The Fastest-Growing Low-Maintenance Ground Cover. 3.) They may be good for growing under trees in the shade or on steep banks to help prevent soil erosion. With succulent leaves and stems, these sedums can thrive in low-water situations, and they bloom in shades of white, pink, red, purple, yellow, or orange, depending on the variety.Sedums are prized for use in green roofs and living walls because they are so adaptable. This is the best that I know of. Another cost-saving measure is to use cuttings of succulent groundcovers and plant them close together to ensure rapid cover. Most of these ground cover plants are low-maintenance, and they help to crowd out weeds. Large white flower clusters appear in spring giving way to purplish new growth. Other ground cover plants should be used where grass is difficult to grow or maintain. Planting flowering Creeping Thyme in your garden also reduces work as the creeping plant keeps weeds at bay. There are often a few flowers seen year-round, but the main flowering season is spring. California Native Plants are all we grow! As summer progresses, the foliage changes from bluish-grey to a dramatic deep purple. Options for Hillside Landscaping. In addition to growing perennial ground covers and shrubs, such as Deutzia, that will spread and strike down roots to retain soil, consider creating terraces. Pictures to help you find the ground cover for your garden slope, . a list of erosion-controlling ground covers you might choose (with separate lists for sun-loving and shade-loving varieties), and a list of tips for planting and caring for ground covers. Growing Hardy Ground Covers. Acid-loving or ericaceous shrubs grow best in a pH range of 4-6, and ideally pH 5-5.5. You can't go wrong with these five flowering varieties for sun, shade and fast growth. Blog Contact Us Directions. Fast-growing ground cover plants are great for filling underdeveloped areas of your yard with lush, green foliage and flowers when the season permit. 5. Low-Growing Sedums – ‘Dazzleberry’ is a standout low growing groundcover with colorful foliage and flowers. That way, you’ll know which plants will work fine in terms of quality and drainability. Plants for a sunny slope Ground cover roses. Plant through the matting. Many plants are low-growing and spreading in habit and may be termed ground-cover, but the prime requisite of a good ground cover plant is to provide a rapid, dense cover, to suppress germination and development of weed seeds and to eliminate the need for weed control measures. A ground cover plant can transform a tricky bare patch of dirt into a riot of colour or fragrance. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) Usually grown as a climber, versatile Star Jasmine is now being grown as a ground cover and clipped shrub. Rocks add visual appeal and function to anchor the soil. California ground cover native plants can create a drought tolerant, shady, sunny or wet garden like no other from San Diego up through Los Angeles, San Francisco and even in parts of Oregon. Creeping Thyme - Both our regular creeping thyme and the magic carpet creeping thyme are two of our best selling ground cover seeds. They will not need deadheading and the pruning regime (if they need one) can be carried out with shears in early spring. This groundcover is also drought tolerant but can't handle foot traffic. They form carpets that suppress weeds; whole carpets of colour will emerge in a season once planted They fill in bare spots between shrubs and perennials. Planting in staggered rows covers ground more rapidly, plus helps to reduce erosion on slopes. Grass is the best known ground cover, but grass is not suited to all locations. An easy-to-care for ground cover, there are a few varieties of thyme to consider. Creeping thyme is also a drought tolerant evergreen plant that can survive periods of dryness. Chris Burrows/Getty Images When you buy Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', you may be thinking of it as an upright perennial plant with attractive flowers. Planting a fast-growing ground cover in the right location can help you maintain it with little effort. Magic carpet is sold in packets so you don't get near as much seed as buying in bulk. Although it grows in partial shade, for best color, grow it in full sun. Photo by Doug Kalal Sometimes ground covers are the only plants that can thrive in places where other plants cannot grow. Hi everyone, I've enjoyed reading the forums. This variety of Sedum provides three seasons of color. 11 years ago. Time help prevent soil erosion know many wonderful creeping types form thick mats only 3 inches tall soil on banks... Provides three seasons of color and plant them close together to ensure rapid cover ( Cornus ). 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