultivar with hot pink blooms. When flowering, it can reach up to 12 inches high.

4. Phlox Subulata

For erosion control, few ground covers work better than creeping phlox (Phlox subulata).

It loves full sun, it's drought-tolerant, and it isn't picky about soil quality. Phlox subulata cultivars come in a variety of flower colors, including white, blue, red, and pink.

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Like tufted creeping phlox, Phlox subulata has needle-like evergreen leaves.

5. Red Creeping Thyme

Red creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum coccineus ) is a heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant ground cover that grows in zones 3 to 9. It likes full sun and grows close to the ground at only two to four-inches tall. It's deer-resistant, too.

Plant it around stepping stones; it gives off a delightful scent when stepped on. Or plant it by walls, along borders, and in other areas that are difficult to weed.

Red creeping thyme adds attractive, deep green color to your landscape throughout spring, but it's most beautiful in summer when it erupts in gorgeous crimson flowers. It really, really chokes out the weeds, forming a thick mat.

We grew our thyme from seed, but you can also purchase organic plug trays for quicker results.

6. Dragon's Blood Sedum

Dragon's blood sedum may be the hardiest and most versatile of all weed-suppressing ground covers.

A cultivar of the succulent Sedum spurium, dragon's blood ('Schorbuser Blut') is hardy in Zones 3-8. Not only does it grow in full sun as well as partial shade, but it also thrives in poor soil.

Like creeping Jenny, dragon's blood sedum has trailing stems that root easily, so it's a snap to propagate. It does well in containers, rock gardens, and places where little else (besides weeds) will grow.

Dragon's blood sedum looks good year-round. In spring, it produces bright green leaves that turn maroon as temperatures drop. In summer, it has showy red flowers.

Less hardy Sedum spurium cultivars include ‘red carpet,' which has red leaves, and ‘voodoo,' which has mahogany-colored leaves. 'John Creech,' is a smaller, slower growing cultivar that produces pretty pink blossoms in fall. 'Tricolor' has green, pink, and white variegated leaves.

No matter which variety you grow, pollinators will be drawn to its broad flower heads.

FAQs

Can I replace my lawn with a low-maintenance ground cover?

Depending on your soil and situation, any of these ground covers could be used to replace a lawn. Any of these plants would require less maintenance than a lawn would, especially the ones that don't need a lot of water.

Which ground covers don't need mowing?

None of the plants mentioned above needs mowing.

Which ground covers are low-growing and hug the ground?

The tallest mentioned here is Phlox stolonifera, which is 12" at its tallest.

Which weed suppressors are best for shade?

Mazus works best in shade, but some cultivars of creeping phlox will also work.

Which are the best flowering weed suppressors?

Every type mentioned here is flowering, although mazus and phlox have the showiest blooms. Although the others flower, they don't produce stand-out blooms. Golden creeping Jenny has yellow flowers, mazus and creeping phlox have lavender flowers, phlox stolonifera's are white or pink, phlox subulata's are white, blue, red, or pink, and both creeping thyme and dragon's blood are red.

Which is the fastest-growing ground cover?

Creeping Jenny is a fast grower, and thyme will gain about half its size by the next year, but really how fast any plant spreads depends upon how well it likes the conditions. They are not invasives.

Which Hardiness Zone Do You Live In?

If you don't know your area's plant hardiness zone, go to EdibleLandscapeDesign.com for links to zone maps in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, New Zealand, North America, South America, and the U.S.

More Ground Covers to Consider

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: I am in Zone 10 (Southern California). I have very sloppy, sunny hillside with many weeds. I love all your flowering ground cover mentioned above, but they are all in the Zone 4-9. Can you advise any drought tolerant flowering ground cover for my yard, please?

Answer: Some ice plants are hardy in Zones 9-11. Sometimes in arid climates, you’ll see them planted along highways. They have lovely flowers and are drought tolerant.

Question: Can I use ground cover plants as a mulch in my flower garden?

Answer: Gardeners do use ground covers like a mulch, to hold moisture and prevent erosion. I would be careful, however, to keep some space between plants and the ground cover to prevent rust, mildew, and other problems.

Question: Can you tell me what ground cover begins with a p? Mine is growing in a flower garden. I have never seen it before.

