Low Maintenance Ground Cover Plants Full Sun & Shade

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Ground cover plants are low-growing plants that serve many different purposes in your front or back yard landscaping.

Need coverage for a dry area in your yard that gets full sun? Struggling to grow grass in the shade? Or does your landscape suffer from patchy bald spots and scraggly weeds?

One of the perennial ground covers below could be the perfect solution to your problem!

Each of these picks grows hardy and thick to choke out weeds as they spread. The best part is that these ground covers require little to no maintenance to thrive and grow!

 

 

 

7 ground cover plant solutions you need in your yard today

Ground covers can help with limiting weed growth and can also add design, interest and texture to your yard. And unlike regular lawn grass, ground cover plants don’t require mowing!

They not only improve your yard’s appearance, but can also reduce the amount of time you spend plucking or spraying pesky weeds.

 

 

1. Lilyturf 

Lilyturf is an aggressive weed-suppressing ground cover that spreads quickly to form a thick carpet of green foliage. Lilyturf requires almost no maintenance and thrives in sun or shady spaces.

 

 

 

2. Lavender 

Lavender makes a fragrant ground cover for dry, hot areas. With two or three years of planting, lavender spreads to form a thick ground cover full of beautiful purple blooms!

 

 

 

3. Hostas

Over the years, I’ve found hostas to be among the easiest plants to grow and maintain.

I’ve planted hostas in the ground, in rock gardens and even in pots. They are always such a breeze to take care of and will reward your efforts with the most beautiful foliage.

When planted in mass as a ground cover, they provide an attractive, robust covering, especially under trees where shade and roots make grass challenging.

 

 

 

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4. Hens and chicks 

You can plant hens and chicks (love this plant’s whimsical name!) in sandy soil, potting soil or rock beds, and add perlite to help with drainage. Because they are succulents, they do great with very little soil, even in gravel and cracks in rock walls.

Avoid overwatering these babies— excessive water will kill them.

 

 

 

5. Rosemary 

Commonly recognized as a culinary herb, creeping rosemary is perfect for rock gardens, cascading down walls, raised beds, and even container plants. I love to gift potted rosemary, especially during the holidays.

Rosemary makes an excellent ground cover, mainly if the ground is too dry, sandy or rocky for other ground covers. This fragrant foliage multiplies in dry soil and full sun.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny is a ground cover that will tolerate sun and shade and loves moist soil. This plant’s long trailing stems and round chartreuse leaves cover large areas quickly, putting out roots all along its stems while choking out weeds.

CJ’s vines will grow riverside, land-side, and will even “creep” their way onto buildings and structures.

 

 

 

7. Ivy

Ivy varieties are well known as climbers, due to their aerial rootlets, which allow them to climb to heights of 50 feet or more in sun or shade.

Ivy is also an excellent ground cover, spreading horizontally and reaching up to eight inches in span.

Ivy is a vigorous vine that grows dense and low, crowding out weeds. After just a few seasons, its foliage will create a solid blanket of green ground cover.

 

 

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