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They look beautiful, spread fast and leave little room for weeds to grow
Tired of constant weeding? From Bergenia to Creeping Jenny, these low-maintence plants crowd out pesky weeds before they even have the chance to grow.
Many weed-suppressing plants (like ground covers) are low growers, meaning they can block light for any weeds coming through. They are also efficient at extracting water and nutrients from the soil, so nearby weeds won't have enough resources to survive.
'Plants that spread to form dense ground cover are often the best at suppressing weeds, because they leave little space or light for unwanted seedlings to get established. Once they knit together, they create a natural living barrier that helps keep the soil covered, which is always the first step in reducing weed growth,' says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres.
Before you reach for your gardening tools, take a look at the five clever plants that can stop weeds in their tracks:
'Creeping Jenny is an extremely fast-growing, vigorous ground cover that thrives in moist, boggy areas of your garden or in partial shade,' says Lucie Bradley from Easy Garden Irrigation.
It suppresses and smoothers weeds with its mat-like ground cover, choking out any undesired plants.
'With its horizontal stems spreading up to 30cm a month in moist soil, it’s important when growing Creeping Jenny that you control the spread by pruning regularly, and as it has a shallow root system. It's also simple to dig it up when it spreads into areas you don’t want it to be.'
READ MORE: Red creeping thyme is the prettiest (and easiest) ground cover you’ll plant this year
'Ajuga is a fast-growing, ground-hugging hardy perennial which will spread significantly in the first two years after planting, so when spaced 30cm apart in the spring, it will create a complete ground cover in between one to two years,' continues Lucie.
'Often described as having aggressive growth, it spreads efficiently by rapidly producing horizontal runners known as "stolons" which creep over the ground quickly, filling in gaps and suppressing weeds as it forms a tough carpet of cover over your soil.'
This striking purple plant thrives in both sun and partial shade, depending on the variety you choose. Lucie suggests 'Black Scallop' for dark, glossy foliage that turns almost black in sunny locations, or 'Atropurpurea' if you want a reliable ground cover of dark bronze-purple leaves with short spikes of deep blue flowers in late spring.
Bergenia, a hardy perennial evergreen that's perfect for shady spots, will add plenty of colour to your garden during the quieter months.
'Commonly known as "Elephant's Ears" due to its thick, leathery leaves, these make it a perfect ground cover as they form dense, low-growing clumps which effectively cover the soil and prevent weeds from sprouting,' says Lucie.
'The ideal "plant it and forget it" ground cover, Bergenia is rarely troubled by pests and spreads easily due to its rhizomes forming thick, woody underground stems.'
Ideal for year-round ground cover, this evergreen shrub is great for suppressing weeds by creating a tangled mat of foliage that blocks light and resources.
Lucie adds: 'Spring is the perfect time to plant Vinca major as it allows the roots to become established while the soil is moist and before temperatures become too warm. Always ensure you have cleared any weeds in the area before planting, and ideally enrich the soil by digging in compost or leaf mould before positioning the root ball in a hole two to three sizes bigger and 30 to 45cm away from other plants.'
'Forming a dense, weed-suppressing carpet with minimal care, Creeping thyme is a versatile hardy perennial which is usually evergreen and will be covered in small, bright flowers from late spring through to later summer,' says Lucie. 'It not only keeps weeds at bay, but it also adds beauty and fragrance to your garden beds.'
Creeping thyme thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, but is also quite happy growing in poor, sandy, or rocky soil, often featuring in rock gardens or pathways.
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