20+ Creative Ground Cover Ideas Instead of Mulch

If you’re like me, always on the hunt for fresh garden ideas, then swapping out mulch for ground cover plants might just be your next big project. Let’s explore some creative and beautiful alternatives that’ll keep your garden looking lush without the hassle of constant mulching.

1. Ajuga Reptans

Shaded garden area brought to life with ajuga reptans ground cover

Ajuga, with its rich, deep hues and lovely blue blooms, adds a vibrant touch to shaded areas. This was a game-changer for my shady spots that needed a bit of life and color.

Check if these fit your needs:

Garden Edging Tools: Define your Ajuga patches beautifully with easy-to-use garden edging tools for neat borders.
Shade-Tolerant Fertilizer: Boost Ajuga’s growth with specialized fertilizer that thrives in shaded garden areas.
Garden Knee Pads: Protect your knees while planting Ajuga with comfortable and durable garden knee pads.

2. Lamb’s Ear

Sunny garden area featuring the soft, unique texture of lamb's ear — Sunny garden area featuring the soft, unique texture of lamb’s ear

The soft, silvery leaves of lamb’s ear offer a unique texture and color, perfect for sunny spots. I adore its ability to stand out, creating visual interest in my garden.

A few relevant products:

Lamb’s Ear Seeds: Plant lamb’s ear seeds for a lush, unique texture in your sunny garden spots.
Organic Potting Soil: Enhance your lamb’s ear growth with nutrient-rich organic potting soil for optimal plant health.
Garden Hand Trowel: Simplify planting with a durable garden hand trowel designed for easy soil preparation.

3. Sedum

Garden bed showcasing colorful sedum as a dynamic ground cover

Sedum varieties are hardy and succulent, providing a unique texture to your garden’s floor. I love how their color changes with the seasons – it’s like having a dynamic piece of art underfoot.

A few suggestions:

Sedum Ground Cover Live Plants: Transform your garden with vibrant Sedum plants, adding texture and seasonal color variation.
Sedum Seeds Mix: Easily propagate a colorful Sedum ground cover by sowing this versatile seed mix.
Garden Soil for Succulents: Ensure healthy Sedum growth with soil designed to support succulent hydration and nutrient needs.

4. Clover

Backyard featuring a lush carpet of clover instead of mulch

Clover offers a lush green carpet that’s tough and easy to care for, making it a great mulch alternative. In my garden, it even attracts bees, which adds to the biodiversity of the space.

These products might help:

Clover Seed Mix: Transform your garden with lush clover. Attract bees and enhance biodiversity effortlessly.
Organic Fertilizer for Clover: Boost your clover’s growth with eco-friendly fertilizer. Nourish your garden simply and naturally.
Garden Soil Test Kit: Ensure optimal soil health for clover by testing nutrients and pH levels quickly and easily.

5. Creeping Thyme

Garden path with creeping thyme nestled between stepping stones

This aromatic herb is not only a delight for your senses but also a fantastic ground cover option, especially in sunny areas. I’ve used it between stepping stones, and it’s as low-maintenance as they come!

Consider these options:

Creeping Thyme Seeds: Grow aromatic, low-maintenance ground cover with these easy-to-plant creeping thyme seeds.
Gardening Trowel Set: Enhance your planting experience with this durable gardening trowel set, perfect for small plants.
Landscape Fabric: Prevent weeds while allowing moisture with high-quality landscape fabric for your ground cover.

6. Moss

Serene garden area beautifully covered with lush green moss

Moss is an excellent ground cover for shady, damp areas where other plants might struggle. It creates a soft, carpet-like effect that’s both serene and inviting.

Give these a look:

Live Moss for Gardens: Transform your shaded garden with lush, live moss for a serene, natural look.
Moss Starter Kit: Easily grow beautiful moss in your yard with this comprehensive starter kit.
Moss Fertilizer: Enhance your moss growth with specialized fertilizer for vibrant, healthy coverage.

7. Vinca Minor

Garden area enhanced by the vibrant periwinkle-blue flowers of vinca minor

Vinca minor is a tough, low-maintenance evergreen that thrives in both sun and shade. Its periwinkle-blue flowers have added a pop of color to my garden for years.

