Ground cover plants: a green carpet for your garden

Why ground cover?

Bare soil in the garden is an open invitation for weeds. Ground cover plants solve that by blanketing the soil with a dense tapestry of green. They retain moisture, protect against erosion and provide shelter for insects. On top of that, they look groomed all year round. Garden centres carry a wide selection of ground cover for every situation.

With GardenWorld you can preview how plants will look in your actual garden. Try different ground covers under your trees or along paths and see the effect before buying.

Ground cover for sunny spots

These species thrive in full sun:

Stachys byzantina (lamb's ears) forms silvery-grey rosettes that contrast beautifully with green neighbours. Handles drought well. Spacing: 25 centimetres.

Geranium macrorrhizum is an indestructible ground cover with fragrant leaves and pink flowers in spring. Also grows in partial shade. Spacing: 30 centimetres.

Thymus serpyllum (creeping thyme) is perfect for dry, poor soil and between paving stones. Blooms purple-pink in summer and smells wonderful when you walk over it.

Ground cover for shade

Shady spots need different players:

Pachysandra terminalis is evergreen and forms a dense, dark-green carpet. Ideal under trees where little else grows. Spacing: 20 centimetres.

Waldsteinia ternata resembles a strawberry plant with yellow flowers in spring. Evergreen and extremely hardy. Spacing: 25 centimetres.

Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) spreads quickly with long runners and blooms blue-purple in spring. Beware: it can become invasive in rich soil.

Evergreen or deciduous?

Evergreen ground covers look good all year, a big advantage in prominent spots. Pachysandra, vinca and waldsteinia stay green through winter. Deciduous species like geranium and alchemilla die back in winter but return vigorously in spring.

Combine both types for the best coverage. Evergreen as the backbone, deciduous for seasonal blooms and texture.

Planting and care

Prepare the soil by thoroughly removing weeds and working in compost. Plant in groups of at least five per square metre for fast coverage. Water regularly in the first season until the plants have established.

Mulch the gaps between plants with compost or cocoa shell. That keeps weeds at bay while the ground cover closes in. After two to three years, coverage is complete and weeding becomes barely necessary.

Calculating plant numbers

Count the square metres you want to cover. Multiply by the number of plants per square metre for your chosen species. For pachysandra at 20 centimetre spacing, you need roughly 25 plants per square metre. That sounds like a lot, but the payoff is a dense carpet within two growing seasons.

Combining with other plants

Ground cover works brilliantly as underplanting beneath shrubs and trees. It fills empty space and adds depth. Tuck bulbs like crocuses and snowdrops between the ground cover. They push through in early spring for a cheerful accent.

Use ground cover along paths and driveways to soften the transition between hard landscaping and planting.

Common mistakes

Too few plants per square metre is the most common error. Skimping on numbers means waiting years for a closed carpet while battling weeds. Invest at the start and reap the rewards for years.

Another pitfall is choosing an aggressive spreader in the wrong spot. Vinca and ivy can smother other plants if left unchecked. Use a root barrier for vigorous growers.

Wondering which ground cover suits your garden? Design it at gardenworld.app and see the result at a glance.