10 Groundcovers For Erosion Ideas

by Bilal Iqbal – July 13, 2013

10 Groundcover Ideas to Combat Erosion and Enhance Landscapes

Erosion is a natural process that can harm the environment, leading to loss of topsoil, degradation of landscapes, and compromised water quality. However, there are practical and sustainable ways to mitigate erosion, and one of these is using groundcovers.

Groundcovers are low-growing plants that spread across the soil surface, protecting against erosion while adding aesthetic value to landscapes. This article presents ten groundcover ideas that combat erosion and contribute to a visually appealing environment.

Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) Creeping juniper is an evergreen groundcover known for its rugged and hardy nature. Its low, sprawling growth habit helps stabilize soil on slopes and embankments, preventing erosion. The dense foliage also provides a habitat for small wildlife. Creeping juniper's needle-like leaves and blue-green color add year-round interest to the landscape.

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) Creeping phlox is a spring-flowering groundcover that produces a carpet of colorful blooms. Its cascading growth habit creates a natural barrier against erosion. The vibrant flowers come in various shades, including pink, purple, white, and blue, adding color to gardens. Creeping phlox thrives in well-drained soil and is particularly effective on slopes.

Vinca Minor (Vinca minor) Also known as periwinkle, Vinca minor is an excellent choice for shaded areas prone to erosion. This evergreen ground cover forms a dense mat of glossy leaves and produces charming blue or white flowers in spring. Its shallow root system helps stabilize soil, making it suitable for preventing erosion on banks and under trees.

Sedum (Sedum spp.) Sedums are succulent groundcovers in various varieties, offering diverse textures and colors. These plants are not only drought-tolerant but also effective at erosion control. Their fleshy leaves retain water, reducing runoff and enhancing soil stability. Sedums are particularly beneficial for rocky or sandy soils where erosion is a concern.

Ajuga (Ajuga reptans), also known as bugleweed, is a versatile groundcover that thrives in sun and partial shade. Its dense mat of foliage helps suppress weeds and prevent erosion. Ajuga produces spikes of small, tubular flowers in shades of blue, pink, or white, adding visual interest to the landscape.

Dianthus (Dianthus spp.) Dianthus, called pinks or carnations, is a ground cover with grass-like or cushion-like growth. Its evergreen foliage forms a neat mound that effectively covers the soil and reduces erosion. Dianthus produces fragrant, often bi-colored flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of gardens.

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) Bearberry, also known as kinnikinnick, is a hardy groundcover that thrives in challenging conditions, including poor soils and rocky terrains. Its prostrate growth habit and dense, leathery leaves make it an excellent choice for erosion-prone areas. Bearberry produces small, pinkish-white flowers followed by red berries, attracting wildlife.

Liriope (Liriope spp.) Liriope, commonly called lilyturf, is a grass-like groundcover that adds texture and interest to landscapes. Its dense, tufted foliage helps prevent soil erosion, making it suitable for slopes and borders. Liriope produces spikes of small, bell-shaped flowers in shades of purple or white, creating a visually appealing display.

Thyme (Thymus spp.) Thyme is a fragrant herb that also serves as an effective groundcover. Its low-growing, spreading habit forms a carpet of aromatic foliage that stabilizes soil and prevents erosion. Thyme is drought-tolerant and comes in various cultivars with different leaf colors and flower shapes, making it a versatile choice for erosion control.

Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrical 'Red Baron') Japanese blood grass is a striking ornamental groundcover known for its red-tipped foliage that resembles flames. While its primary use is for visual interest, this grass also offers some erosion control benefits. Its clumping growth habit and deep-rooted nature help anchor the soil, particularly in ornamental beds and borders.

Groundcovers are an eco-friendly and visually appealing solution to combat erosion and enhance landscapes

These ten groundcover ideas, ranging from evergreens to flowering varieties, offer diverse options for different soil types, light conditions, and aesthetic preferences.

One of the primary functions of groundcovers is erosion control. It preserves the landscape's integrity and prevents sedimentation in nearby water bodies, safeguarding water quality. In landscaping and gardening, groundcovers act as a living mulch, covering the soil and providing a protective layer that reduces moisture evaporation. It is particularly beneficial in arid or drought-prone regions where water conservation is crucial.

By shading the ground, groundcovers help maintain a more stable soil temperature, promoting beneficial microorganisms' activity and root growth of other nearby plants. Moreover, groundcovers contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem health. They create a microhabitat for various insects, spiders, and small animals, which are vital in pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling.

Additionally, groundcovers serve as food and shelter for certain wildlife species, further enhancing an area's overall ecological balance. Groundcovers have proven to be excellent air and noise filters in urban areas. Their foliage captures airborne pollutants and particulate matter, thereby improving air quality. The intricate root systems of groundcovers also absorb and dissipate sound waves, making them an eco-friendly solution for reducing noise pollution in densely populated regions.

Landscapers and gardeners often utilize groundcovers as design elements to create visually appealing and dynamic landscapes. Whether used as a border, under trees, or between stepping stones, groundcovers add depth and visual interest to outdoor spaces while requiring minimal maintenance.

From a horticultural perspective, groundcovers are known for their versatility and hardiness

Many species are well-suited to various soil types and climatic conditions, making them adaptable to different environments worldwide. This adaptability makes groundcovers an excellent choice for revegetation projects, where restoring native vegetation is essential for ecosystem rehabilitation.

However, like any plant selection, choosing a suitable ground cover requires careful consideration of the local conditions and intended purpose. Factors such as light exposure, soil type, water availability, and maintenance requirements should be considered to ensure these plants' optimal performance. In conclusion, groundcovers are much more than low-growing plants used for ornamental purposes. They are crucial in environmental conservation, sustainable landscaping, and biodiversity enhancement.

