Ground cover plants can do an excellent job of covering the soil, thus preventing weed growth in a (English ivy)garden. They will turn a bald and empty garden green and lush—something which would require the least amount of mulching and weeding. Here are eight fast-growing ground cover plants that will quickly establish themselves to give beauty and utility to your garden space.

1. Creeping Thyme—Thymus serpyllum

This low-growing, spreading, hardy herb is treasured to form a thick mat of small, fragrant leaves with tiny pinkish-purple flowers. It does a nice job of covering open soil, doing so by its fast-spreading nature and its low maintenance requirements. It will do well in full sun with well-drained soil and is also lovely in rock gardens, along paths, and in borders.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 2-4 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Full sun
4. Soil Requirements: Well-drained sandy soil

2. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)

Ajuga, or bugleweed, has very versatile ground cover with glossy, dark green to purple leaves and spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers. This is among the best native plants that are grown in shady areas where grass does not seem to thrive well. Ajuga quickly spreads by means of runners and then forms a dense carpet that controls weeds quite effectively.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 6-9 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Partial shade to full shade
4. Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

3. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

This is a low-growing, creeping plant with rounded leaves that are golden-yellow colored, adding color to any garden. It will spread very fast, filling in gaps between plants and can be used to suppress weeds in its path. However, it does perform well in full sun to partial shade, while its foliage color is brighter in sunnier locations.

1. Growth Rate: Very fast
2. Height: 2-4 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
4. Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

4. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Sedum is a genus of succulent plants (pachysandra) containing some of the best drought-tolerant plants. They make great plants for poor conditions and come in a wide range of colors and shapes—from flat mats to upright varieties. Sedum is perfect for rocky gardens, slopes, and other areas where plants often don’t do so well.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 2-24 inches, depending on variety
3. Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
4. Soil Requirements: Sandy or rocky well-drained soil

5. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Sweet woodruff belongs to the category of shade-loving perennials, whorling with star-shaped, white, fragrant flowers and possessing bright green leaves. It does propagate fast, forming a close mat that chokes weeds out as it spreads. The plant works well in woodland gardens or shady borders, bringing nice sweet fragrance into any garden.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 6-12 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Partial to full shade
4. Soils: Moist, well-drained

6. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

The low-growing Irish Moss is an extremely dense ground cover forming a lush green carpet with small, star-shaped white blossoms in spring that impart a delicate appearance to the plant. Common uses are filling gaps between stepping stones or creating a velvety, moss-like alternative to grassy lawns.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 1-2 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
4. Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

7. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)

The periwinkle is an evergreen, hardy with shiny green leaves and periwinkle-blue flowers. It makes an excellent ground cover for large areas and especially in shady spots. The periwinkle does this rapidly using its trailing stems, which form a thick mat impenetrable to weeds.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 4-6 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Partial shade to full shade
4. Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil

8. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Lamb’s ear is a very unusual ground cover with soft, velvety, silver-gray leaves that really resemble a lamb’s ear. It doesn’t need much water and performs well in the sun, thereby being perfect for dry sunny places where other plants might not thrive. Lamb’s ear self-propagates at a fast rate to form a tight mat, smothering weeds with a high level of efficiency.

1. Growth Rate: Fast
2. Height: 6-12 inches
3. Sun Requirements: Full sun
4. Soil Requirements: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil

Ground Cover Plants Growing Tips

1. Soil Preparation: The soil before sowing has to be prepared by the removal of weeds and the addition of compost or any other organic matter to enhance the fertility and drainage of the soil.
2. Spacing: Plant them close for fast coverage and weed suppression. Follow recommended spacing on each variety.
3. Watering: Water the ground covers regularly after their planting until they get established. Most of the ground covers become quite drought-tolerant and less frequently require watering once their roots are well established.
4. Mulching: Plants mulched around them help in the retention of moisture, suppress weeds, and improve the quality of the soil.
5. Pruning and Maintenance: The ground covers should be pruned or trimmed at regular intervals to keep them neat and clean for healthy growth. The dead or damaged parts should be cleared to avoid the spread of diseases.

Advantages of Ground Cover Plants

1. Weed Suppression: The ground covers grow very closely together and form a solid mass through which light can’t penetrate to reach weed seeds, thus preventing them from germinating.
2. Controls Erosion: Ground cover plants stabilize soil on slopes and their roots bind the soil to prevent erosion.
3. Retention of Moisture: Ground covers reduce evaporation from the soil and hence retain moisture to cool the soil.
4. Biodiversity: Ground cover plants offer shelter and food for many useful insects and other wildlife and can significantly increase garden biodiversity.
5. Aesthetic Appeal: The diversity that ground covers come in, with regard to colors, texture, and forms, creates interest and beauty in a garden.

Conclusion

Fast-growing, ground cover plants are one of the prettiest and handiest invasive plants to have in any garden for their practical advantages in weed suppression, soil stability, and moisture retention while at the same enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the garden. Choose the county extension office ground covers suitable for your conditions, plant them properly and look after them, and what you’ll have is a lush, thick garden that will seem to ask less and less of you. From the intoxicatingly scented Creeping Thyme and energetic Creeping Jenny to the bizarre Lamb’s Ear, these nine ground covers turn that plain soil into a fine, green expanse in no time.