Answer: Could it be phlox? If you really want to know, take a photo of it with your phone and send the picture to https://ask.extension.org/ask

Question: What zone is northern Mississippi?

Answer: It varies by county. To determine the zone you live in, follow this a link to a map provided by the Mississippi State University Extension: http://extension.msstate.edu/vegetable-gardening-m...

Question: Which low-maintenance groundcover can stand full sun AND be planted in a bed with perennials such as daylilies, iris, black-eyed Susan, and such?

Answer: Any of these will grow in full sun; however, creeping Jenny, mazus and Phlox Stolonifera prefer moist conditions. I think creeping thyme and/or creeping phlox would work well in the sort of mixed bed you're describing. They would require maintenance, but not more than day lilies, iris, and black-eyed Susan, which have to be cut back and divided. 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.

Question: Will any of these ground covers compete/choke a ninety-year-old red oak tree? I have had a berm with mulch for many years, but buckthorn & weeds continuously overtake it. Landscapers always want to use PREEN and Roundup--I won't let them jeopardize the oak, but I was wondering if ground cover will take too many nutrients and water?

Answer: I completely agree with you about the Roundup, etc. I doubt any groundcover would harm your oak unless it is already on its last legs, but why don't you use landscaping fabric or heavy cardboard over the weeds and mulch underneath the oak to the drip line? The dripline is the area below the outer circumference of the tree branches. Water drips from it sort of like it does from an umbrella. The drip line area is also called the Critical Root Zone (CRZ) or Root Protection Zone (RPZ).

Question: Are these ground covers all okay to step on and soft enough for bare feet?

Answer: You can walk on the thyme, but you could cause plant damage if you step on the others. None of them have thorns, so they shouldn't hurt your bare feet.

Question: What do I do to keep a gardenia living and blooming?

Answer: Hi, I don't have any experience growing gardenias, so I'm including links to two articles you might find helpful: https://discover.hubpages.com/living/howtogrowgard... AND https://dengarden.com/gardening/Gardenia-Problems

Question: Can you mix different ground covers together?

Answer: Sure, you can mix ground covers together. Just be sure to select ground covers that have the same light, water, and soil requirements. Even so, you'll probably find that one of the ground covers you plant becomes dominate.

Question: Will low-maintenance ground covers choke out other flowers if planted in a flower bed?

Answer: Creeping Jenny might be a problem if it likes the area and you don't buy a cultivar that's slow growing. The others, however, not so much, especially thyme, which is slow growing. What service each of these plants does perform, however, is that where they do grow, they grow tightly, making it less likely you'll have to weed. In eight years I've only had to weed my thyme patch once to root out a single dandelion.

Question: What flowering zone is 28715?

Answer: Here's a link to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/. Looks like you're in Zone 7a.

Question: We live in a dry area along the Snake River in southern Idaho. Our neighbor has a steep slope that is weeds. We have permission to treat it as our own to stop the ugly weed growth. It is steep, dry, gets a lot of sun midday. I was thinking Vinca or a hardy Phlox as we need fast growing. What do you think?

Answer: I would not recommend Vinca minor or Vinca major if the area is near a natural area as both are aggressive growers and invasive. They also develop wilt if they're not regularly thinned. Hardy phlox is both hardy and long-lived, and will give you a gorgeous show once it's established. Best of luck to you!

Question: Why did my creeping thyme seeds not germinate?

Answer: I don’t know. Many factors affect germination. Where do you live, when did you sow, what process did you use, and how did you care for the seeds after sowing?

Question: How do I find my planting hardiness zone?

Answer: Here's the web address for the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Question: I live in Puerto Rico. I have a hillside that needs low growing, weed-suppressing plants that will grow by broadcasting seeds. It is very steep and mostly sunny. What plant will best suit my growing needs?

Answer: Thyme is a good choice, and there are lots of varieties to choose from. I use it in our landscape and rarely have to weed it because it forms such a thick mat of vegetation.

Question: Where can I purchase ground cover seeds?

Answer: Many outlets sell ground cover seeds. I'm not sure if Outside Pride, Seeds Needs, or Southern Exposure have the particular seeds you want, but I've had good experiences in purchasing from all three, particularly the last.

Question: Can I combine Jenny with Phlox to replace areas where grass will not grow well for a mix of plants?