Groundcovers are essential to modern landscaping practices because of their erosion-controlling properties, water-saving benefits, and positive ecosystem impacts. Whether in urban or rural settings, these unassuming plants quietly contribute to the health and resilience of outdoor spaces while providing us with a beautiful tapestry of colors and textures to enjoy.

Products from the article

Vinca Minor

Vinca Minor - Periwinkle Vinca minor or periwinkle, is an evergreen groundcover plant that has delicate purple blooms in Spring and summer and can be maintained year-round with little effort. Easy to care for and adaptable to shade and sun conditions, it forms a dense and textured swathe of foliage and flowers ideal for borders, beds, and shade gardens. Vinca Minor Plant Characteristics and Growth Its smooth, dark green leaves remain in full display year-round, giving your yard a predictable hue. This perennial comes into bloom in spring with lovely, star-shaped blue-to-violet flowers that provide a splash of color. The flowers bloom early to mid-spring and continue through early summer, attracting bees and butterflies.&nbspThis short-stemmed plant quickly grows into large mats, making it a perfect ground cover between trees or beds. It can be planted quickly and, once established, does not require much upkeep. It grows well in various soils and in partial shade to full sun, though it’s most successful in shady places on well-drained soils. This perennial is resistant to many of the most common garden pests and diseases, so it is an excellent option for those who love keeping their gardens minimal. It needs occasional watering, and its evergreen leaves ensure year-round interest, even in the winter. Long-Lasting Blooms and Lifespan of Vinca Minor Perennial Vines It flowers for a few weeks in the spring, and its evergreen habit keeps it fresh all year. Being perennial, it will recur year after year, providing your garden with lasting grace and minimal upkeep. Here at TN Nursery, we carry only premium plants that will make a lasting impression on your garden and provide you with year-round blooms and lush green foliage. The easy care, long blooming, and evergreen foliage make it an excellent groundcover for gardeners who want a beautiful, easy-care, color-rich, and texture-filled addition to their landscape. Most Asked Questions About This Perennial Do periwinkle plants come back every year? Yes, they return every Spring and live for decades Do periwinkle like sun or shade? These vine plants thrive in shaded areas Why is it called a graveyard plant? They grow near shaded banks and slopes, often near the woods bear graveyards because most is adjoining wooded areas, to obtain the shade needed. Thus, they got their name as graveyard vines.

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English Ivy

English Ivy - Hedera Helix English Ivy is a low-growing ground cover plant; it has glossy, heart-shaped leaves and produces small, inconspicuous brownish-purple flowers nestled among its dense, carpet-like foliage. It is a fantastic and versatile plant with several landscaping benefits. This evergreen vine is native to Europe and Western Asia and is widely embraced for its aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and practical applications. The vine is a woody evergreen perennial vine and foliage plant proliferating on vertical surfaces like trees, walls, fences, and trellises. The ancient Greeks believed the plant was sacred to the god Dionysus, and pagan druids revered it as a symbol of the divine feminine. In classical Latin, “hedera” refers to the ability to grasp, which is in keeping with the vine’s nature. English Ivy Thrives in Shade Native to Europe, Scandinavia, and parts of Russia, the Hedera helix is nearly ubiquitous in Britain and is naturalized and prolific in many regions of the United States. In the wild, the plant grows under, on trees, and up the sides of rocky cliffs, favoring moist, shady areas out of the sun. A Natural Air Purifier Mature Hedera helix vines typically grow up to 80 feet tall and span a three- to five-foot width. Their climbing stems bear young, five-lobed leaves, while their fertile stems bear adult, spade-shaped leaves. These deep-green leaves can vary in size between two and four inches long. The top of the plant will often develop clusters of small, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom from late summer until late autumn. These nectar-rich blossoms will eventually yield a crop of small purple-black to orange-yellow berries that persist into winter. This Beautiful Plant Kills Weeds Its bright green foliage can add all-season color to any landscape and beautify forlorn spaces. Its vines can be trained to climb many stable vertical surfaces or grown as a ground cover to suppress weeds. Since Hedera helix proliferates, it can make a good screen on a fence or trellis. When carefully grown on exterior building walls, it can protect their surfaces from exposure to bad weather and help regulate the temperature. Within the United States, Hedera helix can provide food and habitat for wildlife. Butterflies and moths eat their leaves, bees feed on their flowers’ nectar, and birds eat their berries in winter. The foliage often shelters insects and small animals and sometimes attracts nearby deer. This vine is Evergreen Hedera helix is a beautiful evergreen vine with a rich history. When you plant it in your garden, you can enjoy its charm all year. What is the best fertilizer for it It is best fertilized by a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, which should be used every four to six weeks when growth is most active during early spring and summer. The standard vegetation growth formula that can be used is the 20-20-20 formula to encourage foliage growth. Is it easy to maintain It is an easy-growing plant that can be grown under different environmental conditions. It has to be groomed, and Pruning can help regulate it and make it look neat. It's also very hardy and will survive short periods of neglect. Can I grow it indoors? If placed in bright, indirect light, it is an ideal indoor plant. When planting, give the plant good drainage, and occasionally spray the leaves with a mist to promote humidity. Companion plants for it Ferns, hostas, and begonias are suitable companions for it, blending well in shaded gardens. These plants have similar growth requirements, and their growth characteristics, such as trailing nature, complement it. Where to grow it English ivy thrives in partial to fully shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil. It's very adaptable and can grow as a low-growing trailing plant, a climbing vine, or in pots. However, it is also important not to plant it in a position where it may spread and become invasive.

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