Ground covers bring many benefits to a garden. In addition to being a kind of garden decoration, they also serve other functional purposes, which makes them very popular among gardeners. As a rule, ground covers are very low-growing herbaceous or woody seed plants that grow more in width than in height. But what makes them so popular is this: ground covers help to make a garden as easy to maintain as possible. And evergreen ground covers have the advantage that they contribute to an easy-care and beautiful garden design all year round. We give you some suggestions on how to green your garden with evergreen ground covers and briefly introduce you to some species.
Evergreen ground covers set great accents in the garden
Why are groundcovers so beneficial for the garden?
Sometimes garden areas need to be covered quickly for various reasons. Then plant species are planted that form a beautiful carpet of plants. Above all, however, ground covers help in the fight against weeds. They are also good for the soil by protecting it from erosion from rain and from drying out from the sun. Ground covers find a good place in bed borders, in the rock garden and on the edge of a pond in your own garden. They are also very suitable for larger areas under trees. If you plant them under deciduous trees and shrubs, the outdoor area will be easier to care for in no time. Ground covers can also be used to showcase certain garden elements. This is a wonderful way to emphasize garden decorations and figures and give the outdoor area more charm.
A tip from us: Late summer is the best time to plant these. This way they can root well.
Ground covers protect the soil from severe temperature fluctuations
How do you choose the right ground cover for your outdoor area and what speaks for evergreen ground cover?
Undoubtedly, ground covers create a natural environment because they form a green plant cover. However, in order for them to thrive and fulfill their functions, you should choose the right species for your garden. Flowering ground covers and climbing plants are not always a good solution. That’s why you often rely on evergreen groundcover. It is mainly important whether the garden is in the shade or there is a lot of sun.
Before planting the garden soil, you should also be aware that some ground covers grow faster than others. So in how much time do you want to have a dense carpet of plants? If you are aiming for this as soon as possible, then you should rely on fast-growing ground cover. The optimal planting density when planting also depends on whether fast-growing plants are involved or not. Species that grow strongly and quickly should not be planted too densely. If, on the other hand, you choose slow-growing species, you should plant them densely and therefore buy several plants. This is also associated with higher costs.
Plants covering the entire area keep the soil moist and provide it with humus
When it comes to ground cover, you have a really large selection. However, evergreen ground covers are advantageous because they also carry leaves in winter and can thus suppress weeds all year round. However, they keep their leaves especially in mild winters and in sheltered places. Common heather, spiderwort and carpet sedum are just a few of the evergreen ground covers to choose from.
Important to know: The first two or three years after planting an evergreen ground cover, care should be taken that there are no weeds so that the ground cover plant can develop properly. A layer of bark mulch would then be of great help.
Many ground covers are hardy
Whitsun Violet
If you want to cover the ground with greenery that is easy to care for, then you are in the right place with the Whitsun violet. Viola sororia is actually not very well known as a groundcover, but it makes for a magnificent carpet of plants in the garden.
This is very undemanding and decorative ground cover for shady places
Carpet Spiers
The right species should be selected for each location. The carpet spier is perfect for shady places. The perennial makes beautiful purple flowers in summer and can reach a height of 12 cm.
Not only useful, but also beautiful
Common Ivy
This vigorous and fast-growing climbing shrub should be planted in a shady spot. The ivy has almost no demands on the soil. After two or three years it becomes a dense, dark green carpet.
A lot of sun causes the leaves of the ivy to dry up
fat man
The low-growing ground cover is suitable for semi-shady to shady places in the garden. That’s why it’s still called shadow green. This groundcover needs a moist soil. It has white, inconspicuous flowers. The fat man needs a lot of time to take root and is slowly spreading.
Wollziest
The perennial does well in the sun, so it covers sunny outdoor garden areas. It fascinates with its persistent leaves with a pointed-oval shape. That’s why it’s also known as donkey’s or rabbit’s ear. The sun-loving groundcover likes a permeable and nutrient-rich soil.
The Wollziest does not tolerate waterlogging
There is much to be said for planting ground cover in the garden
Is the area you want to plant sunny or shady? This plays a big part in choosing the right type of ground cover
The ivy – a ground-covering shade plant
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