Ground cover plants are naturally low-growing plants that form attractive mounds or carpets. They cover the ground quickly, covering bare soil. They are often low-maintenance and often evergreen.
Ground cover plants are used to fill in gaps at the front of a border, as well as those tricky spots at the bases of shrubs that are difficult to plant. They can also help cover the bare ‘legs’ of roses, complementing their flowers. Ground cover plants are also great for covering tricky sites, such as slopes, which are difficult to access and plant. Some can also be grown as an alternative to a lawn.
As they cover the soil, ground cover plants are great for suppressing weeds. They act like a mulch, so they can help to lock in soil moisture and nutrients. Some can even help with soil erosion on slopes, their roots holding everything together when it rains.
When choosing ground cover plants, choose varieties that suit the soil and aspect of your garden. Weed the area thoroughly before you plant, as it will be difficult to remove weeds once the plants are in.
Alan Titchmarsh shares his five favourite plants for ground cover in the garden, in this short video from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.
There are many types of ground cover plant, grown for their evergreen foliage or flowers, and sometimes both. Here are 20 of the best.
Hardy geraniumsHardy geraniums are incredibly versatile plants, as they thrive in sun or shade and in most soil types. They look good in almost all styles of planting, from cottage gardens to a more contemporary schemes. They’re great for growing at the front of the border and under shrubs and roses. They come in a wide range of colours, from white to pink and blue. They’re not evergreen, so their foliage
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