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What outperforms weeds, saves water, is low maintenance, and pretty...? Ground Cover.
Natural ground covers don’t just fill space; they bring visual interest, texture, structure and outcompete weeds while being low-maintenance, water-wise, and perfect for erosion control.
Carmel Point Landscapes specializes in drought-tolerant, eco-friendly gardens and landscapes. By incorporating ground covers to our landscape designs, we continue to solve problems in the landscape while creating gardens that enhance properties, are botanically interesting, ecologically friendly, site specific and arranged artistically to express each client's unique vision and style.
Ground covers are a valuable addition to landscaping for several practical and aesthetic reasons. Here's a breakdown of why they are used:
Outcompete Weeds and Reduces Maintenance: Ground covers create a dense, low-growing carpet that prevents weeds from establishing themselves. This natural weed suppression reduces the need for herbicides and labor-intensive weeding, leading to less maintenance.
Shades the Earth and Conserves Water: Ground covers help keep the soil cool and shaded, which reduces evaporation and conserves moisture. This is particularly beneficial in areas with water restrictions or those looking to reduce irrigation needs.
Improves Soil Health: In areas with exposed earth, such as clay-based soils, ground covers protect the soil from cracking due to exposure to the elements. The coverage helps maintain soil structure and encourages better infiltration of water, which is crucial for long-term soil health.
Year-Round Aesthetic Appeal: Many ground covers are evergreen or offer seasonal color, providing visual interest throughout the year. This ensures your landscape looks attractive in all seasons, adding both texture and color.
Adds Cohesiveness: Using the same ground cover species repetitively as an understory plant ties different focal areas of the landscape together. This creates a unified and cohesive look, blending shrubs, trees, and garden beds with a continuous, flowing ground layer.
For sustainable, low-maintenance ground covers that thrive in California’s coastal, Mediterranean climate, the three plants Carmel Point Landscapes will often recommend for your landscape are:
Ceanothus griseus horizontalis (Carmel Creeper Ceanothus)
Arctosaphylos edmundsii (Carmel Sur Manzanita)
Carex praegracilis
Ceanothus griseus horizontalis
(Carmel Creeper Ceanothus)
Ceanothus excels with its dense, spreading growth habit, quickly filling large areas of your landscape and garden while helping with erosion control on slopes and embankments. Carmel Point Landscapes loves how the vibrant blue to lavender spring blooms contrast beautifully with rich, dark evergreen leaves, creating a lush, low-maintenance carpet that adds year-round color and texture to your garden.
Arctosaphylos edmundsii
(Carmel Sur Manzanita)
Arctosaphylos edmundsii excels as a low growing, compact ground cover, combining beauty with function. Its dense, low-growing mat of leathery green leaves creates a textured carpet that enhances your landscape. In spring, delicate white to pink flowers bloom, adding seasonal color to your garden, while the plant’s hardy, drought-tolerant nature aids in landscape erosion control. Ideal for filling large areas, Carmel Point Landscapes installs Arctosaphylos edmundsii to create both visual interest and practical benefits in your garden and overall landscape design.
Carex praegracilis
(California Field Sedge)
Carex praegracilis, the king of grasses, is actually a sedge, and sedges have edges. With its grass-like texture, it is great for meadows as one of the best meadow varieties. Carex praegracilis forms a dense, lush carpet perfect for filling gaps and controlling erosion throughout your landscape. It thrives in both sun and partial shade, with soft green foliage that sways gently in the breeze. Subtle flower spikes in late spring to early summer add a delicate touch to your garden with their serene, natural appearance.
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