Choosing Groundcovers for Erosion Control and Aesthetics
Dear friend,
April is stretching out her arms, beckoning us toward May. The mornings are bright, the afternoons gentle, and the evenings sweet with the scent of blossoms. It’s a time of transformation, of finding new ways to make our gardens not just functional but also beautiful. One topic I’ve been mulling over lately is groundcovers—those low-growing plants that can serve so many purposes, from anchoring soil on a slope to adding a lush, living carpet around a walkway. If you have a tricky spot prone to erosion or you’re simply tired of mowing that awkward patch of grass, let’s talk about how groundcovers might be the answer you’ve been waiting for.
Why Groundcovers?
Groundcovers often play the unsung hero in a landscape. They can stabilize soil, prevent weeds, and unify the overall design by creating a green (or sometimes colorful) “floor” beneath taller plants. If you live on a slope—a common scenario in our mountainous region—groundcovers can help slow runoff and reduce the risk of losing topsoil every time we get a heavy downpour. Plus, they can provide habitat for beneficial insects, shade out weeds, and, let’s be honest, cut down on the amount of grass you need to mow.
There’s a groundcover for almost every situation: sun, shade, damp areas, dry slopes, you name it. The trick is choosing wisely, so you don’t end up with a plant that runs amok or fails to thrive in your conditions.
Popular Groundcovers for the Blue Ridge Region
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): A springtime showstopper with carpets of pink, purple, or white blooms. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, often used on slopes or rock gardens. Once it’s done blooming, the evergreen foliage remains an attractive mat.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans): A hardy choice for partial to full shade. Ajuga forms a tight mat of shiny leaves, sometimes variegated or bronze, and sends up purple flower spikes in spring. It spreads by runners, so be cautious if you don’t want it venturing beyond its intended area.
Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) or Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens): Good for shady spots. The Japanese pachysandra is common, but if you want a native option, Allegheny spurge is a lovely choice with mottled leaves and subtle spikes of white flowers in early spring. They can handle acidic woodland soil typical of our region.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): Perfect for sunny, well-drained sites. The tiny leaves release a delightful aroma when you brush past them, and the pink or purple blooms draw pollinators. Great for rock gardens or between stepping stones where foot traffic is light.
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum): A shade-loving groundcover known for its whorled leaves and small white flowers in spring. It prefers moisture but can handle drier spells once established. The leaves are sometimes used to flavor May wine in Europe—an added quirk!
Vinca Minor (Periwinkle): Produces glossy evergreen leaves and lavender-blue flowers in spring. It’s a vigorous spreader, so use caution if you’re near natural areas—it can become invasive if it escapes into the woods.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): A native choice for moist, shady forests. Large, heart-shaped leaves form a lovely groundcover, and though its flowers are hidden beneath the foliage, they’re quite unique if you peek underneath.
Erosion Control 101
If your main concern is stabilizing a slope, you’ll want groundcovers with deep or fibrous root systems that hold onto the soil. Consider mixing a few varieties rather than relying on one monoculture. For example, pair creeping phlox with a low-growing juniper or even some ornamental grasses if the slope is large. This diversity can help ensure that if one plant struggles, the others fill in.
Another trick is to use terracing or small retaining walls. That way, you can create planting pockets for your groundcovers to anchor. Mulch around the new plantings to keep the soil from washing away while they establish. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses can help water them gently without eroding the soil.
Planting and Maintenance Tips
Prep the Site: Remove weeds thoroughly before planting groundcovers. Once these plants form a mat, it’s harder to get in there to deal with unwanted intruders.
Spacing: Groundcovers might come in small pots or as plugs. Space them according to their expected spread. It can be tempting to plant them closer for immediate coverage, but some spread rapidly, so you might be creating a future tangle.
Mulch or No Mulch?: If you’re on a slope, mulch can wash away before the groundcovers root in. You might use a light layer of straw or pine needles to reduce erosion, or a biodegradable jute mat to hold soil in place until the plants fill in.
Watering: Even drought-tolerant species need help getting established. A soaker hose or drip system can be a godsend, especially on steep hills. Once the plants take root and spread, you can cut back on watering.
