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Benefits of Ground Cover Plants


April 10, 2025
Gound Cover Plants

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

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