The traditional lawn is one of the most resource-intensive features in any landscape — requiring weekly mowing, regular fertilizing, frequent watering, and often pesticide and herbicide applications to maintain. Many homeowners are discovering that replacing all or part of their lawn with ground cover plants creates a more beautiful, ecologically friendly, and low-maintenance landscape. Ground covers suppress weeds, prevent erosion, and many produce flowers that support pollinators — all without ever needing a mower.
Best Ground Covers for Full Sun
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) — A fragrant, mat-forming herb that grows just 2 to 4 inches tall and produces masses of tiny purple flowers in early summer. It tolerates foot traffic, releases a wonderful scent when walked on, and thrives in hot, dry conditions. Zones 4 to 9. This is the most popular lawn alternative for sunny areas and spaces between stepping stones.
2. Sedum (Stonecrop) — Dragon’s Blood and John Creech are excellent ground-covering sedums that form dense mats of succulent foliage just 3 to 6 inches tall. Extremely drought-tolerant and virtually indestructible. Zones 3 to 9. The fleshy leaves store water, making sedum perfect for dry slopes and areas where irrigation is impractical.
3. Clover (Trifolium repens) — White Dutch clover is experiencing a major comeback as a lawn alternative. It fixes nitrogen in the soil (eliminating the need for fertilizer), stays green through drought, tolerates foot traffic, produces white flowers that feed bees, and grows only 4 to 6 inches tall. Zones 3 to 10. A clover lawn is one of the cheapest and easiest lawn alternatives to establish from seed.
4. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) — A spectacular spring-blooming ground cover that cascades over walls and slopes in a waterfall of pink, purple, white, or blue flowers. After flowering, it forms a dense evergreen mat of needle-like foliage. Zones 3 to 9. Excellent for slopes and rock gardens.
Best Ground Covers for Shade
5. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) — A classic shade ground cover with whorled leaves and tiny white star-shaped flowers in spring. Grows 6 to 8 inches tall and spreads steadily in moist shade. Zones 4 to 8. The dried leaves have a pleasant vanilla-like scent.
6. Ajuga (Bugleweed) — Dense rosettes of bronze, burgundy, or variegated foliage with spikes of blue flowers in spring. Grows 4 to 6 inches tall and fills in quickly. Zones 3 to 10. One of the most effective shade ground covers for suppressing weeds. Chocolate Chip is a compact variety less prone to spreading into areas where it is not wanted.
7. Pachysandra — An evergreen ground cover that thrives in deep shade under trees where nothing else will grow. Dense whorled foliage creates a uniform carpet 6 to 8 inches tall. Zones 4 to 8. Slow to establish but virtually maintenance-free once filled in.
8. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) — Beloved for its intensely fragrant white bell-shaped flowers in spring. Spreads vigorously in shade, forming a dense 6 to 8 inch carpet. Zones 3 to 7. Be aware that all parts are toxic if ingested — avoid planting where children or pets play.
Versatile Ground Covers (Sun to Part Shade)
9. Periwinkle (Vinca minor) — Glossy evergreen leaves with pretty blue-purple flowers in spring. Grows 4 to 6 inches tall and adapts to both sun and shade. Zones 4 to 9. Very effective for erosion control on slopes.
10. Brass Buttons (Leptinella) — Fern-like foliage forms a tight mat just 1 to 2 inches tall. Tolerates moderate foot traffic and looks stunning between pavers. Zones 4 to 10. An excellent alternative to moss for pathways and stepping stone areas.
11. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) — Tiny blue star-shaped flowers cover this mat-forming ground cover from spring through fall. Grows just 2 to 3 inches tall and tolerates light foot traffic. Zones 5 to 9. Perfect for filling cracks between flagstones.
12. Native Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) — A grass-like native plant that forms a beautiful, flowing meadow 6 to 8 inches tall. Needs no mowing, minimal water once established, and supports native wildlife. Zones 3 to 8. Pennsylvania sedge is one of the best no-mow lawn alternatives for large areas.
How to Transition from Lawn to Ground Cover
The easiest method is sheet mulching. In fall, mow the lawn short, cover the area with overlapping layers of cardboard, then top with 4 to 6 inches of mulch or compost. By spring, the grass underneath will be dead and decomposing. Plant your ground cover through holes cut in the cardboard. For faster results, you can use a sod cutter to remove the grass before planting. Start by replacing a small section of lawn as a test area — this lets you evaluate the results before committing to a larger conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ground cover handle foot traffic?
Some ground covers tolerate regular foot traffic, including creeping thyme, clover, brass buttons, and blue star creeper. Others like pachysandra and ajuga are better suited for areas that are only occasionally walked on. For high-traffic areas like pathways, install stepping stones through the ground cover to distribute foot traffic.