Haley Mast is a freelance writer, fact-checker, and small organic farmer in the Columbia River Gorge. She enjoys gardening, reporting on environmental topics, and spending her time outside ...

No garden is grown in one day. But by incorporating a few ground cover plants into your yard, you'll one step closer! Ground cover plants offer solutions for various landscaping challenges, whether it ...

Mulch can meet all kinds of needs in your garden, from suppressing weed growth to retaining moisture near the roots of your flowers. It's not a maintenance-free solution, however. For starters, you ...

A ground cover, literally, is something that covers and protects the soil. While this may include bark, wood chips and traditional lawns, there are many reasons to choose from a wide variety of ...

When planning a garden, I always start by thinking in layers. Varying plant heights not only adds visual depth but also creates opportunities for sustainable gardening practices and supports habitat ...

Ground cover plants are a wonderful way to cover bare areas of your yard and fill in spaces in your flower beds. They are also terrific for rock gardens. Sometimes referred to as living mulch, ground ...

Ground covers are plants that are low-growing (usually less than 24 inches high) herbs, perennials, shrubs and vines. These plants are valued for their ability to spread easily and quickly. They bring ...

Woman in the garden with freshly harvested herbs - VH-studio/Shutterstock There are multiple reasons to scour around the local nurseries for ground covers. Some you can plant to help choke out ...

After you’ve decided where to plant any large trees, and have provided understory tree and shrub companions, design excellent ground covers. Horticulturalists now appreciate that a layered landscape ...

Best bets for ground covers to brighten up any shady area. If you have a shady spot in your garden, you know how difficult it is to choose plants that will thrive, especially when it comes to ground ...

In an ecosystem, ground covers are low plants and small shrubs that grow below the shrub layer. They serve several important functions: they shade the soil, they act as a living mulch, and they ...