Answer: That would be lovely. Just be sure to choose the type of phlox that prefers moist soil. Also, expect one of the plants to dominate, as one will probably love the light and soil conditions better than the other.

Question: Are any of these plants deer resistant?

Answer: Creeping phlox tolerates deer damage fairly well. The other plants could be considered deer resistant; however, that doesn't mean deer won't sometimes eat them or at least take a bite and then decide they don't want to graze those particular plants.

Question: I am in zone 3b/4a (Lindstrom MN). I’m looking for fast spreading groundcover that will grow effectively around the edge of a pond and choke out all weeds up to waters edge. The area is approx 40’ x 15’. Full/Partial sun. I would like to just throw seed down and see what will come up. Needs to be deer/rabbit resistant. Do you have any recommendations?

Answer: Phlox borealis (Arctic Phlox) might be a good choice. It forms a dense carpet about four inches high, has dark green leaves, and is almost evergreen. You should look it up and see if it will work given your area's qualities: amount of sunlight the area receives, type of soil, how it lies, etc.

Question: I live in Glendale, CA. What is my climate zone?

Answer: It's 9a, 10a, or 10b, depending on your zip code. To find your exact zone, go to https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Question: What zone would Northern Mississippi be?

Answer: You're in 7a or 8b, depending on your location. Here's a link to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map for your state: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#

© 2011 Jill Spencer

Comments

Suzette on July 19, 2020:

Hi, i have a flower bed that is constantly overgrown with weeds. I currently have hostas, lillies, and a few other plants, along wih a ground.cover that has a bloom that looks like blue bells. I want to be able to cover the weed area with some ground cover that won't harm my plants

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 06, 2020:

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I was wondering if you might be interested in using a ground cover like red or white clover? Both are good for the soil, reduce erosion, and have attractive blooms.

pauljs154@yahoo.com on June 05, 2020:

We have a hill behind our home that is mostly composed of weeds. Keeping the weeds down needs 3-4 cuttings each spring/summer. The angle is difficult for us as we are 65 years old. The area faces east Behind our home and is covered by tall trees about 20%. The rest is open. It is an area about 140 feet long and about 55 feet wide from the back of the house to the back property line. So a large Rectangle shape running north to south.

We desperately need to put down a covering this year as the work to cut down the overgrowth of weeds is to difficult for us. Can you recommend a nice looking and colorful covering that does not require much work to apply? Also are there any books or magazines with instructions to aid us?

Thanks,

Paul and Laurie

Debbie on May 22, 2020:

Are any of these ground covers safe for dogs and cats?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on September 04, 2019:

Hi, Kathy. If you're trying to keep down weeds in a vegetable garden, you may want to try plastic sheeting or some other type of mulch. Growing other plants around your veg could attract insects, lead to mildew or rust, and use the soil nutrients your vegetables could be using. Just a thought. Best, Jill

Kathy on September 04, 2019:

Are there any ground covers that would work to keep weeds at bay but allow vegetables to grow in gardens?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 29, 2019:

Hi, Zan!

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. It's good in Zones 6-9. Phlox subulata would also be a good choice (Zones 3-9). Other plants you might like to add, which aren't actually ground covers, but are good "rain garden" plants, are Amsonia Blue Ice; Asclepias incarnata, Rose (Swamp) Milkweed; Echinacea pallida, Pale Purple Coneflower. These would give you color from spring to fall but would require some maintenance (like deadheading). Again, just check first to make sure they're appropriate for your zone. Best of luck! Jill

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 29, 2019:

Hi, Zan!

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. It's good in Zones 6-9. Phlox subulata would also be a good choice (Zones 3-9). Other plants you might like to add, which aren't actually ground covers, but are good "rain garden" plants, are Amsonia Blue Ice; Asclepias incarnata, Rose (Swamp) Milkweed; Echinacea pallida, Pale Purple Coneflower. These would give you color from spring to fall but would require some maintenance (like deadheading). Again, just check first to make sure they're appropriate for your zone. Best of luck! Jill

Zan Wilson on June 29, 2019:

Very helpful article. We have a pond with steep slopes of varying quality soil. It is sometimes flooded by the pond but only for a few hours at a time, sometimes very wet but can be very dry in late summer. However, Johnson grass and weeds grow great! It is too steep to mow effectively. We want something that is nearly no maintenance (it is a large pong) and will keep out the weeds. Fast growth would be nice as long as it won't take over our mowed yard; however, we can be patient. We'd love beautiful flowers too.

