The best semi-evergreen ground cover for Midwest yards
Many Midwestern homes have areas planted with ground covers. These low-growing, often vigorously spreading plants are generally easier to maintain than grass, but they are not carefree.
For example, it’s a good idea to rake autumn leaves off ground cover beds.
“An accumulation of leaves doesn’t just look messy,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at the Plant Clinic of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “It can also trap moisture against the plants, which can lead to disease.”
Many plants used as ground covers are semi-evergreen, meaning they will often, but not necessarily, keep their leaves through the winter. “They can be more or less evergreen, depending on the species and the weather in any particular winter,” Yiesla said.
Semi-evergreen ground covers often seen in Chicago-area yards include periwinkle (Vinca minor), English ivy (Hedera helix), wintercreeper (Euonymous fortunei), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) and liriope (Liriope spicata).
Over the course of the winter months, the leaves of most semi-evergreen ground covers will take on a bronzed or faded color and will often become tattered. Still, they are valued for the color they bring when most branches are bare.
They will remain most attractive in a winter with steady snow cover, which protects the leaves and provides moisture. However, snow has become less reliable in the Midwest as the climate changes.
Ground covers can bring problems, in your yard and beyond. They are often chosen for their spreading nature, so they can cover large areas in a carpet, like turf with larger leaves. Their spreading can be aggressive. “You have to really police them to keep them from taking over,” Yiesla said.
Some of our most common ground covers are now considered to be invasive plants because they threaten to take over natural areas, choke out wildflowers, and destroy habitat for native animals as well as trees and other plants. Periwinkle, English ivy and wintercreeper are all listed as invasive by the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (mipn.org/plantlist).
“Don’t plant ground covers that tend to be invasive,” Yiesla said. “If you already have them in your yard, be very careful to keep them under control, or remove them and replace them with something that is less of a threat.”
Any ground cover bed will need to be weeded regularly. “The plants can’t keep out weeds by themselves,” Yiesla said. “There are weed seeds in the air and in the soil.” Some ground covers may also need regular thinning to keep the plants from growing into a tangled mat where moisture is trapped and air can’t circulate.
Trim spreading ground covers back to the edge of the sidewalk before the snow flies to make it easier to shovel snow from the walk or use the snowblower.
Ground covers have many uses in the garden, especially around trees or in areas where it is difficult to mow. “Just be sure you choose good plants that won’t cause problems, and that you are prepared for the maintenance required,” Yiesla said.