Living Mulch: Grow Your Own Ground Cover to Suppress Weeds

Although mulch is a crucial component in gardening, it’s not always the most fun to apply. At times, it smells – it also needs to be replenished every year. If you find yourself tired of your pitiful lawn, a good alternative to mulch is living ground covers, which offer many of the same benefits: weed suppression, moisture retention, and increased soil health. They also aid in promoting biodiversity by providing an enriching habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, and soil organisms. 

Many groundcovers have shallow roots and rarely compete with other plants in the garden; some are even edible. Here’s a few practical groundcovers that can help you snuff out your weeds once and for all. 

 

1. Dichondra 

Although occasionally mistaken for a weed, Dichondra is an attractive perennial ground cover that makes your scraggly lawn seem like the real weed. A low-lying plant with trailing leaves that resemble water lilies, its roots are fibrous and shallow, making it easy to rip out with a hori hori knife. Because of its sparse habit, it does not tolerate heavy foot traffic and is recommended for small areas, such as between pavers. 

2. Yarrow    

Yarrow is a hardy plant that can thrive in intractable soil with a dearth of nutrients. It is seldom used as a groundcover, but when it is, it creates a soft, fern-like living carpet. Yarrow builds an extensive network of roots, improving soil fertility over time. The only downside is that mowing will destroy their beautiful flowers, but you can also leave aside an area to let them bloom undisturbed.  

3. Strawberries 

Surprisingly, strawberries can be used as ground covers – certain varieties, such as wild and coastal strawberries, provide great mulch coverage. Prolific spreaders, they’ll strangle out unruly clumps of grass. Steer clear of mock strawberry, a false strawberry (its fruit grow upwards instead of hanging downwards) that tends to have a bland, unappetizing taste. To prevent your strawberries from spreading aggressively, you can grow them in berry raised beds alongside other berry varieties. 

4. Brass buttons (Leptinella squalida)

Brass buttons is an unusual ground cover that is an excellent option for alpine plantings, carpeting the ground with its bronze-tinged leaves. In its native habitat, it grows in damp areas – make sure to keep it well-watered to prevent it from becoming dry and withered. As brass buttons can spread aggressively via rhizomatous runners, limit it by employing restrictions such as garden paths or raised garden beds. 

5. Nasturtium 

Nasturtiums are often grown as sacrificial crops to deter pests, but they can also double as underrated groundcovers, creating a flowery carpet overflowing with blooms. They can also be grown on trellises alongside vegetable crops for maximum effect. An additional benefit is that the flowers are edible, often used as garnish in salads, where they give off a mild, peppery flavor. Nasturtiums readily self-seed, meaning that they will essentially stay in your garden forever. 

6. Irish Moss 

Irish moss is a seasonal groundcover that looks wonderful as filler between stepping stones or a rock garden, especially when it develops dainty white flowers. It’s wise to dedicate a small area to it; otherwise, a lack of watering can cause it to grow sparsely, resulting in a sporadic, unsightly patch. It can withstand light to moderate foot traffic. 

7. Blue Star Creeper 

Blue star creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) is a low-lying ground cover that replaces lawns with a multitude of starry flowers. Suited for mild, temperature climates, it grows in a dense mat to shade out most weeds and has a fairytale-like look. Other than a tendency to spread quickly, it has few issues and can be contained with deep garden walls or raised beds. 

8. Oregano     

If you want a groundcover that has few limitations and sprawls beautifully, oregano is a fine choice. Although it is in the mint family, it does not wander as much. As some oregano varieties will grow to a couple feet tall, make sure to choose low-growing ones such as Greek oregano and golden oregano. Oregano has many uses – it is perfect for fresh pizza, pasta sauce dishes, and roasted chicken. 

9. Creeping Thyme      

The tiny magenta flowers of creeping thyme are definitely the star of the show. Additionally, it emits a lemony scent and repels mosquitos. However, harsh winters and summers can prove detrimental, leaving it bereft. Because of its woody stems, it can become leggy at the center. If this happens, replace your plants or prune it heavily. 

10. Clover       

The first groundcover anti-lawn gardeners often turn to is clover. Very easy to seed and requiring almost zero maintenance, clover has nitrogen fixing properties and attracts pollinators. White clover, the most well-known type, is shorter than red clover. Micro clover is not recommended, as it will revert to regular clover within a few years. In shady areas, it won't grow as rapidly, and you might find more grass than clover. 

11. English Chamomile 

English, or Roman chamomile may be plain, but what it lacks in color, it makes up for in numbers. It grows like a weed, covering the ground in a proliferation of daisy-like flowers, which is exactly what some gardeners want. Start seed indoors, and once the danger of frost has passed, transplant outdoors, 8-10 inches apart.

12. Mazus 

Creeping mazus is a flowering perennial that bears tangles of lilac blue flowers. It progressively spreads through cuttings and root division – tear apart the pieces and plant with the roots attached. Although it tolerates a wide range of soils, it grows best in moist soil.