Ground Covers

Where lawn doesn't grow, we still need to cover ground. This page offers a brief slide show of an extensive ground-covering project. (Less than two minutes duration.) Scroll down for more articles on plants that cover ground, as well as some ground-covering problems. 

Some Grasses Will Grow In Shade

Make a peace treaty between shade and turf. Learn about Supina bluegrass and creeping red fescue. 

Micro Clover: Perennial Nitrogen Fertilizer for Lawns

Put diminutive micro clover in a lawn seed mix--or use it alone for a year-round green cover. It's like a free nitrogen lunch for turf--and it helps to reduce weeds.

Covering Ground With Native Ornamental Grasses and Sedges

Many native grasses and sedges are both beautiful and resilient. Learn about some regional natives and why they can be problem solvers. 

Native Shrubs Offer Blossoms for Pollinators, March to November  

There are native shrubs for each of the eight months when pollinators are active. Cover ground with flowering shrubs. 

Sedum Covers Ground and Solves Problems

It's hot outside and it hasn't rained in a while. Do you know where your sedum is? 

Create a Low-Maintenance Moss Lawn

If you are frustrated by the difficulty of growing grass in certain areas of the yard, consider moss for groundcover. In this interview with Annie Martin, a.k.a. 'Mossin' Annie', learn how to choose the right site, choose the right moss species, and pick the best growing method for your goals. Martin is the author of "The Magical World of Moss Gardening," Timber Press, 2015.

Reasons to Grow Moss Where Lawns Won't Grow

  If you can't beat it, why not join into the benefits of moss?

Myths and Realities of Moss Removal

Some people love moss, but more dislike it. To be specific, they dislike it in their lawns. Many people today, including some golf course turf managers, use a solution of four ounces dish soap mixed with one gallon of water. Does it work? Please read this post about Myths and Realities of Moss Removal in Lawns

How to Tell the Difference between Quackgrass and Crabgrass