EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Getting rid of weeds in the garden is no fun job – but a necessary one, unfortunately. But what if you could eliminate the task completely by suppressing the weeds’ growth with something pretty like ground cover plants? The question is – will ground cover plants actually stop weeds from growing in your garden borders?
According to gardening experts, yes, they will. Which is music to our ears as we love a multipurpose garden hack. Especially when it involves a way how to kill weeds, and quickly beautifying our garden border ideas we’re all for it. And that’s exactly what ground cover plants do.
Ground cover plants are usually low and fast-growing plants that form carpets covering the unsightly bare soil. And that’s how they stop weeds from growing - by not giving them any space or sunlight they need to grow.
Will ground cover plants stop weeds?
Utilising ground cover plants to tackle the issue of weeds works similarly to using cardboard to kill weeds. It’s just a more permanent and aesthetically pleasing solution because unlike cardboard, ground cover plants don’t disintegrate over time.
‘Ground covers can act as living mulches, providing many of the same benefits as actual mulch,’ says Petar Ivanov, Fantastic Gardeners' gardening expert. ‘As soon as they become established, they deter the germination of weed seeds and prevent them from re-emerging.’
However, unlike using white vinegar to kill weeds, ground cover plants can’t get rid of already present, established weeds. They are only a preventative measure, so make sure to remove weeds before planting the new ground cover.
So just like planting bedding plants that slugs hate in your flower borders to deter them, you can be strategic with your ground cover planting to stop weeds in their tracks. And these are some of our experts’ favourite ground cover plants to prevent weeds from growing and adorn your garden, along with where to buy them.
FAQs
What is the best ground cover to stop weeds?
Look for dense evergreen specimens which are planted close together like cedrus ‘feelin blue’, cotoneaster horizontalis and barrenwort.
Planting ground covers in the garden is a no-brainer if you ask us.
