Sunny growing locations are essential for almost every garden plant, but when controlling weeds, it is important as a sensible gardener to ask yourself: Which ground covers like full sun? When designing a garden, it can often be difficult to find plant varieties that can cope with limited or no watering. Although this can be a difficult task for many gardeners, competing crops often require such measures. In addition, ground cover plants play a special and irreplaceable role in the garden composition. They are the ones who unite and connect all its elements into one - be it trees and shrubs, tall grass plants, stones, garden paths, etc. If you also want to create a sunny garden area, the following examples and tips can help you choose suitable plant varieties .
What can you grow when it comes to weeds and which ground cover plants like full sun?
As in nature, some cover plants can thrive in dry, scorching locations, with poor and stony soil, or a thin layer of soil. They also have the special advantage that they fulfill their task for many years and, with the help of their runners, they automatically form a dense cushion of flowers and leaves. However, just learning which ground cover plants like full sun is not always enough because some varieties are not as drought tolerant and prefer moist garden soil. For this reason, it is important for healthy plant growthsuitable soil conditionsin terms of irrigation.
Additionally, it may be necessary to water the plants immediately after cultivation until they become established in their new location and develop roots. Only then do such ground cover plants become easy to care for, although you could of course water them from time to time. However, this can come at the expense of stunting and sometimes defoliation. Succulents are naturally equipped with fleshy leaves and stems as natural water reservoirs. They can grow where many other plant varieties cannot.
Other important factors in plant care include occasional weeding and other thingsElimination of weeds. This is necessary at first, but later ground cover weeds will predominate. Of course, the cover plants also need some control during the growth phase. Some of them grow quite large, but they are mostly herbaceous plant varieties that can be controlled. Otherwise, you can read more about some of the most common varieties below and learn which ground cover plants like full sun in the garden.
Plant carpet phlox in sunny growing locations
The so-called cushion phlox or creeping phlox is one of the plant species that can add more color to the garden, providing flowers over its carpet-like foliage. These ground cover plants also have pinwheel-shaped flowers that bloom in numerous colors such as white, purple, pink and blue, especially in spring. The plant is also low, evergreen, moderate and fast growing.
In addition, you can find many varieties of plants, most of which are non-invasive. For this reason, they are suitable for growing together with other perennials and shrubs in garden beds. This allows you to cover the garden floor with greenery and color before other garden plants fully awaken in the spring. Creeping phlox therefore also tolerates a lot of sunlight and permeable soil conditions so that it grows healthily.
Although not suitable for every garden soil, the colorful ice plant can be easy to grow as a hardy succulent. Just make sure the soil surface is permeable to allow this ground cover to receive nutrients. This is otherwise a type of plant that spreads quickly and prefers sunny growing locations. Provide good drainage and the ice plants will reward you with magnificent blooms.
During the summer, you can enjoy these types of ground cover plants in bright shades of pink, orange, yellow or red under your feet. Their flowers are also suitable forPollinators in the gardenwhen they have opened. If your garden soil has a neutral pH and is rocky or sandy, the succulent can easily climb into crevices in rock walls or over stone mulch. It also thrives on slopes and can help protect against erosion.
Protect garden areas from weeds with ground cover roses
What would an ornamental garden be without the queen of flowers – the rose. There are also varieties that are specifically suitable for garden soil and are also known as small shrub roses. You can enjoy their flowers in the summer months and even when ground cover plants like full sun. Plant these in different places when landscaping to add a nice colorful touch to your garden area. They can also attract many pollinators with the flowers of ground cover roses, while their dense foliage keeps weeds away.
In addition, these useful groundcovers are found in colors such as pink, red, yellow and white, bloom every year and reach around 46 cm in height and approximately 1 meter in width. In order for such roses to thrive, they need at least eight hours of sunshine per day. When it comes to watering, the best option for the plants is to choose drip irrigation to prevent messy growing branches and foliage. Otherwise, morning watering is recommended to allow the leaves to dry before the sun goes down.
Edible lemon balm and other ground cover plants like full sun?
A great way to enrich your herb garden is to plant lemon balm as a ground cover. This plant spreads quickly and is suitable for remote locations if you want to keep wildlife away from your crops. The plant belongs to the mint family and is also aedible ground coverwith a lemony taste, as the name suggests.
In addition, the plant leaves have a very pleasant smell and are suitable for preparing cocktails or teas, as well as for garnishing dishes and salads. Their oils can also be combined with other essential oils and even act as insect repellent. Also grow lemon balm with cruciferous vegetables to keep pests away. However, as a ground cover, lemon balm grows best in well-drained garden soil, in both full sun and partial shade. Try to harvest the leaves regularly if you want to prevent overseeding. Here are some other suitable plant varieties you might consider:
- Cotoneaster– a fast and large growing shrub that you can use withregular pruningcan also train to crawl horizontally. It tolerates a lot of sun and produces bright red berries that can enhance your ornamental garden even more.
- Catnip– another flowering ground cover that is drought tolerant and can withstand lots of sunshine. Cut back catnip after the first flowers appear to allow it to bloom more throughout the growing season. Similar to lemon balm, its leaves have a lemony scent when contracted.
- Wollziest– a slightly higher growing plant variety that is suitable as a ground cover and has fluffy leaves. It prefers full sun, but can also thrive in partial shade and harder soil conditions.
- Creeping or cushion thyme– a sun-loving plant that is often underestimated as a ground cover and smells great when you step on it.
- Tomentose Hornwort– with snow-white flowers, this carnation plant will be a great part of any lush garden. It blooms in early summer and tolerates dry soils.
