Ground cover plants Ground cover plants With the addition of ground cover, you can add interest to the landscape around your home or improve problem areas where the grass never seems to grow well. There are other instances where a ground cover may be used in place of grass. Shady spots are the first place you should think of. Unless the sun shines on the lawn about half of the day, grass plants will not do well, even with watering and fertilizing. There are several ground covers that do well in shade and can be used in place of grass very conveniently.
Steep banks are difficult to mow and often become deeply rutted and unsightly.
Sometimes a strip, too narrow to mow, causes you a maintenance headache, and you wish for a simple solution each time you look at it. In both these cases ground covers can be used to improve the appearance of your lawn. A more specialized use for ground covers is obvious whenever you visit a beach area and see the homes built among the rocks and sand overlooking the water. Dry, sandy conditions and a salt problem make it next to impossible to grow grass, yet there are several plants that have adapted to this environment. Try using bearberry, rugosa roses, shore juniper, and beach wormwood, as these can help stabilize the sand and soil, while adding a touch of beauty to an area that may otherwise be barren and cold looking.