Lush Lawn: Ground Cover Guide

Introduction: Rethinking the Green Carpet

For generations, the quintessential American dream has included a lush, green lawn. However, maintaining a traditional lawn can be a demanding and resource-intensive endeavor. From the constant mowing and watering to the application of fertilizers and pesticides, the upkeep can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there's a growing movement towards embracing alternative ground covers that offer beauty, functionality, and environmental benefits. This guide explores the world of ground covers, providing practical advice and inspiration for creating a vibrant, low-maintenance landscape.

Why Choose Ground Cover Over Traditional Lawn?

The shift towards ground cover stems from a desire for sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping solutions. Here’s why you might consider making the switch:

• Reduced Maintenance: Ground covers generally require less mowing, watering, and fertilization than traditional lawns.
• Water Conservation: Many ground covers are drought-tolerant, reducing the need for irrigation, which is especially important in arid climates.
• Weed Suppression: A dense ground cover can act as a natural weed barrier, minimizing the need for herbicides.
• Erosion Control: Ground covers can stabilize soil on slopes and prevent erosion, which helps to retain valuable topsoil and prevent runoff.
• Environmental Benefits: Some ground covers attract pollinators, improve soil health, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals.
• Aesthetics: Ground covers offer a wide range of textures, colors, and flowering options, allowing for creative and personalized landscape designs.

Popular Ground Cover Options

Choosing the right ground cover depends on your specific needs, climate, soil type, and aesthetic preferences. Here are some popular options to consider:

Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Creeping thyme is a low-growing, aromatic herb that forms a dense mat, making it an excellent choice for filling spaces between paving stones, rock gardens, or as a lawn alternative in sunny areas. Several members of the *Thymus* genus are called creeping thyme, but they are all perennials with a low, spreading form and make excellent groundcovers. The traditional creeping thyme is *Thymus serpyllum.*

• Benefits: Drought-tolerant, fragrant, attracts pollinators, tolerates light foot traffic.
• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, hardy in zones 4-9.
• Care Tips: Lightly prune after flowering to maintain shape.
• Varieties: *Thymus serpyllum* (Common Creeping Thyme), *T. praecox 'Coccineus'* (Red Creeping Thyme), *T. pseudolanuginosus* (Woolly Thyme).

Creeping thyme grows densely, like a thick mat, crowding out unwanted weeds as it spreads. The evergreen foliage looks nice in the Winter. Creeping thyme can handle light foot traffic. As the above-ground stems spread outward, they can root into any soil they touch.

Clover (Trifolium spp.)

Clover is a classic ground cover known for its nitrogen-fixing abilities, which naturally fertilize the soil. It's a low-maintenance option that stays green throughout the growing season.

• Benefits: Nitrogen-fixing, attracts pollinators, low-maintenance, tolerates shade.
• Growing Conditions: Adaptable to various soil types, prefers full sun to partial shade, hardy in zones 3-10.
• Care Tips: Mow occasionally to remove spent flowers and encourage new growth.
• Varieties: *Trifolium repens* (White Clover), *Trifolium pratense* (Red Clover), Microclover.

Clover is fairly drought-tolerant and can thrive in cool weather (especially long, cool springs), but consistently dry areas that experience extremely cold temperatures are not hospitable to clover. Clover requires reseeding approximately once every two to three years, whereas turfgrasses can go for longer without reseeding.

Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)

Mondo grass, also called monkey grass, is an evergreen ground cover that offers a grass-like appearance without the high maintenance. It forms dense clumps of dark green foliage, providing year-round interest.

• Benefits: Shade-tolerant, evergreen, low-maintenance, deer-resistant.
• Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, well-drained soil, hardy in zones 6-10.
• Care Tips: Mow once a year in late winter to remove any winter-damaged foliage.
• Varieties: *Ophiopogon japonicus* (Common Mondo Grass), *Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'* (Dwarf Mondo Grass), *Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'* (Black Mondo Grass).

Homeowners use mondo grass as a low-maintenance lawn alternative in areas of full or partial shade. Each clump sends out shoots that will gradually spread to produce a lush, dark-green lawn. In cooler climates, mondo grass should be planted in the spring or summer so it can establish itself before winter. In warmer areas, it may be planted year round.

Other Ground Cover Considerations

Beyond these popular choices, many other ground covers can thrive in various conditions:

• Shade-Tolerant Ground Covers:
  • Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum): A fragrant, shade-loving perennial with delicate white flowers.
  • Vinca (Vinca minor): An evergreen ground cover with blue or purple flowers that tolerates shade and dry conditions.
  • Hardy Geraniums (Geranium spp.): Offer a variety of colors and thrive in partial shade.
  • Lily of the valley (*Convallaria majalis*): Spreads quickly and has gorgeous, bell-shaped flowers in late spring.
• Sun-Loving Ground Covers:
  • Sedum (Sedum spp.): Drought-tolerant succulents with colorful foliage and flowers.
  • Creeping Speedwell (Veronica repens): Dark green evergreen foliage creates a lush carpet with delicate white, pink, lavender, or blue flowers in spring.
  • Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata): Easy to grow and forms dense, carpet-like mats with white, pink, red, blue, or purple flowers.
  • Candytuft (*Iberis sempervirens*): A semi-evergreen and semi-woody groundcover with white flowers.
• Ground Covers for Erosion Control:
  • Low Sumac: Fast-growing larger sized groundcover that does well in tough and hard to grow areas. The foliage will turn vibrant red in the fall season well planted in patrial to full sun.
  • Creeping Juniper: A relatively low-maintenance plant that is available in dark green, yellow-green, or even blue-green foliage that thrives in moist soil but is also drought-tolerant.

Planning and Planting Your Ground Cover

Successful ground cover establishment requires careful planning and preparation:

1. Assess Your Site: Evaluate your soil type, sunlight exposure, and drainage.
2. Choose the Right Plants: Select ground covers that are well-suited to your site conditions and desired aesthetic.
3. Prepare the Soil: Remove weeds, rocks, and debris. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter to improve fertility and drainage.
4. Planting: Space plants according to their mature size. Water thoroughly after planting.
5. Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
6. Watering: Water regularly during the establishment period. Once established, most ground covers are relatively drought-tolerant.

Maintaining Your Ground Cover

While ground covers are generally low-maintenance, some care is required to keep them healthy and thriving:

• Weeding: Remove any weeds that emerge, especially during the establishment period.
• Pruning: Prune as needed to maintain shape and control spread.
• Fertilizing: Apply fertilizer sparingly, if needed, based on soil test results.
• Pest and Disease Control: Monitor for any signs of pests or diseases and take appropriate action.

Conclusion: Embrace the Ground Cover Revolution

Ground covers offer a sustainable and beautiful alternative to traditional lawns. By carefully selecting the right plants and following proper planting and maintenance practices, you can create a vibrant, low-maintenance landscape that enhances your property and benefits the environment. Take the first step towards a greener future by exploring the world of ground covers and transforming your lawn into a thriving ecosystem.

Next Steps:

• Research ground cover options that are suitable for your climate and soil type.
• Visit local nurseries and gardens to see different ground covers in person.
• Create a plan for converting your lawn to ground cover.
• Start small by planting a test patch of ground cover in a small area of your yard.