Planting Groundcover Plants

Groundcovers in the landscape are hugely important - they tie all other plantings together improving the overall look of the landscape or garden, serve as erosion controllers on slopes or embankments, and are a replacement for costly mulches in foundation plantings or other beds. Groundcovers are often the only alternative to cover bare areas under the canopies of large trees or on slopes or embankments where grass or other plants cannot be grown. We use groundcovers throughout every landscape design we draw. Below are general instructions for planting groundcovers.

Step 1 - Site Preparation: In areas where you will plant groundcovers make sure to eliminate any existing weeds or grasses first. Spray existing weeds with a solution of a weed killer such as Killzall Super Concentrate. (Follow instructions on the product label for mixing and application.) Allow two hours after spraying before you begin planting. You may till area to be planted however it is not necessary. Be careful tilling around the root systems of large trees as you will not want to damage them. Note: After planting, we highly recommend broadcasting Treflan Granules over the planted area to provide up to 1 year of weed control. Treflan Granules kill weed seeds before they germinate.

Step 2 - Groundcover Selection: Determine what type of groundcover you would like to plant. There are groundcovers suitable for sun or shade and some, such as Purple Winter Creeper, which tolerate full sun or full shade! Certain groundcovers, such as Blue Pacific Juniper or Cotoneaster, are perfect for use on steep slopes or embankments. Others are more suited for use under large trees, in foundation plantings to grow in and around shrubs, or between stepping stones or pavers. SEE: Groundcover Plants. After selecting the type of groundcover you want to plant make note of suggested spacing distance. You will need this to determine the number of groundcover plants that will be required to cover the area.

Step 3 - Measure the area to be planted to determine how many plants will be needed to cover the area. For large open areas such as embankments you can use the chart below to determine how many plants are needed. Start by taking measurements of the leght and width of the area to be planted. Then multiply the length by the width of the area to be planted to determine total square footage. If the length is 50', and the width is 10', your area will have 500 total square feet. For circular areas measure the length of the radius of the circle (measure from center of the circle to the outside edge/ half the diamter). Then multiply the radius by itself (If the radius is 10', multiply 10 x 10 to get 100). Then multiply this number by 3.14 and you will have the total square footage of the circular area. For right (90 degree) triangles multiply length by width and divide by 2 to determine total square footage. For other odd shaped beds, or areas where you will be planting groundcovers amongst other shrubs, use the suggested spacing to determine the number of groundcovers needed.

Plants Needed Calculator

Spacing	Plants Needed Per Sq Ft
6"	4.0
8"	2.25
10"	1.50
12"	1.0
15"	.64
18"	.44
24"	.25
36"	.11

Step 4 - Space plants out in the area to be planted at the predetermined distance apart. Begin by setting out a row of plants along one of the edges of the perimeter making sure to space them at a distance far enough from the edge to allow for future spreading. For example, plants that should be spaced 24" apart should be spaced at a distance of 12" from the edge of the bed or surfaced area. After setting out the first row, stagger the plants on the second row as shown in the diagram above. For steep slopes, where plants will not stay put, it may be necessary to use spray paint to mark dots or x's where plants will be planted.

Step 5 - Planting: After all of the plants have been set in place, or marked, you may begin planting. To plant, dig a hole 2 times as wide or more than the container the plant came in. Mix in Claycutter Organic Soil Ammendment at a 50/50 ratio with the soil dug from the hole. Remove the plant from the container and scratch root ball to loosen feeder roots. Place plant in hole making sure that the top edge of the root ball is level or slightly above the level of the ground. Backfill around the rootball with soil mixture tamping lightly as you go to remove air pockets. When all plants have been installed apply a 2-3" layer of pinestraw or wood mulch throughout the planted area. When planting groundcovers such as Ivy, that may have long runners, we spread mulch before planting and rake back a small area in order to plant.

Watering Groundcovers - Newly planted groundcovers, from sprigs or 4" pots, should recieve at least 1" of water per week from rain or hand watering until plants have become established. Groundcovers planted from 1 gallon or larger size containers should also recieve 1" of water per week until rooted in. Once established, most of the groundcovers we list are drought tolerant and will require very little attention.

Fertilizing Groundcovers - Most groundcovers should be fertilized twice a year; once in the early spring, and again in early fall. We use 14-7-7 Nursery and Landscape Fertilizer or Milorganite. This fertilizer is slow release and includes an elements package with iron and other minerals to keep plants healthy, vigorous, and strong in color. Follow directions on product label for application amounts..

Pruning Groundcovers - Typically, groundcovers are low maintenance and therefore require little if any pruning. If the foliage reaches beyond the bed, or over lawn areas or other surfaces, you may clip back at any time of year.