Low Maintenance Groundcovers

Low maintenance groundcovers provide dependable coverage while helping reduce the time spent weeding, watering, and caring for open areas of the garden. Many spread steadily to suppress weeds, protect soil, and soften the edges of borders and pathways, all while contributing texture, foliage interest, and seasonal color.

Ajuga reptans

Evergreen groundcover with glossy green to bronze foliage and spikes of blue violet flowers. Grows 4 to 8 inches tall. Ideal for woodland gardens, shaded pathways, and erosion control on slopes. Zones: 3 to 9.

What to Look For

Coverage and spread: Faster spreaders close gaps and suppress weeds sooner, but need a defined edge to stay where you put them.

Foot traffic: Some groundcovers take occasional stepping between pavers; others are for looking at only.

Light and moisture: Match the plant to sun or shade and to how wet the site stays, and most of the upkeep disappears.

Establishment: Even easy groundcovers need weeding and water through the first season before they knit together.

Our Picks

Their diverse forms make them suitable for everything from sunny slopes to shaded spaces beneath trees. Well adapted to a variety of growing conditions, these plants help create a more finished landscape with relatively little upkeep. By choosing groundcovers that are naturally vigorous and well suited to the site, gardeners can enjoy attractive, cohesive plantings that require less ongoing attention throughout the year.