Ground Covers | Right Plant for the Right Application

[@YardCoach]

🪴More Lawn Alternative and Ground Cover Ideas to help you with your Landscape Project can be found here: *kzbin.info/aero/PLP6kPBDGjeCdNl2xB5NgEsvAdzDmHvg5q* Get more *DIY Landscaping Education* Right Here: *kzbin.info/aero/PLP6kPBDGjeCdSWvlf6gYXeetoJXB7COQk* then jump over to the Yard Coach Website and get your “Landscaping Simplified” eBook to update or create your own professional-style Landscape: *KZbin Viewer Discount Here **www.youryardcoach.com/landscapingsimplifiedebook?coupon=YCCBOOK*

[@christinalock4188]

I see several comments about wordiness. I tend to get impatient, but I actually stuck with you and found the backstory to be very relative. Thank you for the information!

[@YardCoach]

Finally!! Somebody who appreciates completeness. In all honesty I have tried to shorten things ua bit in more recent videos. Because some folks just can’t handle the other. Thank you. Coach.

[@sandralewis1689]

Love it.

[@suzum.9713]

Very, very helpful. Thanks!

[@YardCoach]

Here to help as needed. Glad you got something positive from this. We try. Coach.

[@joycepetrina2791]

Thank you so much! You’re just what I needed. My husband grew up with lawns and we have a lawn. Climate change is a thing and water is precious. I sent it to my husband😉

[@YardCoach]

Hope it helped a bit.

[@Chicagogrl]

So much information in one video! I’m speechless if you say you just talked that through off-the-cuff. Anyway, thanks for putting your knowledge out here for us to learn from.

[@YardCoach]

Glad you got something positive from it. Hope you stick around, subscribe and become a regular. Questions always welcomed. Coach.

[@freedomofreligion3248]

Coach: You & I come from the same stomping grounds! I grew up in Palo Alto, raised my 3 sons in Fremont, across the Bay. I remember that glorious, temperate, plenty of precip, but not ridiculous, climate.

[@YardCoach]

There were actual green spaces between towns then. A heat wave was 80 degrees.

[@GailM11]

This was great!!!! I learned a lot in less than 30 minutes. New subscriber. I'm in Central Valley, CA.

[@YardCoach]

Glad it was helpful!

[@YardCoach]

My old stomping grounds….lived and worked. Thanks for watching. Coach

[@bdeas]

First species 11:00

[@linzwalker436]

Cool. Thanks for the tips 🌎

[@YardCoach]

Glad to help.

[@alcg3981]

Hi there, a new subscriber here, you showed up in my feed! Warning, a long message 🎃. You mentioned Sunset Western Garden Book and that has been my go-to book since the 70s. Born and raised in L.A. suburbs. My Mom one from the late 60s and I bought the 1992 version even though my new house and garden was in France. In the suburbs of Paris, about USDA zone 6. So my zones are completely different but it helped me immensely to plan and plant my almost bare garden... Fast forward about 12 years: a neighbor gave me some of her perennial Geranium (not pelargonium folks), that she brought from their Brittany country home. It has been my utmost fave, with Bellflower (Campanula dalmatian) a close 2nd. It is evergreen through our Winters .. windy, wet, often freezing, sometimes snowy. Easy to pull out, divide, clean up in spring, I just love it. And late Spring dark pink flowers. A win/win plant for me. A ground cover that I despise is St. John's wort (hypericum). I'm having a hard time removing it completely from under my Susan lilac. It traveled under my pathway too 🤬. It roots in deep. So I just wanted to relate my experiences with a couple of ground covers. Oh, existing Ivy throughout my small property is an ongoing job to remove. Some of the roots are huge and it drives me crazy😧. Alysen

[@YardCoach]

Alyson, thanks for the detailed comment. I someday hope to visit your part of the world and most of the French countryside. Sounds like you got your head around your landscape very well. Good job. So, many throw up their collective hands and give up without educating themselves a little. That SWGB was my bible as well when I was learning and studying. An invaluable tool.. stay in touch and please keep watching. Send me a pic of the geraniums in all their glory. Coach

[@alcg3981]

@@YardCoach🙀😻😻.

[@barbaravanerp4598]

Amazing video. Great information thank you

[@YardCoach]

Hope I can count on you subscribing. Any Qs let me know. Coach

[@juanitagibbs2100]

I live in Slidell Louisiana

[@debradesjardins9278]

Hello, I am recently retired, and I am enjoying the process of giving my yard a much needed refresh while keeping water conservation in mind. I recently learned of a turf replacement called Kurapia and would very much appreciate your opinion. I live in Long Beach, CA, in zone 10b. I enjoyed your beautiful video very much, especially all the details you share as I have a great deal to learn. Thank you!