What would you suggest?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on April 08, 2019:

Hi Lille,

Have you considered putting down cardboard or plastic for a few weeks? That should kill the weeds, allowing you to take up a layer of roots and seeds. Then apply a barrier like cardboard or landscaping fabric and top with mulch. Good luck!

Peggy Seme on April 08, 2019:

I am in 6A, NJ and have several problem areas. One is extremely wet all year. The only time it was partially dry was when we had no rain for 2-3 weeks. The water pours out of the mountain and from what I can see on the Highlands Water Preservation it is the headwater to the stream.

So I would love something I can plant there that doesn't need mowing nor much maintenance as I sink to my ankles. SHADY

I also have a full sun area that I want a ground cover for that is non-invasive, low, perennial with some added color as it is in front of the house. I was thinking of some different ice plants not sure if they are invasive or not.

Lilla Ross on November 15, 2018:

I have a pollinator garden in Florida. I killed my St. Augustine grass several years ago and last year planted frog fruit. It's large variety. It looked nice at first but now weeds have taken over and the yard looks awful. If i keep it mowed, the frog fruit doesn't bloom and looks awful. If i don't mow, the frog fruit looks great but weeds take over. Not sure what to do. Thinking of trying to kill everything and start over.

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on November 07, 2018:

I do need some of all of these!!! Lovely lovely blossoms catch my eye every time. Angels are on the way this evening. ps

Donna Hall on October 29, 2018:

I live in Alpharetta, GA and I’m looking for plant to go on a berm with full sun. I want to plant it and forget about it! I will be planting Green Giants on top of the berm for a privacy screen.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on July 06, 2018:

Ooh, Ruth, that's a type I've never grown. It sounds lovely.

Ruth Coffee from Zionsville, Indiana on June 11, 2018:

Great information here. I have some Elfin Thyme that I love. 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.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 17, 2018:

I'm sorry you're having problems, Vlad. Without seeing the area, I'm not sure what to say except perhaps two things. The problem might be compaction. Is the ground extremely hard? If so, you may have to add organic matter to ameliorate the problem somewhat when installing new plants. Also, are you watering the new plants each morning? Although they're relatively care-free once they're established, they need daily watering until they are established.

Vlad on May 17, 2018:

I have read again and again about creating thyme fast groth but I have no success with it I have a big front lawn that I want to convert to no grass lawn. I tried planting. Several 6 inch pots of red carpet thyme in the corner and couple of 6 inch pots of phlox as well. Most of the thyme is dead. I got one to take but it barely covers the 10 inch spot. The phlox is a live but not spreading at all. How fast are we talking about?

TommyO on April 15, 2018:

I live on a corner lot that neighboring dog walkers use too often. People with their 16-20 ft leashes are a nuisance and I am constantly dealing with poop and urine stains. I don’t want to Chile or Pepper flake my yard as I have a dog as well but he’s well behaved and only goes where directed. But the scents of other dogs on our property attracts him and I don’t want him getting a snoot full of pepper. I’d rather replace my front lawn with ground over that dogs won’t want to walk on. Any suggestions. Thank you...

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on April 14, 2018:

Thank you, Roberta! You know, you were the first hubber to befriend me here. It meant a lot. Thanks for the encouragement then and now

RTalloni on April 06, 2018:

Enjoyed this post on ground covers. 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.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on April 06, 2018:

Hi Scott, weeds around your roses will attract pests. Also, roses are prone to mildew, so good ventilation is a must for keeping them healthy. You can increase air flow through pruning and by keeping some area around each rose bush clear. Good luck to you! Best,Jill

LinzB13 on March 30, 2018:

Hello Jill,

Was wondering if I could get your thoughts?

I live in zone 6 (Northern Idaho). I have a north facing slope that curves around to the east. In the summer the slope is covered in weeds. A lot of mullein and lambs ear which I don’t mind but then there are huge thistles that are just scary. I noticed creeping Jenny is listed on my local native plant society. We live very rural and the slope leads into a grassy gulley on the north and woodland on the east. I don’t want to mess with either of those natural habitats. 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? Also, given the enormity of my thistles would I need to dig them up prior to planting a ground cover?