Might be a good match:

Periwinkle Flower Seeds: Enhance your garden with vibrant periwinkle blooms; ideal for planting in sun or shade.
Organic Fertilizer for Ground Covers: Boost your Vinca Minor growth naturally with this easy-to-use organic ground cover fertilizer.
Garden Weed Barrier Fabric: Protect your Vinca Minor from weeds while ensuring water and air flow with this fabric.

8. Miniature Brass Buttons

This quirky ground cover offers a unique texture and is perfect for moist, shady areas. It’s a fun addition to my garden, creating unexpected visual interest.

A few things you might like:

Moisture Retentive Soil Mix: Enhance your garden’s growth by using this soil mix, ideal for moist and shady areas.
Shade-Loving Plant Fertilizer: Boost the health of shade-loving plants with this specialized fertilizer for thriving growth.
Ground Cover Planting Tools: Streamline your garden work with these tools designed especially for planting ground covers.

9. Creeping Phlox

Garden border transformed by the colorful blooms of creeping phlox

Creeping phlox, with its vibrant blooms, creates a blanket of color in the spring. It’s been my go-to for adding a dramatic splash of color to my garden’s borders.

Maybe worth checking out:

Creeping Phlox Seeds: Transform your garden borders with vibrant creeping phlox seeds. Easy to plant and maintain.
Garden Edging Border: Define your phlox-lined pathways with durable garden edging. Keeps mulch and soil tidy.
Organic Fertilizer for Flowers: Boost your phlox blooms naturally with organic flower fertilizer. Simple, effective, and eco-friendly.

10. Japanese Pachysandra

Garden area densely covered with lush Japanese pachysandra

This evergreen ground cover is a classic choice, providing year-round coverage with minimal fuss. It’s been a reliable option in my garden for years.

Products that could assist:

Japanese Pachysandra Seeds: Boost your garden’s appeal; plant these seeds for lush evergreen ground coverage effortlessly.
Slow Release Fertilizer for Ground Cover: Nourish your Pachysandra with this easy-to-use slow release fertilizer for vibrant growth.
Garden Mulch Matting: Simplify your garden maintenance; use this mulch matting to control weeds around your Pachysandra.

11. Woolly Thyme

Rock garden featuring a lush, silver carpet of woolly thyme

Woolly thyme, with its soft, fuzzy leaves, is perfect for creating a lush, silver carpet in sunny spots. It’s an absolute favorite in my rock garden.

Check these products out:

Woolly Thyme Seeds: Start your own lush thyme carpet with these easy-to-grow seeds perfect for sunny spaces.
Rock Garden Design Book: Discover inspiring ideas and practical tips for creating stunning rock gardens with expert guidance.
Garden Hand Trowel: Easily plant and maintain your woolly thyme with this durable and ergonomic hand trowel.

12. Creeping Jenny

Garden bed edges beautifully softened by vibrant creeping jenny

Creeping Jenny’s bright yellow-green leaves create a striking contrast in any garden. I’ve found it particularly effective at softening the edges of my garden beds.

Try these:

Creeping Jenny Live Plants: Enhance your garden’s beauty with live Creeping Jenny plants for vibrant ground cover.
Organic Fertilizer for Ground Cover: Boost the growth of Creeping Jenny with this nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.
Garden Edging Stones: Complement Creeping Jenny by defining borders with stylish garden edging stones.

13. Corsican Mint

Patio area surrounded by the fragrant delight of Corsican mint

For a fragrant ground cover, Corsican mint is a wonderful choice that releases a delightful aroma when stepped on. It’s perfect around my patio, adding an olfactory treat.

Useful items to consider:

Corsican Mint Plant Seeds: Start your fragrant garden with these seeds, perfect for creating a lush, aromatic ground cover.
Organic Potting Soil: Ensure healthy growth of your Corsican mint with this nutrient-rich, organic potting soil blend.
Garden Kneeler and Seat: Make your gardening tasks easier with this comfortable and versatile garden kneeler and seat.

14. Blue Star Creeper

Garden path with delicate blue star creeper filling gaps between pavers

With its delicate blue flowers, blue star creeper is ideal for areas with light foot traffic. It’s perfect for filling gaps between pavers in my garden paths.

