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Groundcovers at Dutch Growers are any perennial plant that reaches no more than five inches tall, and thus has a creeping or spreading growth habit. Groundcovers can keep soils from washing away in the rain. They can also keep soils from drying out looking cracked and unsightly near tall perennials. Some groundcovers retain moisture, helping other perennials nearby. Still others use very little moisture, allowing for little maintenance.
We suggest groundcovers to accent perennial gardens; in rock gardens and xeriscapes; along curbs and sidewalks; as lawn alternatives; as flower gardens in their own right; and finally, as perennial fairy gardens!
Groundcovers work beautifully in perennial gardens. Experimenting with height differences adds depth, interest, and texture to your perennial beds. Don't skip the short plants when considering height! Even the wee ones offer that difference in scale which makes a garden go from great to spectacular. Sedum can add a tremendous amount of texture to a sunny space. Try a shade groundcover in mossy spaces, too: ajuga or lily of the valley will thrive in shadier spaces.
Groundcovers are ideal for spaces where rocky or poor soils make growth difficult for other perennials. That's what makes groundcovers ideal in rock gardens - also called xeriscapes. Xeriscape is the fancy word for landscapes that are composed primarily of rocks and gravel. Even a low maintenance xeriscape can benefit from a little green growth! The whole point of xeriscape is to create a low-maintenance yard which takes away the labour of lawns and effort required of other plants. However, a well-placed groundcover can make the xeriscape look natural, can aid in drainage by using excess water, and competes with weeds to reduce their presence, also. Xeriscapes can look sterile and contrived without a little growth. I recommend Hens and Chicks - as well as sedum - for xeriscapes, because they come in a huge number of colours including reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and blackish hues. These require little to no water, and creep across gravelly spaces, hugging rocks and outcroppings. They are the ideal plant for hot, sunny xeriscapes with their low maintenance and great colour.
Groundcovers will happily grow beside sidewalks or beside curbs, where other perennials would look tattered from being constantly nudged by traffic, or would fail to grow in thinner soils. Try a woolly thyme or a sedum in the edges of perennial beds to fill out spaces and make the beds feel complete. A groundcover buffer between the lawn and the sidewalk can add interest and keep the lawn from encroaching on the walkways.
You can also use some ground covers as alternatives to lawns. Grass alternatives need to be relatively fine being walked on. They also help remove excess water from pathways, without requiring a lot of additional water. This makes them a more environmentally-friendly alternative to grass. Use golden thyme, pink flowering thyme, or clovers between stepping stones or on pathways with moderate traffic. Irish and Scotch Moss are great options for shady spaces with traffic.
There are flowering groundcovers that will knock your socks off! My favourite is Lewisia, and there is a shorter variety of baby's breath you could use, too. Perennial calendula creates carpets of purple or white flowers. Pinks and thrift produce delightful sprays of flowers that are fun surprises in xeriscaping (that pink on black landscape rock? Holy smokes!). Short varieties of aster offer another flower type. Feel free to experiment!
As promised, the last idea I have for using groundcovers is for perennial fairy gardens! Fairy gardens are a great way to get kids involved in gardening, and there are lots of fun accessories, like mushrooms, frogs, and, of course, fairies. And let's be honest: a fairy garden is fun at any age. It's hard to be grumpy when confronted with a tiny wheelbarrow! Pick a small square underneath a tree or by a fence, plant some of the tiny flowers mentioned above, add a door and some seating for the fairies, and let the magic happen.
However you want to incorporate groundcovers, we have a huge selection to choose from! Here are some groundcovers for sun and shade:
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There's so much to choose from when it comes to groundcovers! Use your imagination and take advantage of these great plants.
Perennials are a versatile category of plants, containing hundreds of varieties, with countless uses. One sub-category of perennials — unsung heroes, if you will — are known as "Groundcovers." This unassuming name belies the enormous variety and potential for these humble plants. Let's talk about how to use a variety of groundcovers to create exciting landscapes!
Perennials are a versatile category of plants, containing hundreds of varieties, with countless uses. One sub-category of perennials — unsung heroes, if you will — are known as "Groundcovers." This unassuming name belies the enormous variety and potential for these humble plants. Let's talk about how to use a variety of groundcovers to create exciting landscapes!
