Can you suggest a ground cover?

Em
by Em
I just purchased a house with two hillsides that are too steep to cut with a mower. I need suggestions on a fast growing ground cover. I do not like ivy. I live in Pennsylvania so zone 6 plants that you have had success with and little maintenance would be great.
  17 answers
  • I suggest you look into creeping thyme. comes in a few colors and is hardy in zones 5-9.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 09, 2017

    Creeping jenny will work for you and since there are no worries of taking over that will work.Other suggestions are creeping sedums

    • Em Em on May 12, 2017

      Great suggestion. I just looked up pictures. I am no longer in the "under" 60 crowd (by a few years now ) and will still have to weed in between whatever I plant. The hill is quite steep so I want a thick cover. Will put it on my list. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

  • Ellis Ellis on May 09, 2017

    Creeping phlox, if you have sun. There are various colors, and they're gorgeous in bloom.

    • Em Em on May 12, 2017

      Thanks for the answer. My neighbor has them on her hillside facing my house. They are indeed beautiful. Just wished the blooms lasted longer. Quite a display for a few short weeks. Maybe I can get some plants from her to start. I appreciate your thoughts.

  • 512181 512181 on May 10, 2017

    You might try some of the Junipers mixed in with some of the other plants mentioned. Some are only 2' high and spread to 8' . Look at Green Sargent Juniper.

    • Em Em on May 12, 2017

      I will indeed look them up. I have quite a lot of space to cover on two hillsides. I will be able to mix and match all of the suggestions I am getting.

      I appreciate your response.

  • Sam Lee Sam Lee on May 10, 2017

    periwinkle is a very good, fast growing ground cover that flowers. Low growing junipers are also good. Make sure they don't get too tall or they become unsightly.

    • Gini Gini on Apr 25, 2020

      No no no periwinkle I put it in took 2 yrs to get rid of it grew over my azaleas and other plants it goes crazy

  • Em Em on May 12, 2017

    Thanks Sam. Forgot about periwinkle. Good thought. My Mom used to have a hillside of them. We had a wooden barrel with an aluminum gutter catching the outcropping of a natural spring that as kids we all drank from. It never stopped running. All around it was a hillside of periwinkle. Thanks for bringing back the memories of it.

  • Judith Watson Judith Watson on May 12, 2017

    Crown Vetch is also a great fast growing ground cover. This is used by the highway departments on hillsides, as it grows fast and stops erosion. It also blooms in the spring. Google it and read about it.

  • Em Em on May 12, 2017

    Thanks Judith. I will look it up.


  • Jayme Rudolph Jayme Rudolph on May 12, 2017

    Our neighbor did his yard in jasmine vine. It covers his yard, and no mowing, but it takes a lot to get rid of.

    • Em Em on May 12, 2017

      Thanks Jayme. I looked it up and it is not in my gardening zone. Pennsylvania is in zone 6 and they don't recommend this past zone 7 a little south of here. Thank you for your reply though.

  • Just peachy Just peachy on May 12, 2017

    Periwinkle, you can get it with variegated leaves or just the regular dark green leaves. It gets purple flowers all over. I don't know how much sun it can handle though.

    • Em Em on May 12, 2017

      You are the second "vote" for periwinkle. I even love the name. The two slopes in question are half and half. Morning shade, afternoon sun. I think it would be fine. Thanks for your reply. I am getting wonderful ideas.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 12, 2017

    your welcome

  • Neva Barker Neva Barker on Oct 24, 2018

    Personally I would lay river Rick 6-7” or smaller if you prefer and then plant various mosses and allow them to grow around and through it. Very easy to maintain

  • Em Em on Nov 26, 2018

    I do like river rock. Moss would probably not do well because it is a very sunny slope in the front. My concern was the slope is so great, I was concerned about the rock flushing down the hillside during a heavy rain. I am retired an there will come a day when I can't weed that hillside any longer. Thanks will consider.

  • Oliva Oliva on Nov 26, 2018

    Lemon verbena, coreopsis, moss phlox, day lilies, some types of vining euonymus, and hen and chicks multiply well and work well on zone 6 slopes.

  • Gini Gini on Apr 25, 2020

    Periwinkle will take over any grow over other plants and it took me 2 yrs to get rid of just be sure to look at how far and wide things grow

  • Rita Rita on Dec 04, 2020

    Horizontal juniper and plant lots of perennial bulbs in with juniper! Spring bulbs will grow right through the juniper and die off and multiply over time and will be low maintenance and beautiful! I just magenta flags on the top back part of the hill, looked great! I wouldn’t use stones or rocks! Weeding is a problem! Thick juniper is awesome. It can be rooted from a stock plant!

  • Joyce Joyce on Oct 31, 2021

    ajuga - there are many colorful varieties with beautiful flowers- it can take sun or shade and spreads quickly..