Some handy options:

Blue Star Creeper Seeds: Enhance your garden path with Blue Star Creeper seeds. Perfect for charming ground cover.
Garden Pathway Pavers: Create elegant garden paths with durable pavers. Ideal for use with ground cover plants.
Garden Plant Fertilizer: Boost plant growth with this garden fertilizer. Supports healthy ground cover development.

15. Ferns

Garden space transformed into an oasis with lush fern ground cover

For a lush, tropical vibe, ferns are unbeatable, especially in shaded, moist areas. They have transformed my garden into a tranquil oasis.

Items that may come in handy:

Live Fern Plants: Transform your shaded garden areas with vibrant, live ferns for a lush, tropical ambiance.
Organic Plant Fertilizer: Enhance fern growth with organic fertilizer, supporting lush and healthy garden greenery.
Garden Shade Cloth: Protect your ferns from excess sun with a durable garden shade cloth solution.

16. Dwarf Mondo Grass

Garden border neatly lined with dwarf mondo grass for a tidy appearance

Dwarf mondo grass is a versatile choice for anyone looking to replace mulch with a hardy, evergreen option. I’ve used it around my garden’s borders for a neat, tidy look year-round.

You might give these a try:

Garden Soil Mix: Enhance your dwarf mondo grass growth with nutrient-rich garden soil. Boost your landscape today!
Hand Trowel for Planting: Easily plant dwarf mondo grass with a durable hand trowel. Perfect for precision gardening.
Landscape Edging: Achieve a neat garden border with flexible landscape edging. Define your dwarf mondo grass areas.

17. Sweet Woodruff

Woodland garden enhanced by the delicate blooms of sweet woodruff

For a charming, woodland feel, sweet woodruff is a delightful choice with its fragrant, star-like white flowers. It’s been perfect for adding a touch of elegance to my garden’s shady corners.

Possibly helpful picks:

Sweet Woodruff Seeds: Plant sweet woodruff seeds to create a fragrant, elegant woodland ambiance in your garden.
Organic Compost: Enhance soil quality for your sweet woodruff with rich, organic compost for healthier growth.
Garden Shade Cloth: Use a garden shade cloth to provide optimal growing conditions for shade-loving sweet woodruff.

18. Bearberry

Sandy garden area enhanced by the hardy bearberry ground cover

Bearberry is a hardy, evergreen ground cover that thrives in dry, sandy soils. Its red berries and glossy leaves provide year-round interest in my garden.

These products might be useful:

Drought-Resistant Ground Cover Seeds: Enhance your garden with easy-to-grow seeds perfect for sandy, dry soils. Start planting today!
Eco-Friendly Landscape Fabric: Protect your garden’s soil and prevent weeds with this durable, eco-conscious landscape fabric.
Organic Plant Fertilizer for Acidic Soil: Boost your bearberry’s growth with this organic fertilizer, tailored for acidic soil conditions.

19. Strawberry Plants

Garden bed featuring strawberry plants, offering both beauty and bounty

For an edible twist, strawberry plants make a delightful ground cover with the bonus of sweet fruit. They’ve been a hit in my garden, especially with the kids!

May just do the trick:

Strawberry Plant Seeds: Cultivate your own strawberry patch and enjoy fresh, sweet fruits directly from your garden.
Garden Soil for Strawberries: Enhance your strawberry growth with nutrient-rich soil for healthier and more abundant fruit yield.
Organic Fertilizer for Berry Plants: Boost your strawberry plant’s health and productivity with this organic, berry-specific fertilizer.

20. Ground Cover Roses

Garden bed adorned with the vibrant blooms of ground cover roses

For a touch of romance, ground cover roses provide a beautiful and fragrant alternative to mulch. Their blooms add a splash of color that’s simply irresistible in my garden.

Possibly handy products:

Organic Rose Fertilizer: Enhance your ground cover roses with essential nutrients for vibrant blossoms. Transform your garden effortlessly.
Garden Pruning Shears: Keep your roses healthy and blooming with precise pruning. Ideal for maintaining vibrant ground covers.
Weed Barrier Fabric: Prevent weeds while nourishing your roses. Enjoy a flourishing, low-maintenance garden landscape.

Text: Joyce Peterson