Ground Covers Make Landscape Design Easier

Ever pondered over what to grow in those spots in your yard where grass is too hard to cut with a lawn mower or grass won't grow at all? Here's a solution to your problem--ground covers.

"Ground covers are a name many gardeners have given to low- growing plants that cover a large area like carpet," says Dr. Dave Williams, Extension horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Ground covers give variety to a yard or garden and are useful in covering bare areas where grass won't grow. Ground covers are excellent for preventing soil erosion and grow especially well in areas of high humidity. Ground covers come in several different varieties and may be as short as grass or up to 3 feet tall.

Ground covers are helpful in landscape design as well. They can be used as edging for pathways and help regulate foot traffic in the yard. Also, ground covers can be used to tie unrelated shrubs and flower beds to the landscape.

A few examples of ground covers are Asiatic jasmine; a trailing evergreen ground cover, creeping lilyturf; a grass-like evergreen perennial; and periwinkles, evergreen trailing plants with purple, blue or pink flowers.