A Complete Guide to Ground Cover Plants (2023)


A Complete Guide to Ground Cover Plants (2023)
A Complete Guide to Ground Cover Plants (2023)
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As the name suggests, ground cover plants refer to low-lying plants that spread across, covering chunks of land and protecting the soil from drought and erosion. Known for their low-maintenance nature and beautiful aesthetic qualities, these plants provide the land with color, texture, and vibrancy. Additionally, they help with landscaping problems, including suppressing weeds, tolerance from droughts, and protecting soil health from bleaching and drying effects from the sun and wind.

In this guide, we’ve compiled various aspects of ground cover plants, including the pointers to keep in mind when planting. 

Pointers to Keep in Mind When Planting Ground Covers

Soil – Test the soil’s pH level and closely check its texture. This will help you determine the health of the soil. Lime is an excellent option to raise the pH level, while Aluminium Sulphate would be best to lower its level. 

Plant selection – Choose the plants that best suit your needs depending on factors like soil type, growth rate, weather, and purpose. 

Match the project’s requirement – Ground cover plants are of two types, carpeting, and clumping. Carpeting plants are low-growing and spread quickly while clumping plants spread slowly. 

Choose the number of plants based on their growth rate – Clumping ground cover plants need 1.5 feet of space to grow while carpeting ground cover plants need 2 feet of room. As carpeting plants spread quickly, you can always trim them back.

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Prepare the soil – While preparing the soil, ensure removing weeds. Most of these plants grow in just a few inches of soil, but it’s better to tilt about 6 inches so that you have room for later amendments. Even now, you can adjust the pH level of the soil. The best time to add soil products is as you prepare the ground. 

Plant the Ground Covers – Plant the ground covers once the soil is ready. Consider adding a thin layer of mulch while the plants are establishing themselves. Interestingly, most ground cover plants eventually become their mulch.

Benefits of Growing Ground Cover Plants

Reduces weed growth – Weeds are likely to grow anywhere they find space. Growing ground cover plants is the best way to reduce their growth. They are a healthy alternative and a beautiful cover-up for unused space.

Easy to plant and grow – These low-maintenance plants don’t require much effort. These extend outward wherever soil and space are available and can be installed independently without professional help. Just ensure the availability of healthy soil for them to flourish.

Reduces fertilizer use – Ground covers are floral varieties that can sustain even in challenging conditions, i.e., without regular nutrients or fertilizers. To survive, they absorb nutrients from the soil and groundwater. However, adding liquid fertilizer will boost their strength if they look weak.

Improved growth in rainfall – These plants are located on the ground and can absorb moisture from the earth, so their growth improves during rains. Thus they require less frequent watering throughout the year. Owing to Australia’s weather, frequent showers along the coastline keep the ground covers healthy.

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Reduces chemical applications for pest control – These plants don’t require chemical fertilizers to stay safe. Instead, they are natural pest repellers and thrive at low levels without much attention. Ensure keeping the ground cover plants in shape to avoid outdoor overcrowding, which may lead to pest issues. 

Other benefits of growing ground cover plants include: 

  • Drought resistant
  • Attractive accents around landscaping projects, patios, and pools
  • Adaptable to all terrains
  • As perennials, they regenerate year after year

Best 5 Ground Covers for All Types of Gardens

  • Trachelospermum asiaticum – Japanese Star Jasmine

This ground cover plant has a dense mat of evergreen foliage, offering the perfect finishing touch to the landscape. Its fast-growing, spear-shaped, glossy dark green leaves are a treat to the eyes in any garden. During summer, the fragrant flowers blossom, enhancing the atmosphere. 

  • Myoporum parvifolium – Creeping Boobialla

An extremely resilient native Australian ground cover that is well-known for its vivid, fresh lime green foliage and profusions of white blooms in the spring and summer. This ground cover can survive in most environments and does best in direct sunlight. Known for rapid spreading and very little maintenance, Creeping Boobialla looks fantastic, flowing from retaining walls or down rockeries.

  • Gardenia Augusta ‘Radicans’ – Cape Jasmine

Gardenia Radicans, one of the more difficult groundcovers, fit the more traditional formal gardens. The Radicans, typically planted on lower shelf borders, spread in a prostrate form but still bear fragrant gardenia flowers. It favors well-drained soil, placements in the full sun need a medium to high amounts of water, and regular Gardenia-specific food.

  • Hylotelephium spectabile – Sedum Autumn Joy
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Plant in large numbers in your arid, sunny garden for a flower display. Sedum Autumn Joy requires direct sunlight and little water. The naked pink bloom that marks the beginning of autumn eventually ages into a dark, dusty terracotta pink. 

  • Viola Hederacea – Native Viola

One of the most beautiful ground covers for a gloomy area of your garden is Native Viola. To enjoy its beauty, keep your soil moist. The native violet is a beautiful addition to pot gardening.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the native ground cover plants, you can easily plant them and enjoy the upgraded appearance of your renovated, low-maintenance lawn and other outdoor areas. If you are a landscaper, designer, developer, retail nursery, or council looking for the highest quality wholesale ground cover plants, call Kilby Tree Farm, Melbourne’s top boutique trade-only wholesale nursery. Visit their website to learn more about their products and services.


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sanket goyal

Sanket has been in digital marketing for 8 years. He has worked with various MNCs and brands, helping them grow their online presence.