I spent my first three years gardening pulling stubborn weeds out of my path. My back was sore, and the weeds always grew back faster than I could clear them. I finally stopped pulling and planted dense, fast-spreading covers instead. These twelve quick growers will fill your empty ground before the weeds can start.
Quick Summary
- 12 fast-growing ground covers that choke out weeds naturally.
- Covers both sunny borders and deep shade under trees.
- Best starter pick: Creeping Thyme — tough, fragrant, and handles foot traffic.
The first six are sun-lovers that thrive in dry soil. The rest are shade-dwellers that will turn your dark corners green.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low, dry soil |
| Height | 1-3 in (2-7 cm) |
| Bloom | Early summer |
| Zone | Zones 4-9 |
I started with three small pots of this along my stone path. Within one summer, they knit together into a dense green mat that smells like warm pine when stepped on.
It’s my favorite choice for sunny walkways. Weeds can’t find any light under the thick foliage. I first mentioned it when discussing living ground covers that crowd out weeds, and it remains my favorite.
It handles foot traffic without missing a beat.
Tip: Plant them between stepping stones where lawnmowers can’t reach.
2. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
| Sun | Part shade to full shade |
| Water | Medium, consistent |
| Height | 4-6 in (10-15 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring |
| Zone | Zones 3-10 |
This is the one I plant when I need a dark corner covered immediately. I put a small runner under my old oak tree, and it covered five square feet in one season.
The bronze-purple leaves form an overlapping shield that blocks all sunlight (seriously, it’s almost unkillable). The blue flower spikes in spring are a nice bonus.
It grows so fast that you need to be careful where you put it.
Warning: Keep it out of lawn edges or it’ll crawl into your grass before you notice.
3. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Medium, well-drained |
| Height | 4-6 in (10-15 cm) |
| Bloom | Early spring |
| Zone | Zones 3-9 |
I love plants that work hard and look good doing it. This one forms a thick, needle-like carpet that keeps weeds away and bursts into bright pink blooms in early spring. According to the USDA Plants Database, creeping phlox is native to the eastern United States.
I use it on my sunny slopes to stop erosion. It doesn’t mind poor, rocky soil. Just plant it and let it run.
Tip: Shear the foliage back slightly after the flowers fade to keep the mat dense.
4. Sedum ‘Angelina’ (Sedum rupestre)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low, dry soil |
| Height | 3-6 in (7-15 cm) |
| Bloom | Mid summer |
| Zone | Zones 3-9 |
This is my pick for spots where the soil is mostly gravel and sand. I planted some along my driveway edge where nothing else could survive (ask me how I know).
It has golden-yellow needle-like leaves that turn orange in winter. It spreads by dropping small stems that root wherever they touch the ground.
It chokes out weeds in the hottest, driest corners of the yard.
Tip: Don’t fertilize this one, or the stems will get floppy.
5. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
| Sun | Part shade to full shade |
| Water | Medium, moist soil |
| Height | 6-12 in (15-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring |
| Zone | Zones 4-8 |
The shady side of my house was a muddy weed patch until I tried this plant. It forms a soft green canopy of star-shaped leaf whorls. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends sweet woodruff for woodland shade gardens.
It smells like fresh hay when you brush against it. It spreads gently but fast enough to outcompete spring weeds. I’ve found it thrives even in dry shade.
Tip: Give it regular water during its first summer to help the roots establish.
6. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
| Sun | Part shade to full shade |
| Water | Medium, adaptable |
| Height | 6-12 in (15-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Summer |
| Zone | Zones 6-11 |
If you want a clean, modern look, this is the plant to use. It looks like dark green turf but never needs mowing. I planted it as a border along my backyard path to keep the weeds from creeping in.
It grows slowly at first but forms a thick, sod-like barrier. Worth every inch of space.
No weed seed can get past these dense tufts.
Tip: Buy the dwarf variety if you want a lower, tighter carpet.
The ground covers that survive my busy weeks are the ones I keep planting more of.
7. Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
| Sun | Part shade to full shade |
| Water | Medium, moist |
| Height | 6-12 in (15-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Early spring |
| Zone | Zones 5-9 |
I call this the king of shade ground covers. It’s the only plant that successfully covered the bare dirt under my maple trees. The glossy evergreen leaves grow in whorls that completely shade the soil.
I planted them six inches apart, and they filled the bed in two seasons. It’s tough enough to handle tree root competition.
Tip: Add a thin layer of compost when planting to help them spread faster.
8. Mazus (Mazus reptans)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium, moist |
| Height | 2 in (5 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring to summer |
| Zone | Zones 5-8 |
This tiny creeper is almost flat to the ground. I use it to fill the narrow gaps between my walkway stones. It stays green all summer and gets covered in purple orchid-like flowers.
It roots at every leaf node, creating an elastic green rug. Honestly, it’s one of the most satisfying creepers I’ve grown.
It stops weeds from sprouting in paths.
Tip: It prefers slightly moist soil, so don’t let it dry out completely.
9. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Low, drought-tolerant |
| Height | 6-18 in (15-45 cm) |
| Bloom | Early summer |
| Zone | Zones 4-8 |
I planted this because my parents had a huge patch of it in their garden. The thick, silver leaves are fuzzy and soft to the touch. They grow large and flat, shading the ground so weed seeds can’t sprout.
It’s extremely drought-tolerant once it gets established. I love how the silver color contrasts with green lawn edges.
Tip: Avoid watering from overhead, as wet leaves can rot in humid weather.
10. Hardy Cranesbill Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)
| Sun | Full sun to full shade |
| Water | Medium, highly adaptable |
| Height | 12-18 in (30-45 cm) |
| Bloom | Late spring |
| Zone | Zones 3-8 |
This is my secret weapon for difficult spots. It handles dry shade, full sun, clay soil, and cold winters without complaining. It is one of the top easy care plants for garden borders that thrive on neglect, and it works beautifully here too.
The aromatic leaves form a solid mound of green that turns red in fall. It smells like pine and citrus when crushed.
It creates a canopy so thick that no light gets through.
I’ve never seen a weed push through an established patch of this.
Tip: You can divide the clumps in spring to spread them around the garden.
11. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
| Sun | Part shade to full shade |
| Water | Medium, moist |
| Height | 6-12 in (15-30 cm) |
| Bloom | Spring |
| Zone | Zones 3-8 |
This is a native option that deserves more space in home gardens. The heart-shaped leaves have a beautiful velvet texture. I planted a small clump near my garden gate, and it’s slowly become a thick green mat.
It creates an impenetrable barrier for weed seeds. It’s the perfect plant for woodland garden corners. Use this to underplant tall shade shrubs like hydrangeas, which you can learn to propagate in my guide on how to propagate hydrangeas.
Tip: Plant wild ginger in spots that stay moist and shady for the best results.
12. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Water | Medium to wet |
| Height | 2-4 in (5-10 cm) |
| Bloom | Summer |
| Zone | Zones 3-9 |
This is the fastest runner in my garden. It has round, bright chartreuse leaves that look like tiny coins. I love how it trails over the edges of my weathered wooden raised beds.
It chokes out weeds by forming a dense, overlapping carpet. Honestly, it’s my favorite trailer for dry walls.
It spreads so fast it can become a pest in wet areas.
Warning: Keep it contained in dry soil so it doesn’t escape into damp wetlands.
What I’d Plant If I Only Had Room for Three
If I could only choose three of these, I’d go with creeping thyme, ajuga, and cranesbill geranium.
They cover the sun, deep shade, and tough soil spots perfectly.
That trio alone will handle most weed battles in a home garden.
Common Questions
1. Will ground covers kill existing weeds?
No, they won’t kill established weeds with deep roots. You must clear the soil first before planting. Once established, the covers block light so new weed seeds can’t germinate.
2. How close should I plant ground covers?
I suggest planting them closer than the nursery tag recommends if you want fast results. Spacing them six to eight inches apart usually fills the space in one summer.
3. Can I grow ground covers under trees?
Yes, but you’ll need shade-tolerant plants like wild ginger or pachysandra. They handle the root competition and the deep shade without any issues.
— Anh