Using groundcover to control weeds in your own garden is a great idea. These types of plants are generally considered robust and easy to care for, they defy the sun and cold, grow in perennials and are usually perennial. Over time, they form a so-called cushion on the ground and simply don’t give unwanted plants a chance. Depending on the garden style and location as well as your personal preferences, you can choose the right ground cover plants. Of course we would like to help you again and show you some of our favorite plants with which you can cover your garden floor. In the shade, semi-shade or in the sun – you can always find the right ground cover and in this way ensure a well-groomed garden look without much effort.
Ground cover against weeds for a low-maintenance garden
Evergreen ground cover
In principle, these plants are hardy and grow both in the shade and in the sun, depending on the specific species. The densely interwoven root system of the ground cover is not only very effective against weeds, but at the same time protects and enriches the soil and ensures a balanced garden microworld. Planting is usually done in late summer. The ground cover plants then have enough time to take root before the onset of winter. Chopping is taboo here because it can damage the delicate roots. Weed out small weed plants if they appear in the early stages of ground cover growth. It is advisable to enrich the soil with compost before planting and spread some bark mulch, with horn shavings underneath, between the small ground-covering plants. Usually it is enough to plant about 15 plants per square meter.
Extra tip: For ground cover that is fast growing and stoloniferous, you should expect fewer plants per square meter – more like four to five.
The creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
The almond-leaved spurge or also called almond spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides)
The dog-ear (Stachys byzantina)
The Great Periwinkle (Vinca major)
Wire shrubs or Muehlenbeckia (Muehlenbeckia)
Other examples of popular evergreen ground covers include:
- the hazel root
- the ivy
- the evergreen creeper
- the Balkan cranesbill
- the elf flower
- the carpet golden strawberry
- the foam flower
- the spotted lungwort.
ground cover in the sun
One of the most popular ground covers that thrive in full sun is thyme. This medicinal herb can not only be enjoyed as a valuable tea for colds, but it also cuts a fine figure in the garden. Many types of thyme are hardwearing and grow up to 5-10 cm high, covering the ground.
Ground cover thyme for your scented lawn planting
The lush flowers of the purslane are no less magnificent. Although this succulent plant is an annual, it will stand up to heat and direct sun and makes a great ground-covering embellishment for your garden.
Colorful purseakroschen as summeryeright ground cover
Phedimus spurius is from the sedum family and grows even on dry lawns, walls or rocks. It impresses above all with its fascinating, large flowers.
The Caucasus fat hen (Phedimus spurius)
The phlox family is quite large. Native to most of North America, these distinctively scented flowers are very popular and favored by many home gardeners. Depending on the variety, flame flowers have white, purple, or pink flowers.
The magnificent blossoms of phloxes such as cushion phlox (Phlox diffusa)
The Delosperma family is also quite popular and well-known. This succulent plant species is very easy to care for and has purple and purple flowers.
The magnificent Delosperma belongs to the plant genus of the ice plant family (Aizoaceae)
Shade and semi-shade ground cover
And which plants are suitable as padding for our gardens when there is more shade or semi-shade? Do not worry! Luckily there are plenty of those. We would like to list our favorites for you here. Among them are many that you probably already know or even have in your own garden.
Funkia (Hosta), for example, are perennial plants that come from Japan and are extremely easy to care for. They also thrive in this country and give the garden a soothing, juicy freshness in the shade.
Hostas also called heart leaf lilies (hosta)
With its effective-looking leaves and delicate, white flowers, the Saxifraga stolonifera is definitely recommended as a groundcover for shady spots in the garden. The plant flowers from May to September and a strand can sometimes have up to 60 flowers.
Jew beard or creeping saxifrage (Saxifraga stolonifera)
The spectacular ferns need little introduction. Who doesn’t know her? Often seen on woodland walks and therefore well-known, various members of the fern family make a beneficial, ground-covering alternative for semi-natural gardens where there is more shade and moisture.
Ferns love shade and partial shade
Ysander plants are also affectionately called fat man and are preferred by many gardeners. This is a beautiful shade ground cover that displays gorgeous, lush green, jagged leaves and small, delicate flowers. The fat man is one of the evergreen plants, it grows and spreads quickly and safely.
Japanese Ysander (Pachysandra terminalis)
The deadnettle genus is quite large and although these plants have the same name and look similar, they are not related to the stinging nettle family. They have delicate purple flowers and are often seen not only on lawns but also along lawn edges and roadsides.
spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)
Unmistakable and spicy – the woodruff is not considered a medicinal and aromatic plant for nothing and was formerly the most important ingredient of the traditional woodruff punch. Today, the woodruff is no longer allowed in food production in Germany because of its high coumarin content.
The Woodruff (Galium odoratum), also called sweet-smelling bedstraw
Last but not least there are the blood-red cranesbill and the soft lady’s mantle. This beautifully flowering groundcover thrives best in semi-shade. Both spread fairly quickly and have beautiful, delicate buds. In contrast to the low cranesbill, the lady’s mantle sometimes even grows up to a meter high and has large, nine-lobed leaves.
Blood-red cranesbill also called blood roses and chicken root (Geranium sanguineum)
Soft lady’s mantle as ground cover
No matter which ground cover you choose, you will not only be doing something good for your low-maintenance garden, but above all you will save time and unnecessary maintenance work. Because the right ground-covering plants are not only beautiful and robust, they also offer effective and completely natural protection against weeds. Have a look at all the ground cover plants here again and think about which of them and where exactly they fit in your garden.
Evergreen and easy to care for – the garden with ground cover
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