10 Tough Ground Cover Plants to Reduce Mulching

[@denko44]

Ajuga is also very nice, lots of colors options. Plus you get nice blooms too.

[@curiouscat3384]

I LOVE ajuga. Zone 8a here and going well because we rarely have more than a dusting of snow. But in Maryland I couldn't keep it alive thru winter. If snow or ice settle on it some will die. A dusting that melts the next day is okay but I put a lightweight 'blanket' over it if snow or ice accumulation with persistent freezing temp is predicted.

[@silverbackag9790]

He covered it in the other video.

[@oneblockwonderwoman6833]

My favorite ground cover in my Zone 8b garden is creeping thyme. It thrives in our blistering summer sun and still does well in shadier spots. It doesn't mind being walked on and puts out a haze of beautiful purple flowers in summer. The only issue I have is oxalis trying to establish itself in the middle of the thyme and it's hard to dig out the oxalis roots.

[@arielleritchie2011]

Creeping thyme also does great in our zone 4b in Minneapolis! It’s really a work horse ground cover. Didn’t realize it could do well down south too. It established itself and utterly took off merely weeks after planting here in my gardens. I’ve got a few different types and most are walked on a bit without complaining.

[@mellfraze8112]

Elfin thyme has been performing solidly in my zone 9b northern California garden in blazing summer full sun & part shade through the winter.

[@oneblockwonderwoman6833]

I didnt know it would do well in such a cold area as Zone 4. I am in the part of California where it gets triple digits in the summer and the teens in the winter. Very versatile groundcover.

[@trinityloewen8141]

Is it also edible?

[@ericbausman8195]

@@trinityloewen8141 It is edible but not very palatable.

[@ericbausman8195]

Sedum “Angelina” has been wonderful in some of my most difficult corners of my garden! Brilliant chartreuse during the growing season and brilliant orange in winter.

[@katiekane5247]

One of my absolute favorites, beats Lemon Ball all day long! I have a niece named Angelina too.

[@bryanmcavoy5302]

Hey Jim. Are there enough native ground covers to do a video just about them? Maybe just North America or something like that. I'm having good luck with phyla nodiflora (frog fruit) and lyreleaf sage, but more options would be great. Thank you!

[@katiekane5247]

Mitchella repens, Phlox diveracata both good natives in my north Georgia location

[@chrisdumont3136]

I’ve honestly come to the conclusion that native is just a buzzword for landscape plants in much the same way that ‘organic’ is a buzzword for food we eat. Ecosystems are constantly terraforming themselves, (even before humans expedited the process). How many ‘native’ seeds released from one plant in one season actually take root? How many that take root grow to old age? Plants migrate across the earth like animals, forming symbiotic and antagonistic relationships with each other, deciduous forests giving way to evergreen and on and on. I say if it grows, plant it. If it’s not invasive what does it hurt? (I’m just giving my reasoning and genuinely asking, not trying to be argumentative or say your wrong and that I’m right)

[@ivylarsen5355]

@@chrisdumont3136 I recommend you read Doug Tallamy’s books on this topic. And also plant a few natives in your own yard and compare how wildlife use them vs your Asian plants. I used to think like you too but this issue is much more complex. Insects, birds and plants have developed relationships over thousands of years that cannot be changed over night. In Florida we have a native bee that adapted to detach it’s wings in order to craw into our blueberry species to pollinate them. It’s an incredible thing to see, but since most of FL is privately owned and most people only plant the same 10 landscaping species this bee is at risk of extinction now.

[@ivylarsen5355]

Frog fruit is awesome ! It’s a host plant for multiple butterflies, flowers almost all year and is a beautiful dark purple right now in January. Meanwhile my lawn looks terrible I think I am going to swap the entire lawn for frog fruit. I added golden Alexander as well it looks good so far, can’t wait to see it flower.

[@chrisdumont3136]

@@ivylarsen5355 I think I came off a little harsh haha I had just left work when I left that comment. I by no means think natives should be avoided, and they have their place for a certainty. I guess I meant more like it’s one of those buzzword used by lofty idealists in much the same way that ‘organic’ (🥴 sigh) is used, by people like vegans who are virtue signaling for some unknown reason . I just mean let people plant what they like, if it gets them into a hobby that’s healthy and good for the environment (regardless of what they plant) I don’t think anyone should be telling anyone what to plants beyond tips of what will grow in their zone. Having said that I will definitely check that out because I do have a native section in my landscape for wildlife. It is a small out of the way backyard corner, but I like to experiment with all styles and types of gardening aesthetics…I currently have 127 orchids in my indoor collection 😭😭😭

[@dia9491]

Over the years I’ve fallen in love with ground covers. I’d like to get some more but not all of them survive our full sun.

