Home Lawn
Ground Covers
Use ground covers where shade is too dense or the terrain is too rough
for turf grass. Many types of ground covers can provide color and texture
differences in the landscape and keep soil in place. Ground covers are
less than 18 inches in height and generally require little maintenance
once they are established. Some, such as mondo grass, resemble grass
in growth form while others, such as sweet williams and violets, are
grown as much for flower color as for the foliage. Select ground covers
to blend with the overall landscape plan. While the dark green of mondo
grass or English ivy blends well with well-maintained bermudagrass or
St. Augustinegrass, it contrasts sharply with carpetgrass or centipedegrass.
The following chart helps to determine
how much square footage can be planted with 100 plants when spaced at
various measurements.
| Planting
guide for ground cover |
| Quantity |
Spacings |
Coverage |
Plants |
Inches
apart |
Square
feet |
100 |
4 |
11 |
100 |
6 |
25 |
100 |
8 |
44 |
100 |
10 |
70 |
100 |
12 |
100 |
100 |
15 |
156 |
100 |
18 |
225 |
100 |
24 |
400 |
|
This chart helps determine how many plants are needed for various square
footages when the plant material must be installed at a certain spacing.
| Number
of ground-cover plants for planting areas |
| Square
feet of
planting area |
Spacing
in inches in both directions |
| 6 |
8 |
9 |
12 |
18 |
24 |
|
-number
of plants needed- |
100 |
400 |
225 |
178 |
100 |
45 |
25 |
200 |
800 |
450 |
356 |
200 |
90 |
50 |
300 |
1200 |
675 |
534 |
300 |
135 |
75 |
400 |
1600 |
900 |
712 |
400 |
180 |
100 |
500 |
2000 |
1125 |
890 |
500 |
225 |
125 |
600 |
2400 |
1350 |
1068 |
600 |
270 |
150 |
700 |
2800 |
1575 |
1246 |
700 |
315 |
175 |
800 |
3200 |
1800 |
1425 |
800 |
360 |
200 |
900 |
3600 |
2025 |
1602 |
900 |
405 |
225 |
1000 |
4000 |
2250 |
1780 |
1000 |
450 |
250 |
|
Guide
for selecting a ground cover and lawn substitute |
| Common
name |
Botanical
name |
Plant
spacing |
Sun |
Part
shade |
Shade |
Remarks
and comments |
Bigleaf
periwinkle |
Vinca
major |
18
inches |
x |
x |
x |
Vigorous.
Spreads rapidly. Prefers some shade. Easy to establish
and grow. Difficult to confine in small areas. Variegated
form available. |
Blue
rug juniper |
Juniperus
horizontalis
"Blue Rug" |
3-4
feet |
x |
|
|
6 inches
high and 6-8 feet spread. Bright silver-blue foliage. Hugs
ground more than most junipers. |
Creeping
phlox |
Phlox
subulata |
12
inches |
x |
x |
|
Long-standing,
excellent ground cover and rock garden plant. Propagate
by seed or division. Massive flower display in spring.
Flower colors are available in white, blue, pink, and fuschia. |
Dwarf
sweet williams |
Dianthus
deltoides |
12
inches |
x |
x |
|
Plants
spread to give full color if planted 9 inches x 9 inches.
New cultivars are excellent. Brilliant flowers in spring;
most are susceptible to foliar diseases. |
English
ivy |
Hedera
helix |
18
inches |
x |
x |
x |
Many
new cultivars available. Deep-rooted. Will take sun, but
needs close watering. |
Mondo
grass or
Little monkey grass |
Ophiopogon
japonica |
12
inches |
x |
x |
x |
9 inches
high. Spreads by underground stolons. Vigorous, dependable;
adapted to variety of soil conditions. Excellent ground
cover. |
Monkey
grass |
Liriope
muscari |
12
inches |
x |
x |
x |
Excellent
border and ground cover. Spreads slowly; space 12 inches
x 12 inches for quick cover. Many varieties available,
including those with variegated foliage. Responds well
to fertilizers. |
Sweet
violets |
Viola
odorata |
9
inches |
|
x |
x |
Many
new cultivars are available. Need well-drained and high-organic
matter to perform well. Try Royal Robe and White Czar. |
Wild
strawberry |
Fragaria
chiloensis |
18
inches |
x |
x |
x |
Excellent,
vigorous ground cover for wide range of zones and soils.
Easy to grow and propagate. Susceptible to spider mites.
May be invasive. |
*Many
other ground covers are available. Consult Extension
Publication 666, Selecting Landscape Plants for
more information. |
|
|