Edging or Barriers: If your groundcover is a go-getter (like ajuga or vinca), you might need edging—like a brick border or metal strip—to keep it from invading lawn or flower beds. Regularly check its boundaries, especially if it’s near a woodland area where it could become invasive.
Dividing and Rejuvenating: Many groundcovers benefit from division or thinning every few years to prevent issues like crown rot or overcrowding. This can also give you free plants to expand your coverage or share with neighbors.
Combining Groundcovers with Other Elements
Groundcovers don’t have to be a stand-alone feature. They can create a picturesque backdrop for shrubs, trees, or taller perennials. For example, imagine a drift of creeping phlox with a few dwarf conifers scattered throughout. Or a shady nook under a dogwood tree filled with hostas, ferns, and sweet woodruff covering the soil like a green quilt.
If you’re designing a pollinator-friendly garden, add some groundcovers that flower, like thyme, ajuga, or creeping veronica. Bees and butterflies will thank you for those early-season blooms. Just keep in mind that bees might be buzzing low if you have thyme between pavers, so be mindful when walking around barefoot!
A Word of Caution: Invasives
We do need to talk about the elephant in the room: some groundcovers can become invasive, escaping into natural areas where they outcompete native plants. English ivy, for instance, is notorious. It climbs trees, suffocates understory plants, and can be a nightmare to remove once it takes hold. So, research your chosen groundcover thoroughly. If you see the words “vigorous spreader” or “fast-growing,” that’s not always a bad thing, but do ensure it won’t wreak havoc beyond your property boundaries.
Native groundcovers, like green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) or partridge berry (Mitchella repens), are often safer bets. They’ve co-evolved in these ecosystems and typically provide some benefits to local wildlife without overrunning the forest.
A Personal Groundcover Success
Let me share a little story: I had a slope behind my house, steep enough that mowing felt like a circus act, but not large enough to warrant terracing. The soil was clay-based and prone to washing out during heavy summer storms. I planted a mix of creeping phlox near the top for early color, and a few bunches of low-growing juniper in the middle. On the shadier side, I put in hostas and sweet woodruff. It took a couple seasons of watering and weeding, but eventually, everything knit together into a tapestry of blues, greens, and soft pinks. The soil stayed put, the runoff slowed to a trickle, and I no longer had to risk tumbling downhill with a lawnmower.
When I catch a glimpse of bumblebees visiting the phlox in spring, or watch a little toad hop through the shady undergrowth, I feel a quiet sense of accomplishment. It’s not just about looking nice—it’s about creating a living carpet that nurtures life and keeps the land intact.
Dreaming up Possibilities
As April winds down, you might be finalizing your planting plans for the warmer months ahead. If you have a spot that’s begging for less maintenance or more ecological function (or both), groundcovers could be just the answer. Stroll around your yard and imagine how a low mat of greenery could transform that odd patch of turf or that crumbly slope.
Head to a local nursery or plant sale, strike up a conversation with the folks who work there. Tell them about your sun exposure, soil type, and slope. They might point you to a groundcover you haven’t even considered yet. Or swap stories with neighbors—maybe someone has extra divisions of ajuga or creeping thyme they’d be happy to share.
Groundcovers remind me that sometimes less is more. Instead of fighting to keep a patch of grass alive on a rocky hillside or battling weeds in a neglected corner, let nature do the heavy lifting with plants that naturally fill the space. You’ll save time, water, and maybe a little sanity, too.
Closing Thoughts
I hope this exploration of groundcovers has sparked a few ideas. We often focus on the showy blooms up top—those big, eye-catching flowers or the sturdy shrubs that anchor our gardens—but sometimes, the quiet heroes are down at ground level, holding everything together. In the tapestry of our gardens, these low growers add texture, color, and stability.
Give them a try if you haven’t yet. And if you’re already a groundcover guru, I’d love to hear which ones have worked best for you. April may be ending, but the growing season is still young, and there’s plenty of time to transform a troublesome spot into a thriving, beautiful swath of green.
Until next time, may your slopes stay solid, your weeds stay few, and your groundcover dreams bloom into reality. Thanks for joining me on this journey of cultivating a more sustainable, gorgeous landscape, one step at a time.
Yours beneath the budding branches,
Logan