How Do Groundcovers Work

Groundcovers are just that: they are plants that literally cover the ground in a very dense fashion. Groundcovers have a myriad of uses.

First, good groundcovers form a mat, preventing weeds from growing.

But groundcovers don’t grow overnight. Sometimes it may take several years, and in some cases up to four years to establish a really effective groundcover. During that period, the mat won’t be fully formed, and weeds will grow in bare spots.

Don’t be disheartened. There are some things you can (and probably should) do before you plant the groundcover, and while it is growing.

1. Make sure the ground is free of weeds and weed seeds before you plant.

You can do this a number of ways, both organically and chemically. Some recommend tilling or double digging before planting. This may work in many areas, but in desert and arid climates, it will probably have the reverse effect. That’s because in the desert, many invasive weeds have adapted their seeds to withstand drought conditions. So many desert weeds can live in the ground for years (some perhaps for up to a century) before sprouting. Secondly, the seeds of many desert plants require light to germinate. Tilling them to the surface will expose them to light and help them germinate.

Weeds that have already sprouted should be hoed, pulled or dug up. Be careful when doing this too, because many desert weeds have deep roots, and are strong enough to send up new plants from any rootstock left in the ground.

Make sure you choose your groundcovers carefully. Opt for those ground covers that are native or adapted to your area. Vinca isn’t a great desert groundcover.

2. Have enough plants before you begin your groundcover planting.

Enough means that if you want to cover an area as quickly as possible, obtain as many plants as it will take so that their leaves will be touching at the end of your second growth season.

However, don’t be in too much of a hurry. You’re probably not going to get a truly effective ground cover the first year, so don’t go overborad in the number of plants you buy. In fact, if the plants are touching each other at the end of the first season, you need to thin them out, which may mean pulling out every other plant. That’s your money and your time wasted, not to mention the fact that the remaining plants haven’t build as strong a root base as they need.

If you’re not in as much of a hurry, you can plan to have the leaves of the plants touch at the end of the third or fourth growing season.

3. While they are being established (which will be at least two growing seasons), make sure they receive enough water.

You want the part of the plant that is above ground to be strong and vigorous, and you want the root system to be as extensive as possible.

4. You’re going to see some weeds pop up through your groundcover, especially while it’s being established.

These come from seeds dropped by birds, blown in by the wind, or carried on the fur of some small mammal (squirrels for instance), or you may have missed a few. Don’t worry. Just pull them out and discard them.

Here are some related articles that your might find interesting:

1. Top 10 Low-Water-Use Groundcovers
2. Top 10 Desert Garden Groundcovers
3. American Garden Groundcovers