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Human Resources Center425 Pennsylvania Avenue Ground Covers
Landscape considerations. Present day landscape
If the area to be covered is large, it is generally design stresses simplicity. Often a few widely advisable to develop a broad, mass planting using spaced, carefully selected specimen plants are used one kind of plant. Occasionally, two or three kinds to create an interesting landscape composition. Low in individual groups are useful. But ground covers plants that grow to form a dense carpet on the ground that are excessively showy in flower or exceptionally are known as ground covers. They serve two slow growing should be reserved for small, special purposes: they help tie the specimen plants together Banks five feet or more in height, with moderate Other uses of ground covers. Ground covers are
slopes, are more difficult to cover effectively with particularly useful in locations where grass will not the usual low-growing covers. They are often grow. They can be planted on slopes to prevent soil planted with vines, dwarf and low shrubs, and erosion and eliminate mowing. Small areas and wet occasionally large shrubs. Although these materials spots where mowing would be difficult, areas are considerably larger than the typical ground cover beneath shade trees, woodland gardens, and rock plant, they serve essentially the same purpose by gardens are also suited to these plants. Very low- providing a uniform mass capable of covering and growing kinds are attractive and useful for filling the holding the soil in place in areas that would crevices between stepping-stones or paving blocks otherwise be difficult to maintain properly. If a very dense planting is desired, underplanting with low- Plantings for steep slopes. The grading that must
be done to establish level lawn areas in steeply Planting seasons and soil preparation. Although
sloping ground may leave banks that are difficult to ground covers may be planted throughout the mow and maintain as a lawn. Equally difficult growing season, early spring is ideal. Plantings slopes are often left where highway excavations have made then will be well established before winter. been made. If the banks are not too steep, they can be protected from erosion and made attractive by Soil preparation. The type of plant as well as the simply planting them with an appropriate ground slope of the land should guide soil preparations for A low bank, from two- to four-feet high with a On level land, large quantities of soil can be weeded moderate slope, can as a rule be effectively planted and fertilized without danger of causing major with a ground cover that will quickly spread over the erosion. Instructions for preparing the soil are exposed soil. The nature of the site should be governed by the presence or absence of weeds. carefully considered and only plants that will thrive there should be selected. Because the soil on slopes Level areas without weeds. Remove any debris and tends to be dry, the plants should be tolerant of add a two-inch layer of organic matter such as peat periodic drought. The amount of sun or shade that a moss, leaf mold, or compost over the entire area. slope receives also influences the types of plants. Then apply a complete fertilizer such as 5-10-5 at the rate of 3 pounds to each 100 square feet. SPADE or rototill the area. After planting, apply a mulch. Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. Method A disturbs the soil very little. If there
Setting the plants. In areas where overall sol are many weeds, cut them down. Then, without preparation has not been done, prepare a planting disturbing the soil, fumigate underneath a plastic tarp “pocket” for each plant. Dig individual holes to eliminate surface weeds and weed seeds. After slightly wider and deeper than the root system to fumigating, be sure to wait the required time before allow the roots to be spread out completely and use a planting. Finally cover the ground with cheesecloth, prepared soil as a backfill around the roots of the burlap, turf fiber, or some other erosion-preventing plant. In sandy gravelly, over drained soils, haul in a material. Plant through holes cut in the material. fertile loam or use a mixture of one-third loam soil, one-third peat moss, and one-third original sandy If there are few weeds, dig or pull them; then lay soil. In well drained loamy soil, backfill with one- down cheesecloth, burlap, turf fiber or the like, cut holes in the material, and plant through the holes. Maintenance. Watering, weeding, mulching,
Black plastic may be used as the covering, but is and feeding are the main requirements of a new unsightly and in some instances the tops of plants ground cover planting. Once established it will grown in the plastic may suffer winter injury. An require very little care. A mulch of peat moss, pine organic mulch applied over the plastic conceals it needles, or other suitable material will reduce the and usually prevents such injury. The mulch has a need for watering and weeding. The weeds can be tendency to “slip” on the plastic after rains or heavy pulled out, or kept trimmed so that they are lower winds but can easily be put back in place. Method B disturbs the soil very little. Cut the
A commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen, weeds back to almost ground level. Plant in phosphorus, and potassium in pellet form is “pockets” cut out of the slope, and keep weeds down recommended. In early spring it can be scattered to the height of the ground cover plantings, or lower. over the beds when the foliage is dry and then Weed growth left this way is unsightly, but it helps brushed to the ground with a broom. Use a 5 percent nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds per 100 Spacing. The spacing of the plants depends on
their type and how quickly they will spread, and also In exposed locations, evergreen ground covers may on their size and their location. One plant for every need additional protection from winter winds and one to four square feet is a good guide when ordering sun. Evergreen branches, such as those cut from ground covers. Close spacing provides cover sooner, discarded Christmas trees, are very useful for this but it is more costly. Spacing recommendations are given for each plant covered in the plant lists. Every effort has been made to provide correct, complete, and up-to-date pest management information
for New York State. Changes in pesticide regulations occur constantly, and human errors are still
possible. These recommendations are not a substitute for pesticide labeling. Read the label before
applying any pesticide. Trade names used herein are for convenience only. No endorsement of products
is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products implied.

Cornell Cooperative Extension and its employees assume no liability for the effectiveness or results of any
chemicals for pesticide usage. No endorsement of products is made or implied.
**HOME REMEDIES: These remedies are not endorsements by Cornell University of any product or
procedure. They are not recommendations for use either express or implied. Neither Cornell University,
nor its employees or agents, are responsible for any injury or damage to person or property arising from
the use of this information.
List of Ground Covers
Common Name
Latin Name
Sunny Areas
Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii Juniperus horizontalis and variants Phlox subulata and variants Thymus serphyllum and variants Shaded Areas
Ajuga reptans and variants Especially Difficult Growing Sites
Coronilla varia and variants 1 Well drained soil important 2Good in sun or shade 3 Confine; may grow out of bounds 4 Herbaceous perennial 5 Deciduous 6 Difficult to transplant 7 Climbs as a vine where it has support

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