Groundcovers at Dutch Growers are any perennial plant that reaches no more than five inches tall, and thus has a creeping or spreading growth habit. Groundcovers can keep soils from washing away in the rain. They can also keep soils from drying out looking cracked and unsightly near tall perennials. Some groundcovers retain moisture, helping other perennials nearby. Still others use very little moisture, allowing for little maintenance.
We suggest groundcovers to accent perennial gardens; in rock gardens and xeriscapes; along curbs and sidewalks; as lawn alternatives; as flower gardens in their own right; and finally, as perennial fairy gardens!
Groundcovers work beautifully in perennial gardens. Experimenting with height differences adds depth, interest, and texture to your perennial beds. Don't skip the short plants when considering height! Even the wee ones offer that difference in scale which makes a garden go from great to spectacular. Sedum can add a tremendous amount of texture to a sunny space. Try a shade groundcover in mossy spaces, too: ajuga or lily of the valley will thrive in shadier spaces.
Groundcovers are ideal for spaces where rocky or poor soils make growth difficult for other perennials. That's what makes groundcovers ideal in rock gardens - also called xeriscapes. Xeriscape is the fancy word for landscapes that are composed primarily of rocks and gravel. Even a low maintenance xeriscape can benefit from a little green growth! The whole point of xeriscape is to create a low-maintenance yard which takes away the labour of lawns and effort required of other plants. However, a well-placed groundcover can make the xeriscape look natural, can aid in drainage by using excess water, and competes with weeds to reduce their presence, also. Xeriscapes can look sterile and contrived without a little growth. I recommend Hens and Chicks - as well as sedum - for xeriscapes, because they come in a huge number of colours including reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and blackish hues. These require little to no water, and creep across gravelly spaces, hugging rocks and outcroppings. They are the ideal plant for hot, sunny xeriscapes with their low maintenance and great colour.
Groundcovers will happily grow beside sidewalks or beside curbs, where other perennials would look tattered from being constantly nudged by traffic, or would fail to grow in thinner soils. Try a woolly thyme or a sedum in the edges of perennial beds to fill out spaces and make the beds feel complete. A groundcover buffer between the lawn and the sidewalk can add interest and keep the lawn from encroaching on the walkways.
You can also use some ground covers as alternatives to lawns. Grass alternatives need to be relatively fine being walked on. They also help remove excess water from pathways, without requiring a lot of additional water. This makes them a more environmentally-friendly alternative to grass. Use golden thyme, pink flowering thyme, or clovers between stepping stones or on pathways with moderate traffic. Irish and Scotch Moss are great options for shady spaces with traffic.
There are flowering groundcovers that will knock your socks off! My favourite is Lewisia, and there is a shorter variety of baby's breath you could use, too. Perennial calendula creates carpets of purple or white flowers. Pinks and thrift produce delightful sprays of flowers that are fun surprises in xeriscaping (that pink on black landscape rock? Holy smokes!). Short varieties of aster offer another flower type. Feel free to experiment!
As promised, the last idea I have for using groundcovers is for perennial fairy gardens! Fairy gardens are a great way to get kids involved in gardening, and there are lots of fun accessories, like mushrooms, frogs, and, of course, fairies. And let's be honest: a fairy garden is fun at any age. It's hard to be grumpy when confronted with a tiny wheelbarrow! Pick a small square underneath a tree or by a fence, plant some of the tiny flowers mentioned above, add a door and some seating for the fairies, and let the magic happen.
However you want to incorporate groundcovers, we have a huge selection to choose from! Here are some groundcovers for sun and shade:
There's so much to choose from when it comes to groundcovers! Use your imagination and take advantage of these great plants.
Glorious Groundcovers
Perennials are a versatile category of plants, containing hundreds of varieties, with countless uses. One sub-category of perennials — unsung heroes, if you will — are known as "Groundcovers." This unassuming name belies the enormous variety and potential for these humble plants. Let's talk about how to use a variety of groundcovers to create exciting landscapes!
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