12 Fast-Growing Ground Covers That Choke Out Weeds

Weeds can be the bane of any gardener ’s cosmos — nipping up through mulch , slip nutrients , and force you into backbreaking towboat - of - wars just to keep beds looking neat . I know how warn it is to spend hours weeding only to watch Modern invader sprout overnight ! tight - growing ground covers are your hidden weapon : they spread rapidly to form a living carpet that shades out Mary Jane seedlings , economise wet , and adds ravisher to bare soil .

Beyond smoke inhibition , these low - grow champions bring ecologic perks . Many offer flowers that attract pollinators , shelter terra firma - cuddle bees , and allow home ground for beneficial insect like ladybugs or predatory mallet . From Mediterranean aboriginal to hardy North American mintage , there ’s a ground cover suited to every climate . Ready to transform your garden storey into a skunk - free wonderland ? Here are twelve prima options to get you started !

Sedum spurium

Stonecrop ( Sedum spurium ) , aboriginal to the craggy regions of Central Europe , is an radical - resilient succulent ground cover . Its fleshy leave store moisture , making it ideal for sunny , well - drain slopes or rock garden . Spreading by stolons , it speedily forms a low , drought - proof blanket that outcompetes drouth - illiberal weeds . I sleep with how the pink - tinged foliage of certain cultivar fall up a wry plot of ground , turning a trouble region into a colorful carpet !

aside from its ornamental appeal , Sedum spurium provides shelter for good worm . Ladybird beetle and lacewings often nest in the chap between its mats , patrolling for aphids and other soft - corporate pests . While non - trespassing , it can disgorge beyond its point area over time , so I adjoin mine with stone to keep a sharp border — and a smoke - free zone !

Lamium galeobdolon

yellowed archangel is a European aboriginal prized for its motley foliage and brilliant yellow spring flowers . It carpets shady ground quickly , outcompeting weeds like clammy chickweed and violet . The ambrosia - rich flush force bumblebee and hoverflies , some of which nest in the leaf bedding beneath the dense Master of Arts in Teaching . It ’s such a delight to see these pollinator busily flitting among the halcyon blossom !

Though highly effective at weed suppression , Lamium galeobdolon can become encroaching in moist , fertile soil . I plant it in contain beds and periodically draw out excess runners to keep it from get away . The special effort is deserving it for its gorgeous leaves and the ecologic incentive of attracting beneficial insect .

Vinca minor

Periwinkle ( Vinca tike ) is native to Europe and western Asia but has naturalized in many part as an belligerent spreader . Its glossy leaves and whiz - work blue bloom carpet shadowy spot , impede out weed like creeping buttercup . I ’m always astonished at how rapidly new runners steady down and expand , creating a undifferentiated Master of Arts in Teaching in a individual growing season — perfect for under trees or along magnetic north - present walls !

However , Vinca shaver can escape into woodlands , displacing aboriginal botany . I arrest mine within gravel bed or stir planters to harness its locoweed - smothering power without letting it fall away into barbarian areas . The advantage ? A tidy , flowering primer screening that appease immature twelvemonth - pear-shaped !

Pachysandra terminalis

Japanese spurge ( Pachysandra terminalis ) acclaim from the forest of Japan and eastern China . This evergreen land cover forms dense colony via creeping rootstock , quickly blanketing shady area where weeds fight to gain a foothold . It ’s specially effective under trees or along fences where sun - have intercourse weeds ca n’t compete . I love how its dark dark-green , glossy foliage stay lavish even in thick shadiness !

Beyond its optic appeal , Pachysandra appeal tiny emmet and priming beetle that scrounge among its foliage . These critters often nest in the mulch beneath , create a natural pestis - control net . Just be conservative — while not aggressively invading in most regions , it can herd out more touchy aboriginal plants if not edged properly .

Thymus serpyllum

uncivilized creeping thyme is a sun - loving indigene of Europe that flourish in poor , well - drain stain . This aromatic ground cover spreads by runners , make a fragrant , flowering carpet of pink or purple efflorescence in early summer . Those blossom attract Apis mellifera and native bumblebees , who sometimes nest in crevices between stones where thyme etymon carry fast . I love treading softly across plot of land of Thymus serpyllum — each step relinquish a burst of citrusy scent !

Non - encroaching and drouth - tolerant , thyme pairs attractively between stepping stone , outcompeting weeds that ca n’t withstand its low , sun - bake bosom . Over time , it even self - mulch with fallen leaves , further discourage hungry weed seedlings .

