Ground Covers

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Ground Covers
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Definition

• Ground covers are low-growing plants that cover
  the ground in place of turf.
• Serve 3 purposes
• Fill in bare spots in the landscape.
• Help prevent erosion of soil on steep banks.
• Fill in shady areas under trees where other
  plants have difficulty growing.

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Principal Types

• Broadleaf Evergreen
• Retain their leaves year-round
• Deciduous Evergreen
• Lose their leaves during the fall and winter
  season
• Coniferous
• Have needlelike or scale-like leaves
• Retain their color throughout the year

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Uses

• In the landscaping where the soil is not suitable
  for growing grass. This includes areas that may
  be
• Too steep
• Too rocky
• Too shaded
• Shallow soiled
• Simply for their beauty

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Selection

• Ask the following questions before selecting a
  ground cover
• In what type of soil does the plant grow best?
• Is it suitable for the locality?
• How is it propagated?
• How long will it take for the plants to cover the
  area in which they are planted?

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Selection continued

• Ask the following questions before selecting a
  ground cover
• What is the mature height of the plant?
• Are diseases and insects a problem?
• How expensive are the plants?

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Selection

• Ground covers should be selected for the
  following reasons
• They are adapted to the soil in which they are to
  be planted.
• They are adapted to the local hardiness zone.
• They are relatively free of diseases and insect
  problems.

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Planting

• Consider special problems in the area
• Steep slope
• If not too steep, add topsoil and organic matter
• Peat moss or rotted manure
• Add fertilizer
• 2 to 5 pounds of a 5-10-5 fertilizer over each
  100 square feet.
• Dig the materials into the top 6 inches of soil
  prior to planting

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Planting continued

• Spacing
• According to size
• Growth rate per year
• Time allowed for plants to spread to cover the
  area

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Planting continued

• Steep slopes
• Need to be covered more quickly so plants must be
  placed closer together
• Higher initial plant cost
• Level areas
• Plants can be spread out
• Reduces initial planting cost
• Takes longer for the ground cover to completely
  cover the soil surface

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Fertilizing

• After initial application at planting time,
  fertilizer should only be applied to keep plants
  healthy.
• If necessary, apply fertilizer in early spring.
• Two application methods
• Dry granular fertilizer scattered over area and
  watered in
• Soluble form mixed with water siphoned through
  watering/sprinkling system

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Mulching

• Cover entire surface with the material prior to
  planting
• Less time consuming than mulching after plants
  are in place
• Continue to mulch until the ground cover has
  traveled over the entire soil surface
• Aids in weed control
• Aids in moisture retention

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Mulching continued

• Materials suitable for mulching ground covers
• Pine bark
• Hardwood bark
• Pine needles
• Well-rotted sawdust
• Peat moss
• Decomposed leaves

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Pruning

• Necessary to confine the planting to the area in
  which it is desired.
• Accomplished by
• Mowing around the edges
• Cutting around the outer perimeter

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Watering

• Newly planted ground covers should be watered as
  needed during the first year.
• Apply at least 1 inch of water if plants start to
  wilt or if soil becomes dry.
• If the proper ground covers are selected,
  watering should not be necessary after the first
  year.

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Controlling Insects and Diseases

• Rarely a serious problem in ground covers.
• If control become necessary, identify the disease
  or insect.
• Spray with recommended pesticide.
• Safety First! Be sure to wear protective
  clothing.

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Common Ground Covers

• Bugleweed
• Rock-cress
• Wild ginger
• Sweet woodruff
• Chrysogomum
• Lily-of-the-valley
• Bunchberry
• Crown vetch
• Maiden pink
• Sunrose

• Barrenwort
• Plantain lily
• Aaronsbeard, St. Johnswort
• Lamiastrum
• Evergreen candytuft
• Spreading English yew
• Creeping mahonia

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Common Ground Covers

• Partridgeberry
• Paxistima
• Sarococca
• Juniperus horizontalis
• Bar harbor
• Waukega
• Blue rug
• Lily turf
• Moneywort
• English Ivy

• Dwarf lilyturf
• Japanese spurge
• Stonecrop
• Periwinkle or myrtle
• Bearberry
• Heather
• Cotoneaster
• Heath
• Wintercreeper
• Wintergreen

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Reference

• Introductory Horticulture
• By H. Edward Reiley
• Carroll L. Shry, Jr.