[@YardCoach]

Debra, thanks for the Q. I like Kurapia and it has its place in lawn substitute and ground over and soil stabilizing applications. It’s fast so don’t over plant it. If you edge it it will raise up a bit. Feeding 2x a year freshens it and the water demand is less than turf lawn. Soil prep would be the same as turf. Congrats on retirement!! Practice makes perfect. Here for ya as needed. Coach.

[@kathleenkennedy1331]

Great info… I’ve sorta been on a ground cover binge lately due to water shortages and rationing. I did try the microclover lawn replacement, but just took it out. When it was happy it looked fabulous, but seemed to need a lot of water to stay looking happy. It was very hard to mow because it was so wet it gummed up my mower and weedwhacker. Admittedly, I’m a novice and have just been experimenting with what does well in my yard with minimal effort.

[@YardCoach]

As long as you are enjoying the experimental journey all is good. If I can help let me know.

[@marychamberlain925]

What a great video! I’m in zone 7B and have a Lilly garden. It also has some very healthy hostas. Looking for a creeping ground over that would allow me to add additional bulbs or plants. Wondering about creeping thyme? Any thoughts? Thanks so much.

[@YardCoach]

Depends on the exposure you have their. Part sun or whatever. Do you need small scale ground cover or large? Thyme will work for sunny location, so will Veronica.

[@juanitagibbs2100]

Coach I have small garden in a Senior subdivision the soil is clay. I would like to plant the ajuga the dark one to fill in so I don’t have to weed I just watched your video it is the only one I am familiar with what do you think? Thanks I just found your videos love it

[@YardCoach]

Hi Ms. Gibbs, thank you for your interest in the channel and your question. I appreciated it. Ajuga is a wonderful ground cover as long as it is not for vast square footage areas. Depending on where your are located, it will tolerate 1/2 day of shade and has a wonderful purple bloom in the Spring and early Summer. Like any ground cover preparation, you can either do it by preparing individual holes and planting or rototill the entire area 4 inches deep and amend the soil with compost or other soil amendment available to you. Use a quality organic fertilizer at each planting site and depending on your weather, water appropriately to maintain a moist soil level. Do not let new ajuga ever dry out. It will go semi-dormant in colder regions of the country and bounce back in the Spring. Good luck. Don't forget to subscribe and feel free to ask anything. Welcome to the Channel.

[@chuckciali2027]

Love the info but more photos please

[@YardCoach]

Copy that. Thx for watching.

[@fousies]

I’m looking for a ground cover for poor drainage at the city park under the trees thank you

[@YardCoach]

Hi Dena, thanks for the question. Need to know where and what usda zone first. Talk soon. Coach.

[@fousies]

@@YardCoach Oh sorry, 6A

[@YardCoach]

Well depends on area to be covered. You can be creative and use more than one kind in conjunction with other plant selections. Your drainage issue is from grade or slope, or from heavy clay like soils. If soils, amending planting areas and using clumping selections and space according to mature sizes. Your local nursery probably carries selections suitable for the area you have. If drainage is from grade and pot hole collection points then grading and filling to correct is usually the answer.

[@sammype]

I would love to have you makeover my garden. Do you ever do work in VA? What groundcover would you recommend for an area that has erosion issues, in zone 7 (Northern VA), and sloped. This area is on the side of my house which gradually slopes down to the backyard, deck area. It's pretty shady with some areas receiving afternoon sun (with less sun as you walk toward the backyard which is very shady). On the side of my house, I'm considering flagstone or pavers to build a walkway and cover the ugly eroded land and possibly digging to create a couple steps as the ground narrowly slopes downward. The soil is not very good - it has rocks and and clay-like too, probably due to the erosion and poor drainage.

[@YardCoach]

Quite a caldron of challenges for you, for sure. I don’t physically work in VA. I do consult with folks virtually as I did with a client in TN last week. Shade is your biggest culprit against rapid soil stabilization using plant material. Can you thin the tree canopy, if there is one to create more sun hours back there? Maybe consider a drainage system, terracing, many many small tree, small shrubs and ground over plantings. Maybe have Pros assist if you cannot do the work yourself. You can always email me and check website for more assistance. Here as needed for ya. Coach.

[@davidreinbold5223]

Why do videos from the US always take 1/2 the clip to get to the point?

[@YardCoach]

Because we tried to be thorough rather than cater to the impatient..thanks for watching.