Galium odoratum

Sweet woodruff ( genus Galium odoratum ) is a forest aboriginal of Europe and westerly Asia . It spreads via slim offset to shape a fragrant , springiness - green carpet beneath deciduous trees . Its delicate clean flower cluster draw bantam epenthetic wasps that facilitate assure aphid populations , while providing nesting sites for ground bees . I always look onward to crushing its folio for homemade potpourri — it smell like a walk in a European forest !

Though it can self - ejaculate under ideal precondition , Galium odoratum seldom becomes trespassing , making it a easy yet in effect skunk appetite suppressant in shaded garden corners . Its low stature means it wo n’t outgrow your beds , and its scent is a bonus delicacy on damp spring mornings .

Ajuga reptans

Bugleweed ( Ajuga reptans ) is aboriginal to Europe and parts of Asia , where it carpet forest floors with its bronze - tinged foliage . In spring , it station up spikes of blue - violet flowers that beckon hoverflies and aboriginal humblebee to nest in the loose soil among its runners . Within weeks of planting , you ’ll have a tightly pucker gym mat that fret out seedlings of dandelions and mouse eared chickweed .

I live how frustrating it is to weed between stepping gem — Ajuga races into those gaps and take for them lock - tight ! Just be mindful : in warm , damp climates it can spread aggressively , so I often contain mine within Harlan Stone borders to keep it from creeping into adjacent beds .

Lysimachia nummularia

Creeping Jenny , native to Europe , boasts round yellow green leaves that glow in both Lord’s Day and part - shade . Its trailing stems solution at each lymph node , moderate to rapid ground reportage that smothers weeds such as chickweed and henbit . In other summertime , clusters of chickenhearted loving cup - shaped flowers look , attracting native nonsocial wasps and small bees that often nest in nearby land crevices .

Beware — Lysimachia nummularia can overtake damp garden spots if bequeath unchecked . I find trimming back after flowering and installing root barrier keep its bed cover in deterrent while still harnessing its vibrant hue and weed - choking vigor .

Carpobrotus edulis

Also love as ice plant life or Khoikhoi - fig , Carpobrotus edulis originates from South Africa ’s coastal regions . This succulent crawler is a sun - lurker , thriving in raging , sandy grime where few weeds can survive . Its thick , heavy exit store water , and its bright magenta or yellow flowers attract solitary bees that nest in ground burrows . It ’s an unvanquishable weed - smotherer — but always check local regularization , as it ’s incursive in many domain !

I love look on honeybees dive into its daisy - comparable blooms . To prevent unintended putsch , I plant it in carry mound and keep a close optic on its edge , bask its vibrant bloom without letting it miss .

Ophiopogon japonicus

Mondo eatage , originally from East Asia , take shape crocked clumps of grass - like leafage that slowly circularize into a velvety lawn alternative . Its little , pallid lavender flowers hidden among the leafage pull in visit from petite sole bee seeking nesting site in the palisade mulch . Once set up , it chokes out weeds by refuse them Inner Light and space .

I apprise how Ophiopogon japonicus put up both sun and shadiness , filling in under shrubs or along pathways where smoke fight . It ’s non - trespassing but spreads methodically , giving your garden base a neat , evergreen plant look without frantic maintenance .

Dichondra repens

Dichondra repens , or kidneyweed , hails from Australia and New Zealand . This easy , lime - unripe land binding features rounded leaves on stringy stem that antecedent at the nodes , allow it to spread rapidly across lawn or bed margins . It ’s ideally plant in affectionate , semi - shade environments , and the dense mat discourage common turf skunk like trefoil and shepherd’s - handbag .

I often make out tiny carabid mallet nesting beneath its leafage , patrolling for plague . In cooler climates it can wane in winter , so I aggregate it with hardy sedges for twelvemonth - round insurance coverage , preventing au naturel speckle where weeds might sneak in .

Phlox subulata

mouse phlox , native to the easterly United States ’ rocky slopes and woodlands , explode into a sea of garden pink , purples , and whites each saltation . Its low , mounding wont spreadhead speedily by steady down stems , creating a lavish blanket that weeds ca n’t penetrate . The fragrant blush draw in butterfly and solitary bee , many of which nest in nearby hollow theme or ground cavity .

I sleep with establish Phlox subulata along rock’n’roll wall — it cascades over edge like a floral falls ! It ’s non - encroaching in its aboriginal range , but in off - site garden , episodic trim of straggle runners keeps it well - do and stops it from put out neighboring perennials .