Replace That Mulch

Mulch does a lot for the landscape, but groundcovers can do even more. From weed suppression and erosion control to seasonal interest and habitat, these living layers bring long-term function to planting designs while reducing open soil spaces. Some spread steadily, some stay tidy, and a few quietly solve tough site challenges along the way.

Replace That Mulch!

Mulch has its place in the landscape. It helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and give new plantings a finished look. But over time, many landscapes end up in a cycle of reapplying mulch year after year while large areas remain biologically inactive. For landscape professionals and horticulturists looking to create more resilient plantings, groundcovers can offer another option: living systems that work with the landscape instead of simply covering it.

Groundcovers help stabilize soil, reduce erosion, cool root zones, and create habitat, all while softening edges and filling gaps between larger perennials, shrubs, and trees. Once established, many species can reduce maintenance needs and help minimize weed pressure. As a bonus, they tend to look better after heavy rain than freshly floated mulch.

Chrysogonum virginianum ‘Allen Bush’

Green-and-gold has quietly become one of the most dependable groundcovers for part shade to shade conditions. Its low, spreading habit forms a dense mat of semi-evergreen foliage topped with cheerful yellow flowers in spring, often with sporadic rebloom throughout the season. Unlike some aggressive spreaders, Chrysogonum tends to move steadily without becoming difficult to manage. It works especially well beneath shrubs, along woodland paths, or at the front of shaded borders where mulch often washes away or thins over time. The cultivar ‘Allen Bush’ stays compact while still filling in nicely.

Carex pensylvanica

If there were an award for “quietly reliable,” Pennsylvania sedge would probably win it every year. This fine-textured native sedge forms soft drifts that function almost like a native lawn alternative in dry shade. It performs particularly well beneath mature trees where turf struggles and mulch beds constantly need refreshing. Once established, it creates a naturalized matrix that allows other woodland perennials to move through it naturally. It is also adaptable enough to handle the challenging root competition found under oaks and maples, no small accomplishment.

Hypericum calycinum

This is one of those groundcovers that earns its keep quickly. Its vigorous, spreading habit makes it especially useful for large areas, slopes, and difficult sites where weed suppression and erosion control are priorities. Glossy green foliage forms a dense mat that helps shade out unwanted growth, while large golden-yellow flowers appear through summer and bring plenty of color to the landscape. It tolerates a wide range of conditions, including dry soils and urban environments, making it a dependable option for low-maintenance plantings. While it spreads assertively, it can be a practical solution in areas where softer, slower-growing groundcovers would struggle to compete. Sometimes you need a plant that simply gets the job done.

Packera aurea

Golden ragwort is one of those plants that earn appreciation after seeing it perform in difficult sites. Glossy basal foliage remains attractive through much of the year, while bright yellow flowers emerge in spring and support early pollinators when not much else is happening. It spreads readily in moist soils and can cover large areas faster than many traditional woodland groundcovers. That makes it useful for slopes, rain gardens, stream edges, or areas where erosion control is needed. In designed landscapes, it also mixes well with sedges and ferns for a layered, naturalized look.

Sedum ternatum ‘Larinem Park’

Woodland stonecrop offers a different approach to groundcovering than many traditional spreading perennials. Native to rocky woodlands and shaded slopes, ‘Larinem Park’ forms low mats of succulent foliage that help soften edges while tolerating dry shade conditions that can be challenging for other species. Clusters of starry white flowers appear in spring above bright green foliage, bringing seasonal interest early in the year when woodland gardens are beginning to wake up. Its restrained growth habit makes it useful between stones, along pathways, or layered beneath taller woodland perennials. It may not cover ground overnight, but its adaptability and fine texture make it a valuable addition to shaded landscapes where a lighter touch is needed.

Viola walteri ‘Silver Gem’

Walter’s violet may not be the first plant people think of when discussing groundcovers, but ‘Silver Gem’ brings a unique texture and color combination that stands out in shaded landscapes. Its small, silver-mottled foliage forms a low, creeping mat that works well between steppingstones, beneath shrubs, or tucked into woodland plantings where mulch tends to shift or thin out over time. Soft violet flowers appear in spring, but the foliage carries most of the visual interest throughout the season. It prefers moist, well-drained soils and slowly spreads to create a natural-looking carpet without becoming overwhelming. In the right setting, it adds a subtle layer of detail that rewards a closer look, one of those plants people tend to notice on the second pass through the garden.

Waldsteinia fragarioides

Barren strawberry remains one of the most underused native groundcovers in the Mid-Atlantic. The low-growing foliage resembles strawberry leaves, forming tidy evergreen mats that hold slopes and suppress weeds effectively. It tolerates dry shade better than many flowering groundcovers and handles difficult transition spaces well, especially along paths, under trees, or between larger woodland perennials. Bright yellow spring flowers provide seasonal interest, but its real strength is consistency. It simply does its job without demanding much attention, which landscape crews tend to appreciate.

Replacing every mulch bed with groundcovers is probably unrealistic, and freshly planted landscapes will always need some mulch during establishment. But incorporating native groundcovers into planting designs can reduce long-term inputs while creating landscapes that function more like ecosystems and less like surfaces to maintain. That shift can mean fewer open spaces for weeds and improved soil protection. Unlike a fresh mulch application, these plants keep getting better with age.

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