[@valeriejackson7659]

@@YardCoach I was patient enough to watch your video through to the end and yes you have lots of good advice. Yet I have to agree that in the main American videos tend to go on far too long before they actually get to the point. I am English and I try my very best to be polite but I'm a firm believer that less is more. Maybe two shorter videos would hold the interest of those whom you think are impatient but that would include myself a very patient lady. We British love our gardens, obsessed with buying plants and believe it or not, we love mowing our lawns. British gardeners will spend hours tending our gardens as it's a form of escapism and relaxation but I doubt listening to LONG talk on plants would be part of their gardening plans.

[@YardCoach]

Your constructive criticism is duly noted. I thank you for watching. As a side note, more recent videos are shorter. Coach.

[@NicoleL-hl6vl]

Coach, What do you think about Mondo Grass for flagstones mostly shade up until 2pm? Also what are thoughts on Creeping Jenny for the remainder versus Blue Star creeper since I have more shade than sun?

[@YardCoach]

Hi Nicole, thanks for the question. Not knowing your location, I am assuming you know these selections will work in your usda zone. Creeping Jenny will probably be a little to aggressive to maintain in small slots and spaces. Blue Star Creeper is border line and will require trimming especially during Spring push. Dwarf Mondo Grass is a good choice. Also, again depending on location, Irish Moss, Baby Tear can work. Let me know what you decide. Thanks. Coach…..

[@NicoleL-hl6vl]

@@YardCoach Thank you for the quick response! I am in Georgia so we have clay and it's not the easiest to work with. I have a mostly shade and part sun from 2-6pm section that has a small soggy section that I can't seem to drain out. I picked creeping Jenny because it can take wet and dry soil. What are thoughts on regular modo in the area that won't seem to dry out or should I just use dwarf modo for the whole area 150 sq feet? I added a gypsum and a lot of cow manure trying to change the soil. Any advice you can give would be super helpful!

[@YardCoach]

Dwarf Mondo grass is pretty forgiving. Your efforts will probably suffice, however cow manure is a a short term fix. Gypsum and something like a quality planter mix might last longer. Condition up a larger planting hole and see what happens. Consider a drainage solution though if that is truly the main problem. Regards, Coach

[@alcg3981]

My daughter moved into a house in Atlanta suburbs with Ophiogon (mondo?) bordering a stacked wall along the driveway. Last November I was there trying to thin it out at her request, to no avail. A bugger root system, growing into the crevices...

[@jennacho3249]

A new subscriber here. I only watched 2 of your videos so far but planning to watch more to learn. I'm in zone 7a (CT) and it can get cold in the winter but with the global warming, last couple of winters have been milder. Recently, we pulled out all the overgrown shrubs and trees that previous owner didn't take care of for many years. Due the the shades they created, the ground is either bare in some areas or filled with weeds instead of grass. Now, having the whole side of the house as a empty lot, we need to think about the landscaping design. I like the idea of planting ground covers instead of grass. It has eastern/northern facing with more than 4 hours of sun I think (One side of the lot is sunnier longer than the other side.) What kind of low- maintenance ground cover would you recommend? We will put a stone path to connect the front yard to the back and I want ground covers that are nicely spread in between the stones like some of photos you showed in the video. Sorry for a long message and thank you!

[@YardCoach]

Hey Jen, thanks for watching. Good question. For paver fill in planting in your area you might look into selections like creeping thyme, Veronica, carpet bugle, Isotoma and the like. Check those out or drop by a local reputable nursery and see what other selections they might offer. Good luck. Here as needed for ya. Coach.

[@SimpleThingsAmuseMe]

I need help with a steep downhill path. It is currently all grass and I can't mow it, myself. I still need to get a wheelbarrow down it so I can't install steps. Do you have a suggestion?

[@YardCoach]

Hi STAM, Thanks for the question. Depending on size, scope, slope degree you can remove lawn using a variety of methods. Once you endure that formidable task then stair stepping and terracing the hill will stabilize it and provide a new planting scheme that will hold hold even after backfilling. Drip irrigate as needed. A pic would work best so I can visually verify that my suggestion would work. Email that if you feel ok with it.

[@Inkling777]

I'm looking for a ground cover to put in flower beds to keep down the weeds without overwhelming the rose bushes. Any suggestions?

[@YardCoach]

Honestly Michael, it is hard to recommend something when I do not know where you live. Sorry. Need at least a usda zone and anything else you can toss my way. Sun, shade, soil conditions, how large an area etc.