Scott Davis on March 16, 2018:

Hi Jill love your article as we are removing most of our backyard lawn in favor of drought tolerant ground cover ( don't know what kind yet, may be 2 or 3 in waves ).

You mentioned in one of your comments that roses need ventilation. We have a bed with Bottle Brush and a white rose with Lipia Nordiflora ground cover. Will this bother the rose?

Catherine on February 10, 2018:

This article was so helpful! Thank you for the information.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on January 11, 2018:

Red creeping thyme will grow out of the bed, but . . . I like that! It's rather sweet to see it growing between the cracks of a stone border or draping out of the bed onto the sidewalk. That sort of the thing, however, probably won't happen quickly unless you set your seeds there, so . . . you wouldn't be trimming it back all the time. Hope it works for you! It's a lovely plant and very compact.

Moriah on January 11, 2018:

I'm looking for something that would completely take over a bed, and so far the creeping thyme sounds like a great match. Does this do well in a smaller bed? 10x3' is about the size of it, and is surrounded by concrete. I just don't want to create a battle where I have to trim it back all the time.

Kay on December 09, 2017:

Loved reading this and inspired me :)

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on October 24, 2017:

Hi Jill Such helpful information...I am looking for ground cover and it looks like I came the right spot.

Angels are on the way this morning ps

g bishop on October 22, 2017:

i have a sloping large lot (29thousand sq.feet)zone 8 , what would work best in sandy soil and 2hour watering times

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on September 25, 2017:

Awesome, Amy. I wish you well and hope you always go the natural way when controlling weeds. Some of them are really cool. All the best, Jill

Amy F. on September 24, 2017:

I am so happy to have found this. Thank you for the great information. We have a yard we are starting from scratch and have a ton of weeds that have spread from the open field behind our house. I am excited to try all of these next spring.

Diane L. on September 02, 2017:

Thank you so much Jill, I truly appreciate it!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on September 02, 2017:

Hi Diane! Sweet fern and bearberry are possibilities if it's dry shade. Also, epimedium. Good luck to you!

Diane L. on September 02, 2017:

Hi. I live in Zone 9a, Marion county Fl. I have about 150 sq. Ft. area that I need to cover. It is North side of home, sees no direct sun. I need weed control, and hopefully something about 8-inches tall or so. I do not care it it is flowering or not. Low maintenance, sandy soil. Thank you so much!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 20, 2017:

Mazus would be a good choice for you, Ginger. Good luck!

Ginger on August 20, 2017:

I have a spot with limited sun and in need of ground cover so the dirt will not wash away on a slight slop on the East side of my yard. .

Thanks for sharing

Bobbi on August 03, 2017:

I have an area in front of my deck that will occasionally hold water if we have a lot of rain. Could you recommend a colorful ground covering that would be tolerant of that. I live in zone 7. Thank you.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on July 19, 2017:

Hi Suzann, Is the island in shade or full sun? And do you know the type of weeds that are growing there now? --Jill

Suzann on July 18, 2017:

I have a pond with a small island in my backyard. I'm looking for ground cover for the island so I don't have to wade through the pond to maintain grass or other plants. I'd like something that is only a few inches tall and flowers would be a definite bonus. I live is southern Pennsylvania.

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. You'll have to harvest the oregano to keep it looking good and low to the ground, but it's super hardy. Best to you!

Liz, Sorry it's take me so long to respond. Your question sort of threw me. I don't think of grass as being particularly thick as it has a short root system and is not particularly good about absorbing water-- sort of like a thin towel. You might consider putting down cardboard over the grassy areas and then topping it with about two inches of mulch, then planting a thick-locking groundcover like thyme or sedum Angelica in the in-between areas. I had difficulty with nutsedge popping up in the Angelica at first, but now it's a thick chartreuse carpet. Best to you! Jill

Paddy M on July 04, 2017:

Looking for a ground cover that is the most rabbit resistant. Cannot ask for rabbit proof, no such plant. They set back my spirea. I will cage them this fall. But do need a really good ground cover. Flowers would be nice but not essential. Thank you. Happy 4th

Liz Schmidt on June 16, 2017:

We are looking for a vigorous ground cover to overcome grass that has taken over in our perennial beds. I know grass has a thick root system that makes it hard for our desirable plants to get water and nutrients. Do any of these ground covers have super-thick root systems like grass?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 07, 2017:

Hi Shawna,

Reading your comment makes me excited about your projects too!

