Certain ground covers may become outlaws in your garden. You know the ones, plants whose vigorous growth habits cause them to trespass into forbidden areas, often smothering neighboring plants. Potential invaders include Bishop’s Weed or Snow on the Mountain, Crown Vetch, Snow-In-Summer and Moneywort or creeping jenny.
A good ground cover choice exists for most site situations. Even the invasive ground cover has a place in the landscape. They may be used in problem spots where turf does poorly: slopes where mowing and watering are difficult or on south-facing areas where exposures are extreme.
Select the appropriate plant for site conditions by asking a few questions. Will the site receive mostly sun, shade or a bit of both? Is it dry or moist? Are you planting it between stepping-stones with some exposure to foot traffic? Will it be covering a slope prone to soil erosion?
Old favorite ground covers can be reliable workhorses in the garden:
Or, consider planting something new and different for your particular circumstances.
For a smaller site with partial shade, try:
For a hot, dry site try:
Or with moderate sun and moisture, try one of the many varieties of Veronica or Speedwell (scrophulariaceae).
Realize that nothing is totally maintenance- free; expect to do some weeding and watering, especially during establishment.
For more information visit ext.colostate.edu or call the CSU Cooperative Extensive office in your county.
Lynda Gerber is a master gardener with the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
