This is something that will appeal to many homeowners because there are so many different kinds to choose from. The 2 quarts bags are about 15 to 20 dollars and cover about 115 cubic inches of space. Broken paper bags. For a mulch that doesn’t decompose, plant a ground cover to act as living mulch. Small- to medium-size agave species are unconventional ground cover choices that are becoming more popular. Use in the garden as a new ground project, on the patio, deck and more. Posted on Last updated: July 20, 2020 Categories Garden Landscaping, Ornamental Gardens. Lamb’s ear: Thick, velvety leaves grow 12 to 18 inches tall. Maybe in my ongoing research, I’ll find an ivy ground cover variety that isn’t as aggressive as English Ivy, but for the moment… No way. Most home improvement or grocery stores have a bunch of broken bags or grocery debris that they’d be happy for you to take off of their hands. There are also a wide variety of ivy plants to choose from. Timber Press Pocket Guide to Ground Covers (Timber Press Pocket Guides), Ground Covers: Over 100 Varieties for Every Landscape, How to Grow Lavender Plants In Your Garden Or In Containers, Backyard Flower Gardens Your Neighbors Will Envy, how to get rid of periwinkle ground cover. ‘Dragon’s Blood’ stonecrop (shown): This deer-resistant sedum grows 4 to 6 inches tall; deep-red, star-shaped flowers appear in midsummer. Consult “Tasty Turf: Tips for Using Culinary Herbs as Ground Cover” for more ideas on using herbs in your landscape. Zones 4–8. Landscaping Popular Landscaping Groundcovers and Shrubs Find out which shrubs and groundcovers will grow best in your yard, plus get details on the best times to plant, fertilize and prune. Jul 25, 2017 - Explore Erin Morin's board "Mulch alternatives" on Pinterest. In a natural ecosystem, the ground cover can be used to protect the soil from eroding away. This is a ground cover that can also be used as a ground cover in your garden. Poured Rubber and Rubber Tiles. Bearberry: Shiny evergreen leaves; birds love its red berries. Rubber Mulch. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion. The 3-gallon bags cost about 20 to 30 dollars and cover almost 1400 cubic inches. Just be aware that ivy will spread and eventually cover your entire house, which may not be what you had in mind. American barrenwort: The heart-shaped leaves grow 9 to 18 inches high. All rights reserved. Use it next to boulders for great texture contrast. Landscaping stony areas in your backyard is not easy, and moss is a great alternative: it will add some color and vegetation. Put one inch or more of mulch over the top of newspaper so it is covered. Several times, I have found gardening tools, landscaping edging, plants, etc. Solid rubber playground surfaces are becoming a common sight in neighborhood parks and under schoolyard play structures. Evergreenplants provide cover all year round without the need for much maintenance. We include a list of plants used, quantities needed, and a list of nurseries where to find them. You can use beautiful ground covers to hide an unsightly area or even make it a focal point of beauty. Another way moss is useful in the backyard is to cover old stumps: it makes them more part of the scenery. Gardeners usually turn to ground cover plants like moneywort, ivies, clovers, vinca minor, hostas and thymes when they have tough areas of the yard to landscape. How To Get Rid Of Periwinkle Ground Cover, […] also known as Vinca major, makes a beautiful ground cover, that doesn’t require much attention. Contact a landscaping pro today for up to four quotes from contractors in your area for free. If you’re looking for alternatives to the usual fallbacks—English ivy, pachysandra, and periwinkle—This Old House’s Jenn Nawada offers these out-of-the-ordinary options for ground cover. 3. DIY Dutch Bucket Hydroponic System – FREE Plans, Best Hydroponic Growing Medium For Your Garden, How To Care For Hydrangeas – The Ultimate Guide To Stunning Hydrangea Flowers, Norfolk Island Pine – Care Tips for the Christmas Tree Houseplant. It retains moisture, insulates plant roots and reduces weed growth, all while enhancing the visual appeal of flowerbeds and other landscaping features. 7. To plant creeping juniper on a grassy slope, get rid of the grass, then lay down landscape fabric along the slope. This plant is typically a pest-free plant that’s easy to grow. Clover makes a beautiful ground cover and attracts bees and butterflies. That serves a double purpose because you can use the mint and lavender in your recipes and in your iced tea! Only 2"-3" tall, you can walk on it (releasing its lemony aroma), tuck it between pavers in a garden path, use it as a tidy border or fill in a flower bed. Zones 4–7. Sure can. Needs rocky, well-drained soil. