Inhibiting weed growth is one of the most popular uses of ground cover. They reliably close large areas, are often quite decorative and also improve the soil. We'll show you how to boost their weed-inhibiting effects.

Ground covers not only protect against weeds, they also look really pretty

What speaks for the weed control by ground cover

It is not for nothing that ground cover planting is an established method of greening otherwise bare areas permanently and in a low-maintenance manner. The fast-growing species willingly form dense carpets of plants on flat areas that you cannot or do not want to take care of too much. Such areas can be:

  • path borders
  • strip of wall on the house
  • graves
  • embankments and free slopes

In addition to making gardening work easier, the groundcovers have other advantages in such places: they have a soil-firming effect, prevent surface erosion through weather influences such as strong wind or rain and at the same time activate soil life by continuously secreting moisture, processing fallen leaves into humus and supplying nutrients for soil beneficial organisms .

With their often dense, assertive root system, they prevent annoying weeds from spreading in these places - and in a completely natural way. Ground covers can not only save you the tiring Sisyphean task of weeding, but also the use of environmentally harmful herbicides or other harsh methods such as combing.

Another ideal solution are ground covers for planting under shrubs or trees with sensitive roots, under which weeds should not be removed by rough mechanical intervention. In a clever combination with its carpet of plants, the ground cover gently ensures that no weeds come up and instead offers an attractive base for tall plants.

Ground covers as weed inhibitors are therefore recommended for many reasons:

  • extremely reliable method
  • saves a lot of work
  • fastens and improves the soil at the same time
  • natural alternative to environmentally harmful weed killers
  • gently keeping weeds away under root-sensitive tall plants

What needs to be considered when using weed-inhibiting groundcover

Although they have the reputation of requiring virtually no care and taking care of themselves and weed control - some groundcovers do need a little help with the weed work. Especially if you plant them for the first time.

Thorough weed removal before planting

Because even a vigorous, robust ground cover is not automatically assertive enough in its starting phase against stubborn weeds such as couch grass, goutweed or stinging nettles. If you want to plant an area with a ground cover, it is therefore important to carefully prepare the ground beforehand and to completely remove all weeds and plant remains. This can be quite tedious, especially with weeds like ground elder, which form underground shoots.

In order to successfully settle the ground cover, however, the preparatory work is worthwhile. Because the more thoroughly you have cleaned the substrate, the less you have to reckon with weeds coming up during the growth phase. Chopping into the ground cover mesh is not only taboo in the sensitive growth phase, but should also be avoided in principle. It damages the connected root system and can tear unwanted gaps.

Keep ground cover tight

So that the ground cover can fulfill its weed-inhibiting task to your satisfaction over the long term, it is advisable to compact it with targeted pruning, especially in the first few years. If you leave it to its own devices growing up, it will develop long shoots at the tips, so that larger and larger gaps form at the plant bases - weeds sometimes have an easy time here.

Shorten fast-growing shoots as regularly as possible in the initial phase - this will encourage the plant to sprout again at the base and gradually thicken. Last but not least, this measure also makes the carpet of plants look much better maintained.

Suitable ground cover species for weed control

Not all types of ground cover are so vigorous and form such a dense root system that they are suitable for targeted weed control. So choose varieties that grow as densely as possible, with roots, branches and foliage close together intensively above the ground. Examples of such varieties are:

  • Goldberry - forms short runners, resulting in dense growth - bright yellow flowers
  • Elfin Flower - very tough root system, weeds don't stand a chance
  • Carpet knotweed - flat-growing, pink-colored spike flowers
  • Ysander - very dense in all plant levels, nice leaf structure
  • Ivy - very vigorous, should be compacted as a weed inhibitor

Another thing to note is that the permanent weed control effect is enhanced with evergreen ground cover varieties. If they keep their shade-forming foliage even in winter, they can also put an end to particularly robust, cold-resistant weeds in the long term. Evergreen and dense growing varieties include:

  • Ysander - extremely dense root system and decorative foliage
  • Ivy - very robust, well-tried classic
  • Evergreen - hardy, but not quite as dense growing
  • Elfin Flower - very dense root system

For gentle weed control under shrubs and stems, on the other hand, ground covers with a slightly weaker root system should be selected so that they do not suffocate those of the tall plant. In addition, they should of course be able to cope with a semi-shady to shady location. Suitable varieties with a slightly looser growth are:

  • Cranesbill - shades well, pleases with its delicate flowers, is evergreen
  • Foam bloom - especially recommended under rhododendrons
  • Spotted Lungwort - less aggressive root system, pretty dot speckles on the leaves

Category:

Vegetable garden