[@Krautastic]

I've got some leptinella 'brass buttons' growing in full sun between bricks. They've absolutely taken off, but it's also an area that gets alot of overhead irrigation. I don't think they do well with sun and dry.

[@dia9491]

@@Krautastic by any chance do you have clay soil? Things love it or hate it over here, ad in no shade ever lol and it’s a rough place to live for many plants.

[@Krautastic]

@@dia9491 this particular area has been mulched for years and years, so it's just a good garden soil at this point, not a heavy clay soil. I don't have much clay in general where I'm at. Too much forest and a volcano nearby so the soil tends to be pretty rich.

[@Krautastic]

@@dia9491 I just looked and leptinella squalida prefers loamy nutrient rich soil

[@vickiejones7085]

Ozarks is some of the prettiest part of Arkansas. We live just outside of Fort Smith and I’m sure you passed through our area going to see Linda Vater. The leaves haven’t quite turned colors yet.

[@deannahaworth7666]

Roundleaf golden groundsel is a great native ground cover ( get a small spike of flat budded multiple orangey yellow flowers in the spring ) I absolutely love this ground cover.

[@marionallen2222]

I need a bunch of ground covers !!! Tell u what has been the best plant in my garden this year…. Dianthus !!! … it’s bloomed non stop since May when I put several dozen of them out like a border around gardens and they have filled in and spread out covered the ground and Bonus pretty white flower blooms !!! I gotta get more next Spring when I can find it!!! Lol!!! Love your suggestions!!!! And the trees don’t seem to be affecting them stealing all the water 🤣🤣🤣 they are so greedy 🤣🤣🤣🤍🤍🤍

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

My favorite ground cover is Ceratostigma with bright blue flowers and red leaves in the Fall.

[@juliabinford6500]

Many sedums grow as ground cover for me. I also have a nice mat of gold creeping Jenny in a tough spot between stepping stones.

[@hilltopbrenda]

I Love pachysandra!! I have lots. I just bought 4 more flats this week of 100 each. It works for me. Doesn’t climb - always green - can do sun or dry shade for me. Keeps out those weeds. I say if its good enough for Longwood, its good enough for me.

[@onetuliptree]

Thanks for the new gardening ideas!

[@artistapprentice7021]

I really needed this information! Thank you!

[@trinityloewen8141]

After my first full year of gardening in the South(SC), I'm figuring out that ground cover is essential for my full sun front flower garden. Evergreen ground cover!? I'm excited about those options😊 Thank you for another informative vid.

[@kso808]

That Asiatic jasmine is quite distinctive! Reminds me of peppermint bark candy.

[@marky3131]

Perhaps consider having a similar video on native ground covers. Plants such as pachysandra is listed as invasive in 15 states. Several other that were mentioned are also invasive and almost none of them offer benefits to our native insects. There is a native pachysandra and so many other natives such as wild ginger. Appreciate and try never to miss, your shoe.

[@rdarrett3635]

Yes, please!

[@lynnwilhelm7928]

Hey Jim, I'm learning a lot about native carex and I'm impressed, I'm testing some now in a dry woodland garden in Cary. There are quite a few that are native to our area with some for dry and some for moist locations. It seems there's a native carex for almost any location. I'm also trying out woodland Sedum ternatum, another native. I'm not planning on going down the "natives-only" rabbit hole, but now that I'm finding that they're more available in the trade (especially as plugs), I'm getting excited that these can be viable alternatives for protecting the soil. Btw, I love my -aceae T-shirt! I'm such a plant nerd.

[@katiekane5247]

I found a beautiful blue colored one in a woodland in north Georgia. It's stunning next to ferns

[@aalejardin]

Zone 6b NY here. I am also exploring using native carex as a ground cover in dry woods. Lovely plants and, as you say, there seem to be carex for every ecological niche. Carex rosea and flaccosperma are doing great (though to be fair, we had a lot of rain this summer).