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with mulch. Zones 4–10. Mulch is a vital tool in any home gardener’s shed. These can occur naturally or they may be planted strategically by ecologists. We collect stunning pictures of gardens created by talented professionals and provide you with all the information you need to easily re-create them at home. Ground cover plants do more than just cover ground. When you plant living mulch, you can expect many of the benefits of traditional mulches — while adding beauty to your landscape design. Bishop’s hat (shown): Heart-shaped leaves form dense mounds 6 to 9 inches high, with delicate sprays of small flowers in spring. ‘Angelina’ stonecrop: Spiky, gray-green foliage about 4 inches tall has yellow blooms. Organic mulch breaks down in the soil and needs to be replaced periodically. Alpine geranium: Dense foliage, 3 to 6 inches high, displays pink blooms from April to October. Or in the Pacific Northwest? Get terrific ideas for landscaping with colorful and low-maintenance ground covers. In some stores, it costs about 15 dollars per 0.5 cubic feet. Comes in lots of stunning colors everyone would love: pink, purple, striped, and more. 7 Popular Ground Covers to Enhance Any Yard A great solution to those patchy parts of your landscape, "ground cover" is a general term for perennials that are known for their ability to spread. Ice plant is a ground cover … Zones 5–8. Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) Lamium maculatum thrives in zones 3 to 8 in part to full shade. It requires well-drained soil that is slightly acidic as well. Tired of running out of hot water? Brazilian dwarf morning glory ‘Blue Daze:’ Mounding foliage 9 to 18 inches high produces purple blooms all summer long. For example, moss doesn’t really require you to do much at all while certain low growing shrubs would need constant care and attention. It has the advantage of staying green year round, and the blue flowers are beautiful. Periwinkle is a fast-growing plant with solitary violet flowers at the end of the stem: beautiful ground cover that thrives in the shade! Check out garage sales. Ground covers are chosen for their Moss is one beautiful option. Perfect for a low-maintenance garden. Silver Brocade, also known as Wooly. In fact, some people use herbs like mint or lavender as their ground cover. How to Build a Picnic Table with Attached Benches. Here’s how to get rid of periwinkle ground cover if it took over your yard. Yes, it's a messy job. Creeping Rosemary: Also known as prostrate rosemary, this fast-growing evergreen does well in full sun and is a beautiful choice for cascading over rock or paving stone walls or for use in rock gardens. Periwinkle Ground Cover. This is very useful in areas with high levels of rain or other destructive weather conditions. With so many different applications, you can easily embrace the outdoors in style See less - Thrifty Landscaping Ideas For Every Budget, […] watering and resisting local pests and diseases, which in turn saves you more money on maintenance. Broken paper bags. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9; Sun Exposure: Full sun Another way moss is useful in the backyard is to cover old stumps: it makes them more part of the scenery. Zones 5–9. Zones 2–7. Foam flower: Glossy, lobed foliage grows 9 to 12 inches high; sprays of white flowers in May. Green Carpet (Herniaria Glabra) - This lowing growing ground cover only reaches about 3 inches in height and forms a matforming green carpet for carpet-bedding, a lawn alternative, low growing container gardening, etc. See more ideas about landscaping with rocks, backyard landscaping, yard landscaping. Reasons Why Grass Won't Grow. Nov 4, 2019 - Explore Jacquelyn Gray's board "landscape ground cover", followed by 699 people on Pinterest. Zones 8–11. We share 18 of the best ground covers for any weather or yard condition. Useful for maintaining an attractive winter gard… Please read my full disclosure policy for details. See more ideas about ground cover, ground cover plants, outdoor gardens. Zones 2–9. If you’d rather have a cover with some more depth you can choose to use low growing shrubs. Creeping thyme: Stems bearing tiny, aromatic leaves reach 2 to 6 inches high, with purple flowers from May to September. Working with the homeowner’s vision to create a lighter and brighter space, they chose Marvin to bring the view of the outside in with new windows and doors, as well as retain the integrity of the home’s design, and provide the efficiency and technology to make the home comfortable. You definitely don’t have to limit yourself either. When the leaves are crushed they smell like freshly mown hay. This drought-tolerant ground cover for sun can be used for culinary purposes and usually grows to about six inches in