Ground cover plants are awesome for many reasons—both functional and aesthetic. Here’s why we recommend them for both residential and commercial landscaping projects:
Weed Suppression:
Once established, dense ground cover plants can outcompete weeds by blocking sunlight and leaving no room for them to grow.
Erosion Control:
They help stabilize soil on slopes or bare patches, reducing runoff and holding soil in place with their roots.
Low Maintenance:
Many are drought-tolerant, require minimal mowing or trimming, and don’t need much fertilizer once established.
Soil Improvement
Some ground cover plants, like clover, add nutrients to the soil, especially nitrogen.
Pest Control:
Certain types can deter pests either by smell or by attracting beneficial insects.
Visual Appeal:
They provide a lush, finished look in garden beds, between stepping stones, or around trees.
Seasonal Interest:
Some bloom with flowers, others change color in the fall, and many stay green year-round.
Great Lawn Alternatives:
For areas where grass struggles, like shady spots or dry slopes, ground covers can be a prettier and more sustainable alternative.
Foot Traffic Tolerance:
Some varieties (like creeping thyme or mondo grass) can handle light walking and are great between pavers or in paths.
Atlanta’s warm, humid climate is perfect for a variety of ground covers—whether you want something evergreen, flowering, drought-tolerant, or shade-loving. Check out our list below:
Evergreen Ground Covers (Year-Round Coverage)
Liriope (Monkey Grass)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun to part shade
- Benefits: Hardy, low-maintenance, can handle foot traffic
- Bonus: Produces purple flower spikes in late summer
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
- Sun/Shade: Part shade to full shade
- Benefits: Spreads quickly, purple/bronze foliage, spring flowers
- Warning: Can be invasive if not managed
Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
- Sun/Shade: Shade to part sun
- Benefits: Evergreen leaves, pretty blue flowers
- Bonus: Great under trees
Pachysandra
- Sun/Shade: Full to part shade
- Benefits: Dense, glossy evergreen foliage
- Best for: Woodland settings or shady areas
Flowering Ground Covers
Creeping Phlox
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Bloom: Early spring, pink/purple/white/blue flowers
- Bonus: Looks stunning spilling over walls or borders
Sedum (Stonecrop)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, colorful blooms
- Great for: Hot, dry spots
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun to part shade
- Features: Vivid chartreuse color, yellow flowers
- Moisture-loving: Good near water features
Shade-Loving Ground Covers
Sweet Woodruff
- Sun/Shade: Full to part shade
- Benefits: Soft foliage, white star-shaped flowers in spring
- Smells like: Fresh hay when dried
Ferns (like Autumn Fern)
- Sun/Shade: Shade to part sun
- Texture: Lush, woodsy feel
- Bonus: Low maintenance and deer resistant
Drought-Tolerant / Full Sun Options
Thyme (Creeping or Woolly)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Benefits: Fragrant, edible, flowers for pollinators
- Great between stepping stones
Blue Star Creeper
- Sun/Shade: Full sun to part shade
- Features: Tiny blue flowers, low matting habit
- Soft underfoot and fast-growing
Juniper (Creeping Varieties like ‘Blue Rug’)
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Use for: Slopes and erosion control
- Very hardy and low-care