Shady areas can be challenging to grow in, but filling low-light areas with shade ground cover plants is a great low-maintenance option for gardeners. Thankfully there are a surprising number of options when it comes to shade-loving ground covers. In this article, I’ll introduce you to my favorites, along with sharing some quick tidbits of info on establishing these ground-hugging plants.
The benefits of planting ground covers in the shadeThere are many benefits of covering soil in shady areas with low growing ground covers. First, these are often the same areas that are difficult to grow typical lawn grasses in. If you have a low light area where the grass is patchy and struggles to grow, consider replacing it with shade ground cover plants. By replacing your lawn with ground covers, you also have the perk of not having to mow.
Low maintenance groundcovers also prevent erosion and reduce weeds. With time, they form a dense carpet over the soil, protecting it from wind and heavy rainfall, and further shading the soil beneath, which prevents weed seeds from germinating and reduces watering needs once the plants are established.
Quick definition of shade/part shadeBefore we dive into what makes a great shade ground cover, we need to define what is meant by “shade”. Full shade receives less than 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. Partial shade receives between 4 and 6 hours of full sun per day. Dappled shade, say beneath a small canopy tree like a mature dogwood, is still considered to be partial shade, even if it is spotty.
Whether your shady spot is considered full shade or partial shade, the ground covers I detail later in this article will do quite nicely. The only light conditions to avoid for these plants is full
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