height. Use plants like alpine strawberries (pictured), vinca vine or even dead nettle. This is one plant that isn't prone to invasiveness and tends to form well-mannered clumps. Tankless Water Heater: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. Creeping Phlox is gorgeous! It is excellent for controlling weeds. Ground covers reduce the need for mulch and will suppress weeds as they spread to fill the […], 9 Easy DIY Landscaping Ideas For A Beautiful Yard, […] between evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, perennial flowers, ornamental grasses, vines, ground covers, herbs, bulbs, and annuals, using more of the latter, smaller items and fewer of the larger […]. Letting the (Natural) Light In | 2020 Cottage on the Cape. How Much Does It Cost to Landscape A Front Yard? Rubber mulch is almost always made from recycled or ground up tires. Mulch provides additional benefits as one of the alternatives to grass lawns such as moisture retention, weed control, protection against erosion, heat retention and protection of root systems. Wet it down with a hose or watering can to keep it in place. Zones 6–10. Zones 3–9. But each material will function a little differently and impart a different look to your landscape. 6. Bishop’s hat (shown): Heart-shaped leaves form dense mounds 6 to 9 inches high, with delicate sprays of small flowers in spring. Vinca plants can be invasive if you aren’t careful. Browse more popular ideas on Houzz Whether you want inspiration for planning a landscaping renovation or are building a designer landscaping from scratch, Houzz has 768,984 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Collins Fine Homebuilding and LZL Construction, Inc.. Look through landscaping pictures in different colors and styles and when you find … How to Mulch Lay three to four layers of newspaper over close-cut grass/weeds. Ground covers are great for hiding a patch of land you can’t seem to do anything else with or for adding an element of great design to your backyard. Ground Covers: Over 100 Varieties for Every Landscape It is important to keep in mind that the things you choose will have different levels of maintenance. Pink blooms in late spring attract butterflies. Rubber mulch is generally more expensive than some other play area ground cover options, and there may be concern over long-term exposure to these small bits of rubber. The best types of ground cover plants require little maintenance and aren’t invasive. Sometimes ground cover plants, especially nitrogen-fixing species like clover, are called living mulches. Dwarf mondo grass: Tight, 4- to 6-inch-high evergreen clumps grow up to 12 inches across. Periwinkle ground cover (which, best I can tell, seems to also go by the names of Myrtle and Vinca minor) looks like a really good possibility so far. Lobelia has beautiful tiny flowers in sky blue, dark blue, and rose pink colors. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It's also incredibly useful. Ivy is something that some people forget to consider. Cranesbill (shown): Bushy foliage grows up to 12 inches tall. Ground Covers. Leaves are variegated green and silvery-white, and pink blossoms appear from May through July. Pretty much any plant that grows low and will cover the ground can be used here. Zones 4–8. Sweet woodruff: Whorled foliage grows 8 to 12 inches tall; fragrant white flowers in spring. See a few ideas to landscape where grass simply will not grow. These are useful for overwintering vegetable gardens, where they prevent erosion and improve soil tilth. There are several types that you can turn depending on your needs. Ivy plants are great because they spread all around and create their own intricate design. Rocks are a great low maintenance ground cover, that when done right look great. Zones 3–8. If you love being outside and doing yard work this shouldn’t be a problem for you. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission. Zones 5–9. Timber Press Pocket Guide to Ground Covers (Timber Press Pocket Guides) It’s possible to have the same effect in your very own backyard! It is evergreen in temperate zones. If you’re looking for alternatives to the usual fallbacks—English ivy, pachysandra, and periwinkle—This Old House’s Jenn Nawada offers these out-of-the-ordinary options for ground cover.. Dry Shade iStock. Most of the ground covers are grass varieties when they are in the natural environment. While grass seems to be everywhere, it’s not exactly the easiest ground cover to keep healthy. Herniaria glabra, also known as Rupturewort or Green Carpet, is a soft to walk on, evergreen grass substitute for many people. Zones 4–8. They range in sizes and soil preferences, and some are even drought-tolerant. Make sure that you cover the newspapers right away with mulch or landscaping rock, so they don’t blow away. There is something so elegant and pretty about deep green mosses, which makes them an excellent choice. For example, Parry’s agave, with its very attractive rosette pattern, makes a wonderful water-wise ground cover. Window Design with Elegance and Efficiency. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. It will decompose in about a year, improving the soil. Pennsylvania sedge (shown): Wavy mounds of long, grass-like leaves grow 6 to 12 inches high. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Live in the desert? Zones 4–9. You can step on this without any problems, and it will disperse a beautiful smell while stepped on. These low-growing, gregarious plants turn barren ground into a carpet of green, shading the soil, reducing evaporation, halting erosion, and discouraging weeds. Like some of the best perennials for sun, there is a wide variety of ground covers that thrive in full sun.These plants feature vibrant flowers, cheerful berries, interesting leaves, a pleasing aroma, and evergreen foliage. That is probably because grasses are so easily spread. Zones 4–8. These gorgeous ground cover ideas will inspire you. Sweet woodruff is the perfect groundcover for adding fragrance to your backyard. This post may contain affiliate links. Lily turf: Grass-like foliage 8 to 18 inches high sports spikes of purple flowers in late summer. Ivy plants can cover rough, ugly spots in your yard and even your home. There are a lot more options for beautiful ground covers. Removing a warren of posts and partition walls opens up a bright, fun family space downstairs. Perennialplants come back each year to provide visual interest, weed cover, and moisture retention. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. Before and After Basement: Loft-Like Lower Level. You might not think of oregano as a ground cover, but this herb forms dense clumps of scented foliage. Take a look at these ground-covering ideas, and see how low-growing ground covers can improve the look of your landscape … Blue star creeper (shown): Forms a dense 2- to 4-inch-high mat with light-blue spring flowers. Lay old newspapers on the ground, several layers thick, for weed block. 3. Here are more shade-loving plants! 5. If you are more hands-off it’s definitely something you need to take into consideration. Zones 2–6. Bunchberry (shown): Lush, whorled foliage 6 to 12 inches tall. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Using moss as ground cover. I hope these ground cover ideas have inspired you to search for the perfect one for your backyard. Creeping Thyme ground cover, 1000 seeds, fragrant herb, pink blooms, perennial zones 4 to 9, sun or light shade, deerproof, Thymus serpyllum. Shed; ... One way in which water can intrude into your basement is from the water pouring out of the downspout and down into the ground on the outside of the basement wall. But your choices definitely don’t stop there when it comes to your own yard. When it came to restoring our 1890 Shingle-style Cape Ann home to its former glory, both the designer and architect at SV Design knew that the windows were critical to the home’s architecture. Hairy rupturewort: Overlapping stems with tiny leaves reach about 2 inches high. Do you have an area in your backyard that you’re not quite sure what to do with? But when the dust (and fiberglass) settles, you'll enjoy a fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round. Numerous peony bushes and hosta grow in its midst and create a gorgeous landscape. Ground Cover Alternatives to Grass: Mulch Mulch comes in a variety of materials, which allows for creative landscape designs using different textures and colors. That’s until it takes over your entire yard (and […]. The houttuynia cordata (chameleon plant) features boldly variegated leaves of red, pink, white, green, and yellow. Low Maintenance Ground Covers for Any Yard. We use vinca minor extensively in our beds and borders. If your not sure where to start, then try these landscaping ideas for rocks. White blooms attract butterflies; red berries in fall. You can revive your yard with a new landscape design. Zones 7–10. Ice Plant. If you live in an area with pine trees, you’re in luck — pine needles are abundant and a fantastic mulch. Living Mulch. Yes, it needs clipping back and sometimes rooting out, but doing that once a year keeps ours under control. Landscaping stony areas in your backyard is not easy, and moss is a great alternative: it will add some color and vegetation. It will do well in full sun, partial sun, or full shade. Here’s how we flooded our coastal Idea House with an abundance of natural light and fresh air. This miniature thyme is fragrant, pretty, and charming. A good choice for flower beds is colored, shredded, ground and chunked bark.