A Detailed Guide to Ground Cover Plant Care Techniques and Management Essentials

At present, ground cover plants are an important component of urban green spaces, and their application has moved from evergreen types toward diversification, and from pure lawns toward flowering types. Because ground cover plants are characterized by being cultivated in large, continuous masses, under normal circumstances fine-scale management and care is generally neither permitted nor possible, and only extensive management can serve as the principle. The main points to grasp in ground cover plant management and care are as follows:

1. Preventing soil erosion

The soil at the planting site must be kept loose and fertile, with good drainage. Under normal circumstances, it should be inspected 1-2 times per year, and especially after heavy rain or typhoons it should be carefully checked for scouring damage. Where soil erosion is severe, measures should be taken immediately to promptly plug the gaps and re-cover the soil, carry out replanting, and restore the landscape. Otherwise, the eroded spots will continue to expand and create a situation that is difficult to remedy.

2. Actively building up fertility

During the growing period of ground cover plants, fertility should be replenished in a timely manner according to the needs of each type of plant, and this is especially important for some flowering ground cover plants. Fertilization should mainly consist of adding dilute inorganic fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, urea, superphosphate, and potassium chloride. Sometimes, in early spring and late autumn or around the plant dormancy period, the broadcast application method may also be used together with covering soil, which is beneficial for plants overwintering, and can be adapted to local conditions by making full use of compost, cake fertilizer, river mud, and other organic fertilizer sources.

3. Timely drought relief and watering

Under normal circumstances, ground cover plants are all selected from strongly adaptable, drought-resistant varieties, and watering may not be necessary, but when continuous drought occurs with no rain, watering should be carried out to prevent the ground cover plants from suffering severe drought.

4. Pest and disease control

Most ground cover plant varieties have relatively strong resistance to pests and diseases, but sometimes poor drainage, improper fertilization, and other reasons can also cause pest and disease problems. In large-area ground cover plantings, the most likely diseases to occur are damping-off, gray mold, and southern blight, which can cause entire patches of ground cover to wither, and spraying measures should be used to control them and stop their spread and expansion. The most likely insect pests to occur are tobacco cutworm, white grubs, aphids, and inchworm, and after pest outbreaks occur, spraying should be actively carried out for control.

5. Timely pruning and leveling

Generally, low-growing type varieties do not need frequent pruning, and extensive management is the main approach. However, because in recent years a large number of flowering ground cover plants have been introduced, a small number that carry spent flowers or have tall flower stems must be appropriately cut back after flowering, or appropriately pruned in combination with seed collection.

6. Renewal and revival

In the management and care of ground cover plants, various unfavorable factors often cause entire patches of ground cover to age prematurely. According to different situations, the surface soil should be perforated to make the root-zone soil loose and breathable, while strengthening fertilization and watering, which is beneficial for renewal and revival. For some perennial flowering ground covers, root division and replanting must be carried out once every five or six years; otherwise, natural decline will also be caused. When dividing and replanting, the aged plants and diseased plants should be removed, and vigorous ones selected for replanting.

7. Adjusting the ground cover community

Ground cover has a longer cultivation period than other plants, but it is not unchanging after a single planting. Apart from some varieties that have their own self-renewal capacity, generally appropriate adjustments are needed considering ornamental effect, coverage effect, and other aspects. When adjusting, pay attention to harmony of flower colors; it should be eye-catching, and weeds should be avoided. For example, appropriately arranging and planting some flowering ground covers on a green lawn makes the colors easy to harmonize, such as the low-growing violet, white clover with white flowers, and dandelion with yellow flowers. Another example is planting snow-white sweet alyssum and moss rose at the edges of roads or lawns, which appears even more elegant, eye-catching, and noble.

Key Technical Points for Ground Cover Plant Care and Management

Key Technical Points for Ground Cover Plant Care and Management -- At present, ground cover plants are an important component of urban green spaces, and their application has moved from evergreen types toward diversification, and from pure lawns toward flowering types. Because ground cover plants are characterized by being cultivated in large, continuous masses, under normal circumstances fine-scale management and care is generally neither permitted nor possible, and only extensive management can serve as the principle. The main points to grasp in ground cover plant management and care are as follows:

1. Preventing soil erosion
The soil at the planting site must be kept loose and fertile, with good drainage. Under normal circumstances, it should be inspected 1-2 times per year, and especially after heavy rain or typhoons it should be carefully checked for scouring damage. Where soil erosion is severe, measures should be taken immediately to promptly plug the gaps and re-cover the soil, carry out replanting, and restore the landscape. Otherwise, the eroded spots will continue to expand and create a situation that is difficult to remedy.