I love creeping thyme and have some near a rose bush. Over the last couple of years it has moved itself away from the bush toward the rocky edging. Plants have a way of doing that! I find that ice plants "travel" on me too.

Since roses need good ventilation, I didn't mind too much and planted clumps of chives a good foot or so away as companion plants and, off the to side, the herb feverfew, which repels pests of all sorts.

The thyme really can stand up to foot traffic. I also find that if I plant among it, the disturbed area looks good within a day or two. You shouldn't need to water it after it's established.

Mazus or creeping jenny would work well around your lilies. I grow my calla lilies through creeping charlie. Yes, I know it's strictly a weed! lol

I've had success with sedum rupestre 'Angelina' in the same area. At first I didn't like it because nutbsedge kept growing through it, but as it's become more established, it's suppressed the nutsedge and is now a lovely green/gold carpet that keeps its color in winter, turning a bit red when it's really cold.

I think using sedums on the slope is a great idea, but you probably will need to weed a little bit until they get established. I think that's true with any groundcover unless it's an invasive plant, and then you'd have another sort of weeding to do!

I'm glad the article was helpful and wish you much success as you experiment.

Best,

Jill

Shawna on June 07, 2017:

GREAT article! I have been trying to choose some groundcovers for 3 areas - and I have been studying the ones you listed. I live in NC, Zone 7b.

One area is by my hedge roses - in the flower bed between them and the next row. I had to leave at least 12" to walk through to prune and treat roses. I was thinking creeping thyme or mavus bc sunny, and will get water some when I water the roses - or I CAN water it. Also, of big importance is that it is possible to walk on creeping thyme. Do any of the others have that quality?

Second, I need something over and around my oriental lilies. I understand they will grow up through mazus... But maybe not through the others??

Third, I just need something between new plants in a new flower Bed I am opening. It was going to be on top of a slope, but now I think it will be on the actual slope - so that people will see it. I am using drought tolerant plants, and I do NOT want to have to weed every week OR drag in tons of mulch every year. So, I think a combo of ice plants (6 total max), stonecrop (I have 6 total i can use and 2 of those are Fuldaglut - which you've mentioned), and creeping thyme, or mazus. I hope i won't be doing much watering after the first year.

I am up tonight ordering the last few plants for this project (#3 above) because a good clearance is ending! If it helps you help me, I am trying to focus on various shades of pink and purple at this location. Maybe white groundcover? Purple mixed with lavender butterfly bushes, pink cotton candy muhly grass, pink armeria, probably Lord Lieutenant Windflowers (blue-ish purple), French Lingerie reblooming daylilies, maybe a Millenium Globeflower, maybe Lilac Sensation OR Josee Lilac. I will add a bright crape myrtle in the fall - UNLESS you have a suggestion for a long or multi-season interest tree. Potentially a gardens because I may have a spare later. I'm struggling re choosing tall plants/trees. I have a Limelight Hydrangea tree nearby, but it hasn't grown much in two years. Soul is compacted, and it is a hot location. (Major drought last year - ceaseless rain now). Sorry to go on so much... I'm actually planning this tonight and I'm excited. I don't know if a wider person would add more plants for their foliage... Thanks so much with help re groundcovers! BEST article I have found! Definitely!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 06, 2017:

Karen, that depends on many factors, including what the area is like, what you're sowing and when you're sowing it. You may want to ask your local extension agent.

Karen Howell on June 06, 2017:

Can I just broadcast seed the area?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 18, 2017:

Hi Jan. Sometimes sedum and ice move on me. I plant them in one location, and five years later the patch is four feet away from where it began. When that happens, I take small chunks of established plants and plant them in the bare patches, then water them well. Sedum is fairly easy to start this way. Best! JIll

Jan on May 17, 2017:

I have a large sectioned area that I planted 2 types of sedum in several years ago. The soil is more on the sandy side. My problem is that it seems to be cultivating more weeds because the sedum doesn't seem to grow really thick. Any ideas on how to get the sedum to thicken up in order to choke out the weeds? I live in zone 5.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on April 25, 2017:

Hi Stu,

I'm sending you a link to the CA native plant society website. (I belong to the MD native plant society.) http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/tips/lawn_alte... The site which has recommendations for native plants you might like to use to naturalize that shady area of your property. You might like Mimulus aurantiacus (bush monkey flower). It tolerates shade and has a cheerful yellow bloom. Best to you!

