Ground Cover Plants

Cover bare ground beautifully.

Ground cover plants belong in this collection because they solve the most common “problem areas” with one confident purchase: they fill in quickly, reduce weed pressure, and give your beds a finished, designed look. Instead of staring at bare soil beneath shrubs or fighting patchy grass on slopes, you can install a living layer that visually holds the space together. Garden Goods Direct positions groundcovers as a low-maintenance, aggressive perennial option for banks, under trees, borders, and anywhere grass isn’t wanted—exactly the real-world use cases customers shop for.

This collection also supports different goals and aesthetics. Some groundcovers are chosen for evergreen texture, some for seasonal bloom, and others for dense, carpeting coverage that stays tidy with minimal input. And because many groundcovers spread, they become more valuable over time—every season they cover more ground, knit tighter, and reduce the need for constant touch-ups. That’s what makes them such a strong ROI plant: you buy once, then the planting keeps paying you back.

Most importantly, groundcovers are one of the easiest ways to upgrade a landscape without committing to large shrubs or trees. They’re ideal for homeowners who want quick results, landscapers who need dependable bed coverage, and gardeners who love building layered, natural-looking plantings that feel established.

Choose the look that sells the whole bed.

Groundcovers aren’t a single “type”—they’re a design tool. Some create a tight, low carpet; others trail and spill over edges; others form mounded coverage that softens hard lines. That range is why groundcovers can make an entire bed look professionally installed: they unify mixed plantings, hide bare stems near the soil line, and add a consistent texture that makes everything else pop.

In the sun, many fast-spreading options emphasize drought tolerance and durability—perfect for hot borders, curb strips, and exposed slopes where watering is limited. Drought-tolerant ground covers offer a way to conserve water without compromising the aesthetic appeal of the yard, especially in areas with summer watering restrictions. For gardeners seeking quick coverage, popular “fast-growing ground cover” categories often include plants such as creeping thyme, creeping phlox, and ajuga—each bringing its own unique texture and seasonal color.

In shade and partial shade, the look shifts toward lush, cooling greens and broad mats that make under-tree spaces feel intentional rather than empty. The key is matching the plant’s habit to your goal: a tidy carpet for a clean border, a looser spread for naturalistic areas, or a mixed groundcover mosaic for a designer feel.

Put them to work in the hardest spots.

Groundcovers work best where lawns and mulches fail, such as on slopes, rocky ground, under trees, around mailbox beds, along long fence lines, and anywhere you want low maintenance with high visual appeal. They’re especially valuable for erosion control on banks—roots anchor the soil while foliage cushions the impact of rainfall, helping to prevent washouts. And for under-tree planting, groundcovers are often the most practical solution because they tolerate root competition better than many perennials and reduce the urge to over-mulch.

Spacing is where function meets success. For faster “knit together” results, you can plant closer, but you’ll need to stay realistic: aggressive spreaders fill in quickly, while slower growers take longer and may need tighter spacing to achieve full coverage. A simple rule of thumb is to plan based on the mature spread and how quickly you want the area to close; then, install in a staggered pattern to avoid visible rows. If your goal is weed suppression, earlier coverage is the win; if your goal is a long-lived planting with less crowding, give each plant room to mature without constant trimming.

Groundcovers also shine as the finishing layer in mixed beds. Use them in front of evergreen shrubs, around ornamental grasses, or beneath flowering shrubs to create that “full-to-the-ground” look customers associate with premium landscapes. In one planting, you get better structure, cleaner bed edges, and fewer visible gaps.

Keep maintenance low and confidence high.

Ground cover plants are popular because the care is simple when you match the plant to the site. Start with light: choose sun-loving groundcovers for hot, open areas and shade-tolerant groundcovers for under trees and north-facing beds. Next is drainage: most groundcovers prefer well-drained soil, and many drought-tolerant options perform best when they’re not kept constantly wet. (Overwatering is the fastest way to turn “low-maintenance” into “why is this struggling?”)

Planting is straightforward: loosen the soil, set the plants at the proper depth, water them in deeply, and mulch lightly to conserve moisture while they establish—keeping the mulch off the stems and crowns. For the first growing season, consistent moisture matters more than fertilizer. Once roots take hold, many groundcovers become notably resilient, needing watering mainly during extended heat or drought. If you’re planting a slope, prioritize deep watering early so the roots can anchor quickly, then taper off as the planting becomes self-supporting.

Pruning is usually minimal and goal-based: trim to keep edges tidy, rejuvenate after flowering if needed, and thin only if you planted for rapid closure and things become crowded. The payoff is a landscape layer that looks designed, suppresses weeds naturally, and reduces the ongoing labor of mulching and mowing—exactly why groundcovers are one of the best “buy it once, enjoy it for years” categories.