Ground covers

Ground Cover

Ground cover has several different uses in the garden.

It can be used to reduce the plethora of weeds that may appear in the garden by covering over the space between plants where the weeds usually grow.

There is a downside to that though, as weeding can become a bit more difficult when you need to remove the weeds that will grow in among the ground cover.

Ground cover can also help keep the soil moisture content higher by stopping it from drying out in direct sunlight.

It can also add color and texture to the garden.

Much of the ground cover that is available can supply a splash of color throughout the year. Some plants have color in their leaves and then produce additional color when they flower.

Being close to the ground allows the plants to stay in better condition in windy climates where they aren't as exposed as larger flowering plants.

Most ground cover is very durable adding color to gardens which may be grown in conditions where other flowering plants might not survive.

Some ground cover plants grow particularly well and thrive in shaded locations where other plants might struggle to survive and they generally require very little maintenance.

They are also excellent for creating borders around gardens where there are taller plants or trees growing or where other plants are unable to be planted due to inefficient nutrition causing an inability to grow to their full potential.

They are excellent for covering areas that are not easily accessible and would prove too hard to maintain if you attempted to grow a different type of plants there.

They also create a nice display when planted in and around rocks and sculptures in the garden. And they can make a great mat when grown at the foot of a garden seat, provided you choose one that is strong enough to withstand some foot traffic.