Transform Ordinary Landscapes with 24 Eye-Catching Ground Covers, Sparing You a Fortune in Water Usage
Transform Your Outdoor HavenReady to wave goodbye to water-guzzling grass and create a low-maintenance, picturesque oasis? Look no further! Drop traditional lawns for eye-catching ground covers, ideal for zones 4-9.
Ground covers provide a natural solution to combat weeds, prevent soil erosion, and offer a vibrant backdrop in your landscape. Opt for these marvelous options to introduce a breath of fresh air into your yard:
Marvelous Water-Saving Ground Covers
- Creeping Thyme
- Description: This delightful carpet of tiny leaves and flowers releases a captivating fragrance when trampled. Creeping thyme grows 2-4 inches tall and spreads swiftly, choking out weeds naturally[1].
- Location: Basks in full sun to partial shade.
- Zones: Thrives in zones 4-9.
- Corsican Mint
- Description: Stepping across its miniature, bright green leaves yields a refreshing minty scent. Considered a perfect ground cover for partial shade.
- Location: Requires moderate moisture; best in zones 6-9.
- Irish Moss
- Description: Irish moss creates a velvety carpet that mimics a perfectly shaped lawn without the hassle. This resilient ground cover thrives in shade and prefers consistently moist soil.
- Location: Prospers in partial to full shade, zones 5-9.
- Sweet Woodruff
- Description: Sweet woodruff produces a lush, woodland carpet with spring blooms that carry a sweet vanilla scent. This ground cover prefers partial to full shade.
- Location: Shines in zones 4-8.
- Stonecrop Sedum
- Description: With fleshy foliage in a rainbow of colors, stonecrop sedum boasts star-shaped flowers that butterflies and beneficial pollinators adore. This hardy ground cover tolerates poor soil conditions and thrives in full sun.
- Location: Performs excellently in zones 3-9.
- Mazus
- Description: Mazus offers small green leaves that top purple-blue or white snapdragon-like flowers, creating a charming carpet that thrives in full sun to partial shade.
- Location: Best in zones 5-8; tolerates moderate foot traffic.
- Dwarf Mondo Grass
- Description: Dwarf mondo grass delivers a grass-like texture without the maintenance, growing in tidy clumps. This shade-tolerant ground cover requires minimal watering once established.
- Location: Ideal in partial to full shade, zones 7-11.
- Lamb’s Ear
- Description: Lamb’s ear showcases silver-gray foliage that adds visual appeal while repelling deer and rabbits.
- Location: Thrives in full sun to partial shade, zones 4-8.
- Creeping Phlox
- Description: Known for its stunning spring carpet of pink, purple, blue, or white blooms, creeping phlox thrives in various climates and soil types.
- Location: Suited to zones 3-9.
- Ajuga (Bugleweed)
- Description: Ajuga delivers glossy, colorful foliage that produces blue, purple, or white flowers, forming dense patches that effectively suppress weeds.
- Location: Adapts to partial to full shade, zones 3-9.
- Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
- Description: This ground cover brightens shaded areas with glossy evergreen foliage and charming periwinkle-blue flowers.
- Location: Performs well in zones 4-9.
- Roman Chamomile
- Description: Roman chamomile features apple-scented foliage and white flowers, creating a fragrant carpet that can be walked upon.
- Location: Suits zones 4-9.
- Sagina Subulata (Irish Moss)
- Description: Irish moss creates a lush moss-like carpet that copies a manicured lawn without the tiresome upkeep.
- Location: Grows in partial shade to full sun, zones 4-8.
- Blue Star Creeper
- Description: Star-shaped blue flowers cover this ground cover that handles light foot traffic, perfect for pathways or stepping stones.
- Location: Best in zones 5-9.
- Dragon’s Blood Sedum
- Description: This ground cover boasts burgundy-red foliage that intensifies in cool weather, and star-shaped flowers explode in summer.
- Location: Performs beautifully in zones 3-9.
- Golden Creeping Jenny
- Description: This fast-spreading plant brightens any landscape with chartreuse foliage that attracts pollinators.
- Location: Grows best in zones 4-9.
- Miniature Stonecrop
- Description: With tiny, colorful succulent leaves and star-shaped flowers, miniature stonecrop forms a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds.
- Location: Ideal in full sun, zones 3-9.
Elevate your garden and save valuable resources by transitioning to stunning ground covers that beat the heat and minimize water intake. Start small, change zones, and enjoy the transformation!
- To complement your home-and-garden space, think about incorporating science-backed health-and-wellness practices by walking on fragrant ground covers such as Roman Chamomile, a plant that rewards with an apple scent and can be a stress-reliever.
- Bring some life to your lawn care routine with a touch of lifestyle flair, as these ground covers can serve as attractive alternatives to traditional grass lawns while also promoting fitness-and-exercise by allowing you to immerse yourself in nature.
- Incorporate ground covers into your home-and-garden ordeal for a hassle-free way to beautify your health-and-wellness space, not only enhancing your picturesque oasis but also aiding in maintaining a sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.