Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001570
11/12/99
Ground Covers - A Lawn Alternative
Ground covers can be suitable substitutes for lawn grasses
in the shade. Ground covers are also used on banks or
slopes where mowing is difficult.
Ground covers should be selected with care. First, the
plant selected must be adapted to the site if it is to
grow and cover the area. Second, the plant selected
should not be so vigorous so as to escape and become a
weed.
All ground covers require an establishment period which
can take from 1 to 3 growing seasons. During this time
the planting will need weeding until the ground cover
suppresses the weeds. The closer the plants are spaced,
the sooner they will cover the area completely.
Examples of plants that make good ground covers are
myrtle, ajuga, Epimedium, daylily, pachysandra, lungwort,
lily-of-the-valley, dragon's blood sedum, wooly speedwell,
baltic ivy and creeping junipers.
Some plants to avoid are perennial Euphorbia, mossy
stonecrop, mints and bishops weed or goutweed.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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