Choosing Ground Cover Plants

Ground cover has many different uses in the garden. It can be used to help reduce the amount of weeds that will appear in the garden by covering over the space between plants where the weeds might grow and smothering tiny weed seedlings before they can grow.

Ground cover can also help to keep the moisture in the soil by stopping it from drying out from direct sunlight. And it can also add color and texture to the garden.

Shade Garden Groundcovers (Photo credit: patrick_standish)

A lot of the ground cover plants that are available can supply a splash of color throughout the year where some will have color in their leaves and then additional color when they flower. Being so close to the ground they can stay in better condition in windy conditions where they aren't quite so exposed as other flowering plants.

Most ground cover plants are quite durable and are an excellent way to add color to gardens that are in conditions where other flowering plants might not survive.

Some ground cover plants grow very well and thrive in shaded areas where other plants might struggle to thrive and they generally require very little maintenance. They are also excellent for creating borders around gardens where there are larger plants or trees growing or where other plants won't be able to get sufficient nutrition to grow to their full potential. They are particularly good for covering areas that are not easily accessible and would normally be too hard to maintain if you were to attempt to grow other plants there.

Ground cover plants also make a nice display when grown in and around rocks and sculptures in the garden and can make a nice mat when grown at the foot of a garden seat, provided of course that you choose one that is durable enough to withstand light foot traffic.