10 Best Green Ground Covers for Full Sun

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Green Ground Covers for Full Sun: A Comprehensive Guide

Ground covers are a great way to add color and texture to your landscape without the need for constant maintenance. When it comes to selecting green ground covers for full sun spaces, there are plenty of options to choose from. In this article, we will take a look at the ten best green ground covers for full sun areas.

Benefits of Creeping Thyme as a Ground Cover

Creeping thyme is a low-growing plant that produces aromatic leaves and small flowers. It's an excellent choice for use as a ground cover because it's hardy, adaptable, and drought-tolerant. Some benefits of using creeping thyme as a ground cover include:

• Attractive foliage - creeping thyme has rich green leaves that stay colorful throughout the growing season.
• Low maintenance - once established, creeping thyme requires little water and minimal care.
• Deters pests - the strong scent of creeping thyme can repel certain insects and other pests.
• Soil erosion control - the dense growth habits of creeping thyme can help prevent soil erosion on sloped areas.

How to Plant Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme is easy to grow and can adapt to a wide range of soil types and conditions. Here's how to get started:

1. Choose a sunny location - creeping thyme needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and amend it with compost or other organic matter as needed.
3. Plant the thyme - space plants about 6-12 inches apart and cover the roots with soil.
4. Water regularly - until the thyme is well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not saturated.
5. Mulch - once established, add a thin layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Creeping Jenny as a Ground Cover

Another low-growing plant ideal for use as a ground cover in full sun areas is creeping Jenny. It has round, bright green leaves and produces small, yellow flowers in the spring. Some benefits of using creeping Jenny as a ground cover include:

• Versatility - creeping Jenny can handle both wet and dry soils.
• Colorful foliage - the bright green leaves provide a vivid contrast in mixed garden beds.
• Rapid spread - creeping Jenny can quickly fill in large areas with its fast-growing habit.
• Low maintenance - once established, creeping Jenny requires little water and minimal care.

How to Plant Creeping Jenny

Planting creeping Jenny is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Select a sunny location - creeping Jenny needs plenty of sunlight to thrive.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and add organic matter if necessary.
3. Space the plants - space plants about 12 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
4. Water regularly - until the plants are well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
5. Mulch - add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Sedum as a Ground Cover

Sedum is a hardy, versatile perennial plant that comes in many different varieties. As a ground cover, sedum provides a range of benefits, including:

• Drought tolerance - sedum can survive extended periods of dry weather without water.
• Attractive foliage - many sedum varieties have colorful leaves that change with the seasons.
• Easy to propagate - sedum can be propagated easily from stem cuttings or division.
• Low maintenance - once established, sedum requires minimal watering and pruning.

How to Plant Sedum

Planting sedum is also quite easy. Here are the basic steps:

1. Choose a sunny location - sedum needs plenty of direct sunlight to thrive.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and add organic matter if necessary.
3. Space the plants - space plants about 12 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
4. Water regularly - until the plants are well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
5. Mulch - add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Hosta as a Ground Cover

Hosta is a popular perennial plant known for its attractive foliage and ease of care. It's an excellent choice for use as a ground cover in full sun areas for the following reasons:

• Large leaves - hosta has large, lush leaves that can provide a dramatic visual impact in garden beds.
• Shade tolerant - while best in full sun, hosta can also adapt to partial shade.
• Pest resistant - hosta leaves contain a chemical that repels slugs and other pests.
• Low maintenance - once established, hosta requires minimal watering and pruning.

How to Plant Hosta

Planting hosta is slightly different from other ground covers. Follow these simple steps:

1. Choose a part-sun location - hosta prefers some shade during the day.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and add compost or other organic matter as needed.
3. Plant the hosta - dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots and cover them with soil.
4. Water regularly - until the hosta is well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
5. Mulch - add a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Lamium as a Ground Cover

Lamium is a low-growing plant that produces small, delicate flowers in shades of pink, white, or purple. It's an excellent choice for use as a ground cover because of the following benefits:

• Variegated foliage - many varieties of lamium have beautiful, colorful leaves that are variegated with shades of silver or gold.
• Rapid spread - lamium can quickly fill in large areas and is easy to propagate from stem cuttings or division.
• Shade tolerance - while best in full sun, lamium can also grow in partial shade.
• Low maintenance - once established, lamium requires minimal care.

How to Plant Lamium

Planting lamium is similar to planting other ground covers. Here's what you need to do:

1. Select a location - lamium can grow in full sun to partial shade.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and add compost or other organic matter as needed.
3. Space the plants - space plants about 12 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
4. Water regularly - until the plants are well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
5. Mulch - add a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Irish Moss as a Ground Cover

Irish moss is a low-growing plant with tiny, delicate leaves that form a lush, green carpet over the ground. Some benefits of using Irish moss as a ground cover include:

• Drought tolerance - Irish moss can survive extended periods of dry weather without water.
• Rapid spread - Irish moss can quickly fill in large areas with its fast-growing habit.
• Shade tolerant - while best in full sun, Irish moss can also adapt to partial shade.
• Low maintenance - once established, Irish moss requires minimal watering and pruning.

How to Plant Irish Moss

Here's how to plant Irish moss:

1. Choose a sunny location - Irish moss needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and amend it with compost or other organic matter as needed.
3. Plant the moss - space plants about 6-8 inches apart and press them firmly into the soil.
4. Water regularly - until the moss is well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
5. Mulch - add a thin layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Sweet Woodruff as a Ground Cover

Sweet woodruff is a low-growing plant that produces tiny white flowers in the spring. It's an excellent choice for use as a ground cover because of the following benefits:

• Fragrant foliage - sweet woodruff has sweet-smelling leaves that release their fragrance when crushed.
• Shade tolerant - sweet woodruff can thrive in partial shade or full sun.
• Rapid spread - sweet woodruff can quickly fill in large areas with its fast-growing habit.
• Low maintenance - once established, sweet woodruff requires minimal watering and pruning.

How to Plant Sweet Woodruff

Planting sweet woodruff is easy. Here's what you need to do:

1. Choose a location - sweet woodruff can grow in full sun to partial shade.
2. Prepare the soil - loosen the soil and add compost or other organic matter as needed.
3. Space the plants - space plants about 8 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
4. Water regularly - until the plants are well-established, be sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.
5. Mulch - add a thin layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Benefits of Mazus Reptans as a Ground Cover

Mazus reptans is a low-growing plant that produces small, blue, or violet flowers in the summer. Some benefits of using mazus reptans as a ground cover include:

• Colorful flowers - the tiny blooms of mazus reptans add a pop of color to spring and summer landscapes.
• Drought tolerance - mazus reptans can survive extended periods of dry weather without water.
• Shade tolerant - while best in full sun, mazus reptans can also adapt to partial shade.
• Low maintenance - once established, mazus reptans requires minimal watering and pruning.

How to Plant Mazus Reptans

Planting mazus reptans is similar to planting other ground covers. Follow these steps:

1. Choose a location - mazus