Groundcovers offer solutions to many landscaping dilemmas…gardeners
everywhere count on them to blanket the soil with a fairly uniform
canopy of dense foliage. Some flourish in the shade cast by large
trees, while others thrive in hot, steep banks. Most species are
easier to maintain than lawns and many are water-thrifty. These
plants are available in a variety of leaf shapes and textures, with
some featuring flowers and berries.
Advance Preparation:
Gardeners in cold-winter areas should plant groundcovers in spring.
Those in areas with hot, dry summers and mild winters may want to
wait for fall.
Get Rid of Weeds! Even a tough groundcover cannot thrive in weedy
soil. Use a sharp hoe to cut shallow-rooted annual weeds or till
the soil and rake out the plant remains. Carefully dig out any deep-rooted
perennial weeds. Roughly dig over the site, hauling away rocks and
other debris. Then rake the surface to even it out. On very weedy
sites, irrigate at this point and wait a couple of weeks for the
weed seeds to germinate. The tiny seedlings will be easy to eliminate
then. To decide which groundcover to plant for your particular situation,
be on the lookout for successful plantings in your neighborhood.
Be wary of invasive species that travel quickly beyond their allotted
area. If you choose a taller growing one, keep in mind it may require
shearing every year or so to maintain a leafy, non woody appearance.
Add Amendments:
A groundcover will not thrive in poor soil. Test the pH of your
soil and add whatever amendments the test determines to be missing
before you plant. If your garden soil has no previous problems,
which is often the case, you should still take time to improve it.
Improve both drainage and soil conditions by spreading three to
four inches of organic matter such as Fertilome Sphagnum Peat Moss
or
well-composted 
manure
over the surface. Also, broadcast a balanced fertilizer, such as
Fertilome Start-n-Grow Plant Food, at the rate recommended on the
label. Till or dig in all these elements, then rake the surface,
smooth and water. Use the rake again after watering to level any
low spots that appear.
Set Out the Plants:
Groundcover plants are commonly sold in small pots, six-packs, gallon
containers or as rooted cuttings in flats. Before setting out those
grown in flats, separate the plants by cutting between them with
a sharp knife. You may get conflicting advice about how far apart
to set the plants. Choosing closer spacing requires more plants,
but the advantage is that the bed will fill in quicker. Once you
have determined the distance between the plants, use a piece of
wood to cut the desired length to help you space them evenly. Set
the plants in holes that are just deep enough for the root ball
and slightly wider than their original confines. For larger plants,
dig a hole that tapers outward at the bottom to accept the loosened
roots. To prevent rot, be certain the crown of each plant remains
slightly above the soil's surface.
Water and Mulch:
Water the plants thoroughly after planting. Then water every few
days for the next few weeks, and again whenever the top inch of
soil feels dry. It is important to cover the soil between the younger
plants to help maintain soil moisture and to prevent weed seeds
from germinating. Use an organic mulch such as ground bark, straw
or pine needles. Promptly pull any weeds that do appear and renew
the mulch periodically until the groundcover canopy fills in and
forms its own living mulch.
