Seeds for Evergreen Ground Cover

Starting Ground Cover From Seed

• Ground cover is often used in place of lawn turf. To convert lawn areas to ground cover plants, dig up the grass and till the area thoroughly. Add a soil amendment, like compost, to aid moisture retention and the spread of the ground cover's shoots or runners. Spread the compost at a rate of 3 yards per 1,000 square feet. Set seedling plants at regular intervals and water them generously to establish a good root system. Drip irrigation is the most efficient way to do this. Trim plants, as needed, to keep them from becoming invasive.

Vinca Minor

• Vinca minor, also called periwinkle, can be propagated by seed, but is usually grown from cuttings. Vinor minor spreads along the ground, providing maintenance-free cover for shady areas. It can also grow in sun. Vinca minor flowers in April and sometimes again in the fall. Fungus can afflict Vinca plants so avoid overhead watering of transplants.

Japanese Spurge

• Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) forms a dense, neat mat of evergreen foliage. It prefers the shade and well-drained soil. Keep Japanese spurge watered during dry periods as it can suffer from pest or disease problems when under environmental stress.

Roman Chamomile

• A perennial herb used to make tea, Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) also makes an aromatic, evergreen ground cover plant. Start seeds indoors and transplant seedlings 4 inches apart in a sunny location in well-draining soil. Plants spread to create a lawn effect. These plants may incur damage during especially cold or wet winters but revive when spring arrives.

English Ivy

• English ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen, spreading vine that can cover large areas quickly. It reproduces through rhizomes and also by seed which is contained within the berries. English ivy produces a dense carpet of vines that can choke off other plants nearby. Dense ivy coverage can even kill large trees. It has a shallow root system that can be pulled to remove excess growth.

Winter Creeper

• Winter Creeper (Euonymous fortunei) is a woody, evergreen vine that grows well in shady areas. It is spread through seeds, usually by birds or woodland animals, but can also be started indoors and transplanted. This plant can become invasive, forming a dense ground cover, and should be trimmed back before it becomes unmanageable.