The chartreuse foliage of Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' (creeping jenny) makes a lively addition to a pot or window box.

Maybe it's too steep to be mowed. Perhaps there are erosion issues. Between the pets and the kids, there's so much traffic that nothing can stand up to it. It just sits there, barren and empty. Short of paving it over, what's a gardener to do? Planting grass may seem to be an obvious answer, but grass can be difficult to establish and not all sites are conducive to lawns. Additionally, grass is the single most expensive ground cover, is not a habitat for much other than insects, and requires a lot of maintenance. This can mean money and time spent on chemicals and gasoline, among other things.

There are numerous ground covers that can rescue the situation in a more environmentally friendly manner. The point of ground covers is to cover the ground. When choosing a plant to cover a difficult site, keep in mind the attributes you want it to have.

Above: For an area in part to full shade try growing Lamium maculatum 'Red Nancy,' a semi-evergreen perennial ground cover. Below: A colorful and less seen ajuga is 'Chocolate Chip.'

The key to ground covers, as well as gardening in general, is working with Mother Nature instead of against her. Norie Burnett, renowned for her Bon Air moss gardens, says, "Using moss as a natural ground cover in shady areas is eco-smart because you're working in sync with nature. It needs no mowing, fertilizing, or aerating and filters pollutants from the air. It builds soil instead of depleting it and also prevents erosion." Mosses prefer a spot that is on the shady side and moist.

Most mosses are evergreen and many are indigenous to our area.

For low-light areas that are on the dry side, Hedera helix (English ivy) is a good choice.

There are hundreds of cultivars, though not so many available in our area. Ajuga, also known as bugleweed, is another alternative. Again, there are numerous cultivars. Ivy is evergreen; ajuga isn't.

Advice

If you're looking for plants that are chosen specifically to stand up to foot traffic, try Stepables®. Garden centers currently participating in this marketing program are: Boulevard Flowers, Dirty Hands Garden Center, Glen Allen Nursery, Great Big Greenhouse, Hudgins Garden Center, and Strange's Nursery. The Stepables® program provides easy to-read tags with pertinent information regarding its dozens of selections, including: Acorus minimus — 'Aureus' golden sweet flag Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' — dwarf bugleweed Isotoma fluviatilis — blue star creeper Leptinella 'Platt's Black' — black brass buttons Mazus reptans — mazus Mentha requienii — Corsican mint Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' — dwarf mondo grass Sagina subulata — Scotch moss Sedum requienii — miniature stonecrop Thymus citriodorus 'Archer's Gold' — thyme Veronica repens 'Sunshine' — golden creeping speedwell Look for the big yellow Happy Guy and the colorful footprint tags!

Herbs don't need to be relegated to the herb garden anymore. Many of the thymes work well as ground covers in high-traffic areas in mostly sunny places, while the mints work best in shadier, moist spots. The bonus in utilizing herbs is you can use them for cooking, and delightful aromas fill the air when they are stepped on! Once you have decided on which ground cover best suits your needs, do some planning. In general, one plant per square foot will fill in an area. If you happen to be the impatient sort, make it one plant per eight inches.

As with any choice, keep this in mind: the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps. All foot traffic (from humans and pets) should be kept to a minimum to allow roots to take hold. Roots should be kept moist but not wet. The use of a good root stimulator can aid the process.

Ground covers can be used to delineate pathways, serve as living stepping stones, work as a mulch alternative, edge a border, or simply provide a lovely place to go barefoot. Another plus is they're not limited to the ground. Many perform well as accents or underplanting in containers or window boxes. Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' (creeping jenny), for example, has chartreuse foliage that brightens up any spot. It drapes and creeps and offers an excellent contrast to most anything. It's perennial, too.

When it comes to ground covers, the sky's the limit! Whichever plant you choose for your needs, let your imagination guide you, and remember to go gently upon this Earth. It's the only one we have. Live happy.

Plant well!