Park Seed Garden Journal

You are certainly welcome to spend the rest of your life mulching.  I love the look of freshly-spread mulch, and it is satisfying work.  However, it can also be an exercise in deep frustration, especially if your area is prone to heavy, sudden rain or if you have animals that like to redistribute your mulch.  That level of upkeep is a big part of why I try to avoid having more mulch than is necessary, especially in areas in which it is more difficult to spread and keep mulch.  My preferred alternative, of course, is ground cover perennials. 

Ground covers have a lot of advantages.  The most obvious is beauty, of course.  A swath of foliage or flowers can create a stunning effect.  It is the much lower maintenance that we are less likely to consider when we’re thinking of planting ground cover.  They help to maintain soil and prevent erosion, and are much easier to grow on hills than grass (they usually require less water, too).  Ground covers can also be planted around larger plants to help keep the soil cool, meaning less evaporation and less watering.

There are ground cover perennials available for almost any purpose.  Check out our collection of sun-loving ground covers, such as Blue Star Creeper or Wild Sweet William, as well as our ground covers for shade.