Seven Things To Think About When Choosing A Ground Cover

Any variety of plants that grows closely over the ground is called ground covers. The uses of a ground cover are to stop erosion and drought, and can even limit or eliminate the growth of weeds. Aside from its practical advantages, ground covers are aesthetically appealing and widely used for landscaping purposes. To help you select which of the many varieties of textures and blooms you should use, here are some considerations:

Plan your desired time frame

Initially, decide how long you want ground covers on your landscape. Ground covers come in annual and perennial types. Annuals will survive through a single growing season only and leave behind seeds as they die which will become a new set of plants that will grow the following year. Perennials, on the contrary, lie dormant after a growing season, but nevertheless remain alive. Providing color to the landscape even during the winter months, there are also evergreen perennials which will thrive through different seasons.

Take into consideration your area's climate

Take into consideration the climate of your area and choose ground covers that can adapt to it. One frequently used option is turfgrass, which thrives in all different climates. Other ground covers are more delicate and may die when exposed to extreme weather.

Evaluate what purpose you want it to serve

If you want to have ground covers, its either you're thinking about its aesthetic or practical benefits. Determine which of these benefits is a priority to you. You can either use ground covers to protect a sloped area from erosion or to emphasize depth in a landscape. There is a wide range of plants to choose from that can suit your needs.

Learn whether the foliage is an invasive species

Certain ground covers invade the entire area they are planted in. They can rapidly spread and engulf parts of your landscape that you do not want covered. These kinds of ground covers also put your other plants at risk.

Consider the amount of maintenance required for the plant

The amount of care that you are going to put into different plants vary. Some plants are low maintenance and need not much care to thrive, while others have to be meticulously tended to. Select a plant from a family that doesn't need meticulous care.

Find out how high the plants will grow

Some ground covers grow quite high, but most stay close to the ground even in maturity. Before you choose, ask a professional or do some research to find out how high the particular type of plant can grow. Ground covers that grow high can block out other plants that you might have wanted to be visible.

Make sure that the plant is not poisonous

Make certain that you find out that a certain plant is harmless. Beware of plants that make nice ground covers, but may actually be poisonous. This is very important to think about, particularly if you have children or pets in the family.

There exist several choices for ground cover, but the best choice is the one that fits into your landscaping needs and plans.