Plants: Shrubs as Ground Covers

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Plants: Ground Covers: Shrubs

Ground cover shrubs have been used for years for erosion control, natural barriers, foundations, and many other different landscape types. Here are some suggested ground cover shrubs that you can use in your landscape. Ground covers are not always maintenance free, but in the right setting they can be. That is why it is always important to make sure you install the right plant in the correction location. The following is general information for ground cover shrubs and the selection you can choose from:

Ground Covers for Sun:
	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Massachusetts’ Massachusetts Bearberry Evergreen Height: 6-12” Foliage: Glossy green Spread: 4-5’ Flower: White, tinged pink; April to May Fruit: Bright red in late summer Value: Grows well in poor, sandy soils	Cotoneaster adpressus praecox Early Cotoneaster Deciduous Height: 2-4’ Foliage: Dark green with pink flowers April to May Spread: 4-6’ Fruit: Red
	Cotoneaster apiculata Cranberry Cotoneaster Deciduous Height: 2-4’ Foliage: Dark green Spread: 3-6’ Fruit: Red Value: Effective as a bank covering	Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Coral Beauty’ Coral Beauty Cotoneaster Semi-evergreen Height: 1-2’ Foliage: Dark green with white flowers in May Spread: 4-6’ Fruit: Coral-red
	Cotoneaster horizontalis ‘Perpusillus’ Ground Cotoneaster Deciduous Height: 10-12” Foliage: Dark green with pink flowers in May Spread: 5-7’ Fruit: Red	Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Scarlet Leader’ Scarlet Leader Willowleaf Cotoneaster Semi-evergreen Height: 1-2’ Foliage: Dark green with white flowers in May and June Spread: 4-6’ Fruit: Red
	Forsythia ‘Courtasol’ Gold Tide Forsythia Deciduous Height: 1-2’ Flower: Lemon yellow Spread: 4-6’ Value: Excellent ground cover for bankings and slopes	Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii ’Glauca’ Blue Sargent Juniper Evergreen Height: 1-2’ Foliage: Blue-green Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate Value: Very salt tolerant
	Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii ‘Viridis’ Green Sargent Juniper Evergreen Height: 1-2’ Foliage: Green Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate Value: Very salt tolerant	*Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’* Blue Pacific Juniper Evergreen Height: 10-12” Foliage: Blue-green Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Slow Value: Effective when draped over walls, extremely salt tolerant
	*Juniperus horizontalis ‘Bar Harbor’* Bar Harbor Juniper Evergreen Height: 6-8” Foliage: Blue-green, reddish purple in winter Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate Value: Very salt tolerant	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’ Blue Chip Juniper Evergreen Height: 6-10” Foliage: Brilliant blue, blue, tipped with purple in winter Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate
	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Monber’ Icee Blue Juniper Evergreen Height: 4-6” Foliage: Silvery blue Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate Value: Maintains a dense, tight crown	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Plumosa Compacta’ Compact Andorra Juniper Evergreen Height: 15-18” Foliage: Light green, bronze-purple in winter Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate, good for slopes
	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’ Blue Rug Juniper Evergreen Height: 4-6” Foliage: Silver-blue Foliage: Purplish tinge in winter Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate, excellent spreading habit Value: Extremely salt tolerant	Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper Evergreen Height: 4-6” Foliage: Light green Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Mod. slow Value: Forms a dense mat, excellent for rock gardens.
	Juniperus sabina var. tamariscifolia ‘New Blue’ New Blue Tam Juniper Evergreen Shrub Height: 1-2’ Foliage: Blue-green Spread: 6-8’ Growth Rate: Moderate	Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-low’ Gro-low Sumac Deciduous Height: 2’ Flower: Yellow Spread: 6-8’ Fruit: Red, hairy Value: Tolerates poor soil
	Taxus cuspidata ‘Monloo’ Emerald Spreader Japanese Yew Evergreen Shrub Height: 2-2.5’ Foliage: Dark green Spread: 8-10’ Growth Rate: Moderate

Ground Covers for Shade:
	Comptonia peregrina Sweet Fern Deciduous Height: 2-3’ Flower: White, fragrant Spread: Indefinite Foliage: Dark green, sweet smelling Value: Tolerates dry soils	Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ Purple-leaf Wintercreeper Evergreen Height: 6-10” Foliage: Deep green; purple in fall Spread: Indefinite Exposure: Sun/part shade
	Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolari Climbing Hydrangea Deciduous Height: 2-3’ Flower: White, fragrant, June to July Spread: Indefinite	Microbiota decussata Siberian Carpet Cypress Evergreen Height: 6-12” Foliage: Light green, brownish gray in winter Spread: 4-6’ Growth Rate: Mod. slow Value: Similar to Juniper in appearance, but tolerates more shade
	Stephanandra incise ‘Crispa’ Dwarf Cutlead Stephanandra Deciduous Height: 1.5-3’ Foliage: Dense, bright green Spread: 5-8’ Growth Rate: Mod. Fast	Vaccinium angustifolium Lowbush Blueberry Deciduous Height: 6-18” Fruit: Blue-black berry Spread: 18-24”; July to August

Maintenance

Proper maintenance of ground cover shrubs ensures:
- Good growth
- Rapid coverage
- Acceptable plant health
Good maintenance:
- Promotes growth
- Prevents competition from weeds and grasses
The first maintenance task should be the application of light mulch to recently planted ground covers to:
- Conserves moisture
- Reduces weed competition
- Promotes a cooler soil environment

Watering

Water ground covers to ensure the plant’s successful establishment
- Plants should be well watered the first season after planting
  - This will provide a well developed root system
- Established plants do not need regular watering
  - Some plants may need supplemental watering during drought periods
- When water is needed
  - Apply enough to penetrate the soil to a depth of 12 inches
- Check the soil twice a week to determine soil moisture

Fertilizer

During the installation process:
- Use Healthy Start fertilizer or Bonide Tree and Shrub Starter Fertilizer
After your ground cover is established:
- Epsoma Plant tone or Holly tone

Conditions

Some ground covers prefer:
- Sun such as Junipers
- Shade or part sun such as Siberian Carpet Cypress

Planting Tip
When planting trees and shrubs we recommend incorporating planting mix.

Printable Fact Sheets
Click here for useful, printable pest control fact sheets from Bonide.

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Plants: Shrubs as Ground Covers

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Northeast Nursery Garden Center
234 Newbury Street, Peabody, MA 01960
Telephone: 978-535-6550
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Northeast Nursery Contractor Center
6 Dearborn Road, Peabody, MA 01960
Telephone: 978-854-4520
Hours: Mon-Sat 7-6, Sun 8-6
for Map and Driving Direction

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