Discussion Board

What is the best ground cover for moderate climates? i.e. no snow.

Ever consider Potentilla? These come in 10x10 flats. The major areas of my front yard were planted with potentilla 35 years ago, and still growing and looking well. Originally, the hard ground was rotortilled with 12 yards of fine redwood chips, and the potentilla spaced 10 inches apart. Ten flats were planted. This filled in quickly in a 2-3 months, resulting in a lush ground cover, with an ocean of showy yellow blooms in spring, and into summer. Three months ago, the area shown below got infested with clover that could not be weeded, so the ground was turned over, and the plants regrew and flowering again. Eventually, the plants should regrow to a 2 to 4 inch deep mat. [close-up] [front yard] [another view]

During the winter the potentilla dies somewhat, with shades of olive greens, browns, and red. But once the frost is over, the areas green up again, beginning in March. The plants love sun, and send a center root deep into the soil, requiring much less water than grass. Very hardy. We often get inquiring by people walking by.

I never thought of planting a ground cover in the whole lawn. It is pretty and I guess No Mowing.

I could see that on a hillside, or something like that. Around here folks grow this ivy on hillsides so they don't have to mow.

Faith, To add interest, I contoured the entire front yard and added a stepped brick walkway down the middle. These two pictures show nearly the entire front yard [front1] [front2]. Never had a lawn mower. Backyard has a large brick area and ground-level wood patio, with shrubs and ground cover accents all around [back1] [back2] [back3]. You do have to periodically pick weeks out, to prevent them from propagating. The first several years, the cover was so lush,4-6 inch deep from the loose and best soil conditions, that weeds simply did not grow! Time to go play tennis!

wow never had a lawn mower. Those pictures are really nice and it shows the different varieties of plants growing. The walk way looks great going through.

OK do you get snakes hiding in there? Hmmm that thought just crossed my mind.

Yes, never had a lawn mower, nor desire. I added a few pictures of my backyard, with potentilla around the edges -- to my prior post. Its ok to think BIG with potentilla.

In San Jose, lawns need mowing twice a week during the summer. Potentilla is virtually maintenance free, modest 15 min watering 2-3 times a week, except for plucking weeds when you see them, and applying suitable fertilizer once awhile. No mice, no snakes, just worms. Snails only in the gazania's in spring, quickly taken care of with iron phosphate.

As they green up and flower beginning March, and turn darkish and brown in December, they show the seasons. Some small areas were replanted with ajugas for variety, and a local moss that took off on its own. My philosophy is whichever ground cover grows best in a given area deserves to live and thrive. Nice if you have other things to do. The overall plan was conceived by a landscape designer at the local garden center. The walkway was hand-built, with cement mixed into the sand underneath to stabilize. 37 years and counting.