Stu on April 01, 2017:

Hi There,

My house in Lake Arrowhead, CA is taken over by weeds. Very shady, drought can be an issue in CA. Oak Trees block the sun. House is at 5,500 elevation, 18 miles south of Big Bear. What covering should I use? My wife does not want weed killing chemical spraying. Help! thanks.

Ethel on February 04, 2017:

I'm so very glad to has discovered this site. I live in Tampa Florida..in the City..but still a neighborhood that enjoys a quarterly "Best Yard" notice! My home faces the North and I have plenty of weeds...I keep them mowed to save face...but weeding the entire yard wood leave me with sand. What would you recommend or suggest to help me possibly get thru this heart ache? Except re-sodding, and if I have to do that..I might just cement it! Disparately seeking help!

LStuart on October 01, 2016:

Hi, we just bought a new house and there is no landscaping at all, just dirt and weeds starting to grow. I am going to plant some Spring bulbs and some trees and bushes now during Fall here in Northern Utah. And then I want to plant a ground covering to choke out the weeds in the landscaped areas. Is it best to plant the ground covering in Fall or wait til Spring? Also, my main concern, is will the ground covering choke out the bulbs from coming up year after year? And will the ground covering jump the curbing and start growing in the grassy areas? I want to avoid landscape fabric because it doesn't work well from my experience. Thanks so much!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on September 26, 2016:

Mona, you might want to use a green manure crop, which you grow until just before it blooms and then till into the soil to increase soil fertility. Here's an article about them from Mother Earth News: https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/...

All the best to you! Jill

Muna on September 25, 2016:

Hi, enjoyed the article !! i have a 200sqm area that was a lawn area before i travel.. It has become a weed area, i am planning to design it next year..however i need to clean it and grow land cover in the mean time. What would be a fast growing , yet easy to pull out ground cover in south Australia , full sun , preferably less watering during summer. I hope it can rejuvenate the soil .. I will appreciate feedback on possible options. Many thanks.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 20, 2016:

Hi Melissa! I'm passing along to you a link to your area extension service so that you can ask a gardening expert in your state (mostly likely a professor) about the best choices for that area of your yard. You will probably want to choose native plants, which will require less maintenance than non-natives. Anyway . . . here's the link: http://extension.missouri.edu/main/aae.aspx

All the best! Jill

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. I have young baby, so don't want high maintenance, and currently have a lot of wasps living in the front bushes as well... Is there something you would recommend to plant here? It is partial shade or mostly shaded area.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 03, 2015:

Hi "Leafy Splurge." There's a new dragon's blood sedum called Sedum spurium "Fulda Glow" (Fuldaglut ) you might want to try in your Zone 3 garden. I have no practical experience with it, but it's supposed to be hardier than the other varieties and stay somewhat green even in subzero temps. Good luck!

Leafy Spurge issue on August 02, 2015:

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)? We are looking for ways to cut down or get rid of chemicals while getting control of this weed.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 02, 2014:

Very true, Sarah. Ground covers that crowd out the weeds are a perfect solution. Thanks for commenting! All the best, Jill

Sarah Sarich on August 01, 2014:

I was needing something like this. My kids keep insisting on weeding the places that have no plants in them. This is much easier for them, but makes overall maintenance harder for me. SOMETHING has to fill in the dirt before the weeds come back.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on July 02, 2013:

Thanks, Patricia. I love the creeping thyme. It's really, really tight and the blooms are pretty, too. Thanks for commenting!--Jill

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on July 02, 2013:

O, Jill, these are lovely enough to used solely for the beauty they impart. But knowing that they serve the purpose of helping them to control weeds makes them all the more appealing.

Thanks for sharing. This is being bookmarked for later reference.

Pinned.

