Finishing touches

Spreading organic matter over patches of soil works fine when you want to suppress weeds and retain moisture. But when you consider maintaining that polished appearance over the long term, groundcover might be the better option. Mulch needs to be fluffed after one year and even with a 3-inch thick layer, it needs to be completely replaced every three years.

Creepers and spreaders have a number of positive traits. They make the ideal fix-and-forget solution to creating an elegant landscape. They add color and texture, and certain types steady the soil on sloping areas and prevent erosion.

Mulch vs. groundcover.

Both soil protections add luster to the terrain, but a host of variables should be considered when deciding between the two.

“It’s more of a decision based on what material is right for the location and the goal of the design,” says Jessica Greenwood, a designer with Dennis’ 7 Dees in Portland, Oregon.

Mulches such as compost, bark dust and gravel contribute to the health of your plants by slowly feeding the soil, conserving water and reducing weed competition, she says. Crushed hazelnut shells last, look good ,and deter slugs and snails, plus their texture keeps dogs and cats out of garden beds.

Pat Remick, president of Greenside in Savage, Minnesota, uses mulches with some color in them like honey gold hardwood to give a high-impact look to commercial properties. He has also ringed trees in mulched areas where grass won’t grow.

In larger areas and in drainage ditches, Remick prefers the groundcover crown vetch, which comes in seed form, making it extremely economical. This perennial legume has strongly branched stems that grow from 2 to 6 feet in length and it does a superior job of controlling erosion.

“Crown vetch stays green all winter and doesn’t erode or wash away,” Remick says. “It also has an aesthetically pleasing look.”

If you need guidance in making a selection, contact local growers or university horticultural departments. Remick says they are always willing to talk. Plus, they are likely to be on the cutting edge of new products.

Groundcovers’ low maintenance requirements and lower cash outlay may tip the scales in their favor.

“The biggest value is the cost-effectiveness of groundcovers in the long run, but not initially,” says Tony Wilson, principal at GroundsPRO in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Year after year, they regenerate and you don’t have to add to them each year like you do with mulch.”

Popular types.

Wilson sticks with groundcovers that have given him proven results in the Cincinnati area. Boston ivy, euonymus and vinca stabilize slopes and also fit into Victorian landscapes. English ivy tends to be more suitable for a Georgian look.

For pure beautification, he prefers lilyturf for its neat growth and blue-purple blooms, and because it stays compact while spreading He likes to use candytuft to cover larger areas and retaining walls, where it flows over and down with white, purple or pink blossoms.

Remick likes vinca because it’s native to Minnesota. But for both drought and moisture tolerance, he prefers pachysandra.

On Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, Gary Bruno, owner of Bruno Landscape & Nursery, says he leans toward ivies and Asiatic jasmine for shady spaces, while sedums and juniper have been the most successful in sunny areas.

He cited a recent project where he planted Asiatic jasmine, not only to hold in a hillside, but to deter the island’s large deer population. When filled in completely, Asiatic jasmine creates a green carpet, but unlike its namesake flower, it doesn’t emit a fragrance.

Greenwood, on the west coast, may use multiple varieties, depending on the size of the space, if she wants a contrast or desires to prolong the bloom time. She also uses sedums for hot, dry sunny locales. They stay mostly evergreen, even throughout the winter.

Venturing into the unknown.

Attempting to plant groundcovers you haven’t tested in your growing zone is risky business. Remick says he only attempts new plantings on a small scale to see how they perform because it’s very difficult to move away from what you’ve already had good luck with.

Remick has talked with suppliers who are working on hybrids in order to create plants that tolerate all kinds of different conditions. Even though he keeps his eye on the trends, he’s not ready to take that leap yet.

Because of a client’s request for something new, during fall applications Wilson planted candytuft and lithodora. He’s waiting to see how they perform.

Customers may not know whether they want groundcover or mulch, but they probably have a good idea of what the finished product should look like. Use this chance to guide them to the best choice.

The author is a freelancer based in Tacoma, Washington.