Ground Covers

Before planting, remove all existing turf grass, weeds, and debris. Then amend the soil with compost at a ratio of 1/3 compost to 2/3 soil. Break up any large clumps of soil and rake the area smooth.

When planting, be sure the soil level of the plant is even with that of your planting area. If the plant is too deep the crown and stems can rot due to lack of oxygen. If planted too shallow the plant will not have enough soil contact for adequate rooting or for proper water absorption.

After planting, water thoroughly. It is especially important that new plants get adequate water in the first two summers while they establish themselves.

It is always good practice to use a starter fertilizer when doing any planting. This helps the plants re-establish roots that have been damaged or lost when transplanted.

Once the plants have been in the ground for a season you can feed them once in the early spring with any balanced fertilizer.

To calculate the number of plants you need, use the chart below. Once you have the information about the ground cover you have chosen (ultimate size, growth rate, etc.), pick the closest match in column 1 and then multiply your square footage by the corresponding figure in column 2.

Then write the resulting number in column 3. This number will be the approximate number of 4” plants you’ll need to fill the area within one growing season.

Example: A plant that gets 2’ wide, with a Sq. footage of 150 ft.

.25 x 150 = 37.5 ~ 38 plants are needed

Key: * = Good Lawn Substitute

Sun Ground Covers 

• Acaena microphylla – New Zealand Burr
• Alyssum spp. – Madwort
• Anthemis mollis – Roman Chamomile
• *Azorella t. ‘Nana’ – Emerald Cushion
• Bellium nitidum – Miniature Daisy
• Dianthus g. ‘Tiny Rubies’
• Dymondia m. ‘Silver Carpet’
• Eleocharis r. – Miniature Rush
• Erinus alpines – Alpine Balsam
• Gypsophila c. – Clumping Baby’s Breath
• Lindernia grandiflora – Blue Moneywort
• *Lobelia chinensis – Chinese Lobelia
• *Lotus c. ‘Plenus’ – Dbl. Bird’s Foot Trefoil
• Nierembergia spp. – Cup Flower
• Raoulia australis ‘Scabwort’
• Scleranthus u. – Gnarled Cushion
• Stachys d. ‘Alba’
• Trifolium repens – Bronze Dutch Clover
• Veronica spp. – Speedwell

Partial Shade

• Arenaria baleariea – Corsican Sandwort
• Erodium spp. – Heron bill
• *Herniaria spp. – Rupturewort
• *Leptinella spp. – Brass Buttons
• *Mazus reptans – Creeping Mazus
• Mentha requienii – Corsican Mint
• Muehlenbeckia a. – Creeping Wire Vine
• Potentilla verna ‘Nana’ – Dwarf Potentilla
• *Pratia spp. – Star Creepers
• Sangina subulata – Irish moss
• Sangina subulata ‘Aurea’ – Scotch Moss
• Thymus spp. – Thyme

Shade

• Ajuga reptans – Bugleweed

Key: * = Good Lawn Substitute

Sun Ground Covers

• Bellium nitidum – Miniature Daisy
• Ceanothus gloriosus – Pt. Reyes Ceanothus
• Eleocharis r. – Miniature Rush
• Euonymus f. ‘Coloratus’ – Winter Creeper
• Hypericum calycinum – St. John’s Wort
• Lobelia chinensis – Chinese Lobelia
• Lotus c. ‘Plenus’ – Dbl. Bird’s Foot Trefoil
• Myosotis spp. – Forget-Me-Not
• Nierembergia spp. – Cup Flower
• Potentilla verna ‘Nana’ – Dwarf Potentilla
• Trifolium repens – Bronze Dutch Clover
• Vaccinium c. – Creeping Blueberry
• Viola hederacea – Australian Violet

Partial Shade

• Cotoneaster dammeri – Bearberry
• Fragaria chiloensis – Wild Strawberry
• Mazus reptans – Creeping Mazus
• Pratia (all)
• Rubus calycinoides – Emerald Carpet
• Sangina subulata – Irish moss
• Sangina subulata ‘Aurea’ – Scotch Moss
• Vinca major – Periwinkle
• Vinca minor – Dwarf Periwinkle

Shade

• Ajuga reptans – Bugleweed
• Gallium odoratum – Sweet Woodruff
• Lysimachia nummularia – Creeping Jenny
• Lysimachia n. ‘Aurea’ – Golden Creeping Jenny
• Soleirolia soleirollia – Baby Tears
• Soleirolia s. ‘Aurea’ – Golden Baby Tears

Key: * = Good Lawn Substitute

Sun Ground Covers 

• *Azorella t. ‘Nana’ – Emerald Cushion
• Ceanothus gloriosus – Pt. Reyes Ceanothus
• Ceratosigma p. – Dwarf Plumbago
• Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Coral Beauty’
• Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Mooncreeper’ – Bearberry
• Dianthus g. ‘Tiny Rubies’
• Erigeron spp. – Fleabane
• Hypericum calycinum – St. John’s Wort
• Iberis spp. – Candy Tuft
• Jovibarba heuffelii
• Lavandula ‘Silver Edge’ – Lavender
• Lithodora spp.
• Muehlenbeckia a. – Creeping Wire Vine
• Raoulia a. ‘Scabwort’
• Rosemary, creeping
• Rubus calycinoides – Emerald Carpet
• Santolina ‘Nana’
• Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’

Partial Shade 

• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi sp. – Kinnikinnick
• Asarum caudatum – Wild Ginger
• Epimedium spp.
• Fragaria c. ‘Lipstick’ – Lipstick Strawberry
• Herniaria spp. – Rupture Wort
• Sedum spp.
• Sempervivum spp. – Hens and Chicks
• Thymus spp. – Thyme
• Vinca major – Periwinkle
• Vinca minor – Dwarf Periwinkle

Shade

• Achillea tomentosa – Woolly Yarrow
• Ophiopogon p. ‘Nigrescens’ – Mondo Grass
• Waldstenia fragroides – Barren Strawberry

Key: * = Good Lawn Substitute

Sun Ground Covers 

• *Azorella t. ‘Nana’ – Emerald Cushion
• Ceanothus gloriosus – Pt. Reyes Ceanothus
• Ceratosigma p. – Dwarf Plumbago
• Euonymus f. ‘Coloratus’ – Winter Creeper
• Hypericum calycinum – St. John’s Wort
• Iberis spp. – Candy Tuft
• Lithodora spp.
• Muehlenbeckia a. – Creeping Wire Vine
• Raoulia australis ‘Scabwort’
• Rosemary, creeping
• Scleranthus spp.
• Vaccinium macrocarpon – Cranberry

Partial Shade 

• Alchemilla mollis – Lady’s Mantle
• Anthemis mollis – Roman Chamomile
• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi sp. – Kinnikinnick
• Asarum caudatum – Wild Ginger
• Cotoneaster dammeri – Bearberry
• Fragaria chiloensis – Wild Strawberry
• Fragaria c. ‘Lipstick’ – Lipstick Strawberry
• Herniaria spp. – Rupture Wort
• Leptinella spp. – Brass Buttons
• Rubus calcinoides – Emerald Carpet
• Saxifraga spp.
• Thymus spp. – Thyme
• Vinca major – Periwinkle
• Vinca minor – Dwarf Periwinkle

Shade

• Gaultheria procumbans – Wintergreen
• Gaultheria shallon – Salal
• Ophiopogon p. ‘Nigrescens’ – Mondo Grass
• Pachysandra terminalis – Japanese Spurge
• Sedum m ‘Ogon’ – Golden Japanese Sedum
• Waldstenia fragroides – Barren Strawberry