10 Quick-Growing Ground Covers to Enhance Your Lawn Before Fall Hits

Ground covers serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose in gardens. These low-maintenance plants, like clover and dichondra, grow rapidly, transforming your outdoor space in no time. Whether you seek a lawn upgrade or simply a new landscaping touch, this curated selection presents ten ground covers that grow fast and require minimal effort to thrive.

Advantages of Ground Covers

Ground cover plants offer much more than simply beautifying garden paths or borders. They bring a variety of advantages to your yard that go beyond decoration.

• Supports wildlife: Ground cover plants improve biodiversity by providing essential food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects, enhancing the overall health of your garden ecosystem.
• Low-maintenance: These plants typically require minimal upkeep, from watering to fertilization.
• Prevents soil erosion: On sloped or poorly drained areas, ground covers help stabilize the soil through an extensive root network. As landscape designer Adam Sexton from Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture puts it, 'Their thick growth and spreading nature form a protective layer that keeps soil intact.'
• Controls weeds: Ground cover serves as a natural way to suppress weeds. According to Matthew Koch, PhD, director of biotechnology, genetics, and seed at Scotts Miracle-Gro, 'Dense, low-lying ground covers naturally suppress weeds by blocking sunlight and creating a thick mat.'

Top 10 Fast-Growing Ground Cover Plants

Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)

Ajuga, commonly called bugleweed, is a low-maintenance, fast-growing ground cover that forms a dense, vibrant carpet in garden beds. With its glossy leaves and spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers in the spring, Ajuga is an attractive addition to any garden. As landscape designer Sexton points out, it thrives in partial to full sun. Being drought-tolerant, it performs well in dry areas where other plants may not survive. This evergreen perennial grows rapidly, so regular pruning is recommended to keep it contained within the desired area.

Clover (Trifolium repens)

Clover is a popular plant often used as a fast-growing ground cover. It spreads low and horizontally, creating a vibrant shade of green. Sometimes, it serves as a substitute for grass lawns, with its shamrock-shaped leaves requiring less frequent mowing. Beyond its visual appeal, clover offers numerous benefits. As Koch explains, “Clover has the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere which enriches the soil and promotes healthier plant growth.” For shady areas, try varieties like strawberry clover, which produces small pink flowers, or Dutch white clover, which blooms with white flowers.

 Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

For those seeking vibrant color, creeping phlox is an excellent choice. This plant grows moderately fast and low, blooming in clusters of purplish-pink flowers during springtime. The color varies depending on the specific variety. Creeping phlox, a semi-evergreen perennial native to the eastern and central United States, works well for forming a thick, mat-like coverage in sunny areas with moderate temperatures. It also helps control weed growth by spreading into the garden’s root systems.

Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Sweet woodruff is a favored perennial ground cover ideal for areas with less sunlight. Sexton appreciates this fragrant plant, highlighting its unique whorled leaves and small, white flowers. It thrives in shaded spots, particularly under trees or in woodland gardens where the soil is moist yet well-drained. Additionally, sweet woodruff is known to attract helpful pollinators.

 Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

“With its tiny, aromatic leaves and bright clusters of pink or purple flowers, creeping thyme brings charm to gardens and flourishes in sunny, well-drained locations,” says Koch. Creeping thyme is low-maintenance and drought-resistant, making it a perfect choice for gardeners who prefer minimal care. Additionally, creeping thyme is both a flowering and edible perennial. The plant spreads quickly, helping prevent soil erosion and suppressing troublesome weeds.

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)

Candytuft (also known as Iberis) is an evergreen ground cover that grows at a moderate pace and produces clusters of white flowers each spring. It's perfect for edging garden beds, pathways, or rock gardens. Candytuft thrives in full to partial sunlight and dry conditions, though it does require watering to establish itself. There are multiple varieties to choose from for gardeners.

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

For another quick-growing choice for rock gardens or pathways, creeping jenny is ideal for achieving a cascading visual effect. “Creeping jenny is a lively ground cover with trailing stems and small, round leaves in bright green or golden shades,” says Sexton. This plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial shade. It can spread rapidly and may even produce yellow flowers.

Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum)

If you need ground cover for warmer climates, Asiatic jasmine is an excellent choice. This fast-growing vine is heat-tolerant, sporting dark green, shiny leaves and small, fragrant flowers. Asiatic jasmine works well not only as ground cover but also as a climbing plant. It’s low-maintenance and grows quickly, though it does need regular trimming to prevent it from spreading to undesired areas.

Dichondra (Dichondra repens)

Dichondra is a rapidly growing ground cover that forms a lush green mat, reaching a height of 2-3 inches. “With its low, spreading growth and kidney-shaped leaves, dichondra covers large areas quickly with minimal effort,” says Koch. This plant thrives in locations with excellent drainage and full sunlight, though it can also tolerate partial shade. It’s highly effective at suppressing weeds and controlling soil erosion.

Creeping Juniper

Creeping juniper, a moderately fast-growing shrub, is an excellent choice for ground cover. It provides year-round greenery, making it especially popular for slopes and rocky regions where other plants may struggle. Known for its drought resistance and adaptability to a wide range of soils, creeping juniper thrives when planted in the spring.