[@theropesofrenovation]

Gawd, what about foot-sized rocks on a hill down ( with very little soil) to a pond in Central Florida. Seems everything is invasive. It's sunny ALL DAY

[@YardCoach]

How about using some of the rocks to form a basin, import soil and fill the basin. Plant your groundcover in these new plant pockets.

[@theropesofrenovation]

@@YardCoach thanks

[@bettymcmenamin]

Long introduction, but getting ready to start the "content" portion -

[@YardCoach]

Betty, this is an older video. The intro is shortened now. But the fast forward can skip through that quickly and get to the meat of the video if time is that critical. Thanks for watching.

[@ronrosenkaimer1096]

I am buying a new house and going to covert it to some creeper. It's porous loose hills soil, mostly direct sun except for a few dwarf fruit trees. It needs to handle heavy foot traffic and Iowa winters. ANY IDEAS?

[@YardCoach]

Hey Ron, thanks for the question. Small giggle about the CREEPER COVERT thing. Anyway, depends on square footage needed to cover. Small scale, like less than 500 or more than a 1k sq, feet. Large scale might require more small shrubs with some GC. But small scale check out recent episode about small scale GCs. Let me know what else I can do for ya. Coach.

[@rperry0104]

What about mazus purple

[@YardCoach]

That could work as well. It is just not as widely available retail wise as many others. Thanks for watching. Coach Matt

[@katherinelarini8514]

some good information, if you're willing to wait for it... otherwise, too much background info and not enough pictures of landscapes and situations and solutions... while you are very photogenic, I came for groundcover ideas/pictures - sun, shade, wet, dry, diseases, etc... sorry, if that information came after the halfway mark of the video, but I just couldn't wait for it and moved on... I hope you view this comment as instructive, which was the intent...

[@YardCoach]

Hi Katherine, Thank you for your constructive comment. It is often difficult to appeal to all and still provide educational content to many. I did have a several varieties listed in the video, but since the video reaches to many different Horst zones, I cannot describe the sun, shade, wet, dry and have it work for everybody. That is why I always suggest a local nursery visit for ground covers and plants in general for local environment considerations. In addition, if you want, I can always email chat off channel for individual questions to be answered. Thanks for your interest and I hope you stick with me as your needs and questions arise. Thanks again, Coach Matt

[@freedomofreligion3248]

Yes, sometimes it's irritating, sometimes I don't even notice. Luckily we can fast forward, once we figure out about to Where...

[@Eric.Mercado]

Agree w/ the "thirsty bitch" description for sure! Lol 💯

[@debbieuronis3779]

I need shade. I bought 30 frog fruit plants and the bunnies ate them.

[@YardCoach]

Ok, so how big a tree can your area handle. Plus, what usda grow zone are you in?

[@debbieuronis3779]

@@YardCoach cannot plant a tree there. I’m in sw Florida.

[@juanitagibbs2100]

Coach thanks for answering so quickly I did hit and sudscribe .clay soil I planted salvias agapanthus,,golden logustrum,the Lilly of the Nile bloomed this year but the bottom lives are always mushy, Coach I am 77 and handicap had 5bach surgery’s. Just can’t give up my garden ,but this is my front bed, I know one mistake I made I used rubber mulch,the plants I planted are all still alive so I want to make it right please help me y giving your advice thanks 🙏🏻🤗

[@sheliakellogg2855]

Not all ground cover mentioned is pet friendly. Vinca is poisonous to dogs!

[@YardCoach]

I have never seen a dog munch on vinca, but I guess anything is possible. Thx for watching and the info.

[@debbieuronis3779]

Handle a tree. I need gound c I ver in shade mostly and that so rabbits wont eat!

[@YardCoach]

Look for bugleweed, vinca minor, bishops weed.

[@evawebster1518]

If other videos on this channel also include lots of irrelevant background info to sit through before I can learn anything, it's not a good use of my time.

[@YardCoach]

Such as what? This is an older video and we have strived to be more to the point and shorter vids nowadays. You can always fast forward a little to speed this one up. But thanks for your brutally honest opinion. Thanks for watching hope you stick around.

[@freedomofreligion3248]

Water is a finite resource period. That millions don't yet accept this is deadly.

[@graphguy]

I hate grass. It is not natural occurrence, totally a manmade marketing shaft.

[@YardCoach]

Some might agree and yet others still want that expansive green carpet. Thanks for the comment. Coach.

[@graphguy]

@@YardCoach oh do t get me wrong... love golf courses! But with droughts everywhere, just not practical.

[@YardCoach]

Agree.

[@peterl.104]

Some states have native grasses. You might not get the grass lawn look, but there are low water grass species.

[@graphguy]

@@peterl.104 not in the west