Angels are on the way ps

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 31, 2012:

Thanks, rbm! Hope the phlox works for you. Thanks for stopping by.

rbm on May 31, 2012:

Good information! I really like the creeping phlox, will give this a try in my front yard. Good hub!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 28, 2012:

Hope the dragon's blood does well for you, quester. It's a good looking plant, even when it's not blooming. Take care, Jill

quester.ltd on May 27, 2012:

another great Hub! - going to try the dragon's blood - since we use an herbal med by the same name - works wonders so I see if the plant will work wonders for a poor area - thanks

q

Jakob Barry on February 27, 2012:

Great choices! Especially the thyme. I use herbs mulching around them for these situations because they are so useful. Thanks for a great hub.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 24, 2011:

So many people seem to dislike mint, but like you I'm really fond of it. Working with it is so pleasant because it smells so good! Thanks for the vote! Take care, Jill

Zach from Colorado on August 24, 2011:

Thanks for the information. I've used Creeping Jenny before around the house, and it grows very nicely and I never have weeds around it. I also like to use mint species for ground cover. Spearmint, lemon balm, and other garden mints are perfect. Voted up

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 04, 2011:

Thanks for reading, fdoleac. Hope you give dragon's blood a try. It really is a remarkable plant!

fdoleac from Hollis, New Hampshire on August 04, 2011:

Thank you for this information. Of particular interest is the dragon's blood sedum.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on June 21, 2011:

Awesome! Happy you stopped by, MysteryPlanet, and good luck with your gardening project. --DF

MysteryPlanet on June 21, 2011:

Believe it or not I was looking for just this information. We had an area to get filled in recently and I need a good ground cover to plant in the area

M.S. Ross on May 17, 2011:

Talking too much? Pshaw! Your pearls of knowledge are heartily welcomed! Thank you!! I'll keep you posted on my progress. :)

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 17, 2011:

Sounds like we have some of the same issues! I'm in Zone 8. Soil compaction will probably be your greatest challenge. Red creeping thyme would work where you are, and so would ice, although it allows a few weeds to peek through, but it spreads like a dream. On banks, try Scarlet Flame Carpet Phlox or moonbeam coreopsis (drought tolerant and it has a sweet flower). If you want even more color, you could use daylilies, too. Exploded pumpkin daylilies won't choke out all the weeds like a thick groundcover, but deer don't seem to like that particular cultivar, and they bloom more than once. They're easy to naturalize, so they'll spread on their own. Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (a hardy variety of black-eyed Susan) spreads like a weed here. It blooms a long time and looks interesting in the winter, too, if you don't cut back the flowers. Wow! I'm talking way too much! Wish you luck!

M.S. Ross on May 16, 2011:

Thanks to your Backyard Gardener link, I determined that I'm in a zone 9 region. Dry and dusty hard packed clay soil on a dirt road (lovely!) that is excellent at breeding waves of weeds. I need to put 'em down once and for all with some tenacious ground cover. I'd like to do so with some variety since there's a lot of (ha!) ground to cover.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 16, 2011:

Thanks for the positive feedback, Miss Mellie. I really appreciate the encouragement! Tell me your general geographical location, and I'll try to come up with some drought-tolerant groundcovers for you.

M.S. Ross on May 16, 2011:

Voted up and useful: I've been looking for some weed-choking ground cover, and here you supply the very ideas I need! Now: any additional suggestions besides Dragon's Blood for poor soil in dry, sunny spots? I have slope areas to cover, and would love to see more options, particularly plants that get along with minimal to no care aside from watering.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 09, 2011:

That's great! Hope it works out.

sam3m from New York on May 09, 2011:

thanks, we were just talking about a problem area in our yard and you may have solved the problem.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 09, 2011:

Thanks, Eiddwen. Btw, I really liked your Barley Saturday hub (https://hubpages.com/hub/Join-me-on-Barley-Saturda... The pictures were great!

Eiddwen from Wales on May 09, 2011:

A very useful hub and well presented.

Useful/up for this one.

Thanks for sharing and take care

Eiddwen.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 09, 2011:

What a great choice! I like burgandy colors in the garden, too. Thanks for stopping by!

Esmeowl12 on May 09, 2011:

Thanks so much for these ideas. I'm definitely going to try the dragon's blood sedum. Great hub!