In addition to landscape fabric and mulch, smart gardeners use ground covers to combat weeds without herbicides. Weeds keep bare soil covered and reduce soil erosion. Ground cover plants replace weeds in the role of soil protector. Choose a ground cover that spreads quickly and grows well in your garden setting. Those with a dense growth pattern usually suppress weeds the best.
Finding weed-suppressing ground covers that thrive in shade is a challenge, but several fit the bill. Ivies, including English (Hedera helix) and Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis) form dense mats of leaves on long, trailing vines. The vines efficiently crowd out weeds, but may become invasive in mild, moist climates. Cut them back if they climb trees or shrubs, and don't allow them to escape into the wild. Most ivies are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 8. Lamium (Lamium maculatum), hardy in zones 4 through 8, thrives in partial to full shade. It spreads slowly initially, but takes off after a year or two, effectively suppressing weeds. Mature size is 1 foot high by 1 foot wide. The plant has attractive, variegated foliage and white, purple or pink blooms in the spring. Periwinkle (Vinca minor), with its deep green foliage spreads quickly to form a dense mat. In spring, periwinkle produces blue or violet flowers. Vinca grows 5 inches high and spreads through underground runners and creepers.
In sunny, dry locations, consider native plants or succulents to crowd out weeds. Manzanita emerald carpet (Arctostaphylos densiflora "Emerald Carpet"), a native plant, has dense, padded leaves and tolerates extreme drought. This low, dense ground cover grows 1 foot high and 6 feet wide. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is another native plant worth investigating. It produces attractive, succulent leaves and bright red berries. When mature, the plant grows to a low, dense mound, spreading to 10 feet wide. Creeping gazania (Gazania rigens "Gold Sun"), hardy in zones 5 through 8, spreads quickly, tolerates drought and produces cheery, yellow blooms. It stands 1 foot high by 2 feet wide.
Evergreen Ground Covers
For year-round weed protection and appeal, consider evergreen ground covers. Several juniper cultivars form low-spreading ground covers to suppress weeds. Try dwarf Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens "Nana") or Arcadia Juniper (Juniperus sabina "Arcadia"). Both are hardy in zones 5 through 8 and grow 8 to 12 inches high and 4 to 5 feet wide. Siberian carpet cypress (Microbiota decussata), with its feathery, bright green foliage, makes an attractive weed-suppressing ground cover for natural areas. It grows 1 foot high and 8 feet wide.
Fragrant Ground Covers
If you've relegated herbs to the kitchen garden, think again. Many trailing herbs make effective weed-controlling ground covers. Try prostrate rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis "Prostratus") or creeping thyme (Thymus praecox arcticus). Rosemary is an evergreen perennial in zones 8 through 10. Elsewhere, grow it as an annual or pot it and bring it indoors during the winter. Thyme is hardy in zones 4 through 8.Prostrate rosemary grows 2 feet high and up to 8 feet wide, while thyme grows 3 inches high and 3 feet wide. Both prefer full sun and tolerate dry, infertile soils.
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