Ground covers need much less upkeep than grass lawns. Most don’t require mowing, saving time and energy. Weeding is often easier too, as dense ground covers crowd out unwanted plants.

A longtime gardener reveals the 6 ground cover plants she used to shrink her lawn. Find out why these low-growers are absolute must-haves.

Too shady for grass? Try a leafy groundcover instead. ... They can be used as backdrops to other plants in your landscape, can increase soil moisture, and are not necessarily ground-hugging.

Even grass species sold as “shade-tolerant” will struggle in deep shade. […] Skip to content. All Sections. Subscribe Now. 61°F. Tuesday, May 27th 2025 eNewspaper. Home Page.

Other ground covers he suggests include hostas and Japanese forest grass. One of his favorite varieties of forest grass is Hakenechloa macra ‘All Gold,’ which has stunning yellow-gold foliage.

Mowing removes some portion of the grass's blade or leaf. The grass plant captures sunlight with its blades which it uses to produce energy through photosynthesis. Removing a portion of grass blade ...