[@marshawilliamson8602]

Mt. Cuba conducted a study of a variety of Carex. I think I heard about it on Margaret Roach’s podcast “Away to Garden.” Woodii came out on top and I can’t find it anywhere because it’s sold out. 🌸🐝

[@marshawilliamson8602]

I wish someone would hybridize Acorus into a deep purple so I could use it as a contrast to my beloved deer-resistant (never-browsed) green version. The shorter version works like a charm among stepping stones. 🌸🐝

[@bohnnco]

The cupflower looks awesome next to salvia koyame

[@mariensanchez2475]

Hey great idea, thanks

[@Arquatus1]

My chocolate lysimachia did not do well in the Washington DC furnace this year. Looked fabulous in spring and then withered in July. Gets sun between 2 and 6.

[@sandyd4922]

If youre headed south of the Ozarks check out Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, AR It’s a beautiful garden that partners with the university of Arkansas and it’s in the gorgeous Ouachita Mountains. Also the absolute beautiful Anthony Chapel is in the gardens.

[@heatherw.2751]

I really want to get my hands on a fatshedra but I never see it for sale anywhere locally. I want to grow it up a trellis although using it as a ground cover is clever!

[@heatherw.2751]

@@Usernameblahblahnblah I’ve checked at least 4 local garden centers and no luck. I know plant delights sells them so maybe I’ll order from there come spring. Have a great day!!

[@lynnwilhelm7928]

If you're in the Raleigh area, Cary Garden Supply usually has fatshedera. I would wait until spring though. I think I've seen it at Lowe's before, but I'm not sure.

[@douellette7960]

Any of your local nurseries should be able to order one or more for you. Very easy to root cuttings, so with permission you could propagate from an established one somewhere. You might want to wait til spring to plant if you're in Z7 or lower.

[@dawnb7457]

Come to Bentonville…you might enjoy Crystal Bridges…fall color coming to Eureka Springs area too.

[@LinusCello75]

The Lysimachia congrstiflora Chocolate seems to need more light than Lysimachia alfredii ‘Night Light’. Any experience with the latter in shadier conditions?

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thanks Jim. 🎃🍁🍂💚🙃

[@jeannettewoods8654]

There are just so many options I’m not sure what to choose! I’m in zone 7b, near the water. My yard is half shade half sun, a lot of sandy areas, some very wet near the stream that goes through my yard. We have deer (and other animals) that eat flowers 😂. I want something to cover my ground, grass doesn’t grow, I’d love something aggressive that will grow easily without much maintenance, I feel like i kill everything lol. Any recommendations? Something g that smalls good is great too. I’m asking for a lot 😂😂

[@bstlaur4567]

You just gave me more ideas. Thank you!

[@scoodledeewa]

Thanks Jim, I have watched a ton of videos over the years, and not once have I ever heard a single person mention running into snakes in the garden. I realize the benefits, but can do without the surprise. Any snake issues where you or your viewers are?

[@hilltopbrenda]

As I get older, I want less mulch and more ground cover.

[@MoonLightOnWater1]

Zone 8b here….I’ve tried ground cover in my extensive garden beds and can’t seem to get anything to spread…..sigh😢

[@nadia_rem8511]

Creeping charlie! All over my lawn, in my garden beds. Aggressive. Not sure if i should keep ripping it up. Might just let it be.

[@ALee-xf2vm]

I embraced the creeping charlie and grew to love it. It keeps the ground moist by helping hold moisture, keeps plants shaded and plays well with others (at least in my yard). It's evergreen, too, so my garden beds look lovely all winter. Oh, and we love the minty smell.

[@anitahadley2871]

My pachysandra has never bloomed. Do only certain varieties bloom? It was here already so I have no idea which it is.

[@hilltopbrenda]

Mine blooms every spring. It blooms better for me in the full shade.

[@Meng863]

❤❤❤

[@mballer]

Prostrate Rosemary.

[@sterlgirlceline]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏆🌿🌳💚

[@mikeperry1620]

Bobsai not banzai

[@mikeperry1620]

Oops bonsai not bobsai

[@mballer]

I was about to correct you

[@mballer]

I heard him say bonsai and captioning says bonsai.

[@JimPutnam]

I didn't make the captions.