2. Actively building up fertility
During the growing period of ground cover plants, fertility should be replenished in a timely manner according to the needs of each type of plant, and this is especially important for some flowering ground cover plants. Fertilization should mainly consist of adding dilute inorganic fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, urea, superphosphate, and potassium chloride. Sometimes, in early spring and late autumn or around the plant dormancy period, the broadcast application method may also be used together with covering soil, which is beneficial for plants overwintering, and can be adapted to local conditions by making full use of compost, cake fertilizer, river mud, and other organic fertilizer sources.

3. Timely drought relief and watering
Under normal circumstances, ground cover plants are all selected from strongly adaptable, drought-resistant varieties, and watering may not be necessary, but when continuous drought occurs with no rain, watering should be carried out to prevent the ground cover plants from suffering severe drought.

4. Pest and disease control
Most ground cover plant varieties have relatively strong resistance to pests and diseases, but sometimes poor drainage, improper fertilization, and other reasons can also cause pest and disease problems. In large-area ground cover plantings, the most likely diseases to occur are damping-off, gray mold, and southern blight, which can cause entire patches of ground cover to wither, and spraying measures should be used to control them and stop their spread and expansion. The most likely insect pests to occur are tobacco cutworm, white grubs, aphids, and inchworm, and after pest outbreaks occur, spraying should be actively carried out for control.

5. Timely pruning and leveling
Generally, low-growing type varieties do not need frequent pruning, and extensive management is the main approach. However, because in recent years a large number of flowering ground cover plants have been introduced, a small number that carry spent flowers or have tall flower stems must be appropriately cut back after flowering, or appropriately pruned in combination with seed collection.

6. Renewal and revival
In the management and care of ground cover plants, various unfavorable factors often cause entire patches of ground cover to age prematurely. According to different situations, the surface soil should be perforated to make the root-zone soil loose and breathable, while strengthening fertilization and watering, which is beneficial for renewal and revival. For some perennial flowering ground covers, root division and replanting must be carried out once every five or six years; otherwise, natural decline will also be caused. When dividing and replanting, the aged plants and diseased plants should be removed, and vigorous ones selected for replanting.

7. Adjusting the ground cover community. Ground cover has a longer cultivation period than other plants, but it is not unchanging after a single planting. Apart from some varieties that have their own self-renewal capacity, generally appropriate adjustments are needed considering ornamental effect, coverage effect, and other aspects. When adjusting, pay attention to harmony of flower colors; it should be eye-catching, and weeds should be avoided. For example, appropriately arranging and planting some flowering ground covers on a green lawn makes the colors easy to harmonize, such as the low-growing violet, white clover with white flowers, and dandelion with yellow flowers. Another example is planting snow-white sweet alyssum and moss rose at the edges of roads or lawns, which appears even more elegant, eye-catching, and noble.

Key Points for Ground Cover Plant Care and Management

  1. Preventing soil erosion

  The soil at the planting site must be kept loose and fertile, and drainage must be good. Under normal circumstances, it should be inspected once or twice per year. After heavy rain, it should be carefully checked for scouring damage. For areas with severe soil erosion, measures should be taken immediately to plug the gaps; otherwise, the eroded spots will continue to expand and create a situation that is difficult to remedy.

  2. Increasing soil fertility

  During the growing period of ground cover plants, fertility should be replenished in a timely manner according to the needs of each type of plant, and this is especially important for some flowering ground cover plants. Commonly used fertilization methods include the spray application method, which is simple and suitable for large-area use and can be carried out during the plant growing period, mainly by adding dilute inorganic fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, urea, superphosphate, and potassium chloride. Sometimes, in early spring and late autumn or around the plant dormancy period, the broadcast application method may also be used together with covering soil, which is beneficial for plants overwintering, and can be adapted to local conditions by making full use of compost, cake fertilizer, river mud, and other organic fertilizer sources.

  3. Drought relief and watering

  Under normal circumstances, ground cover plants are all selected from strongly adaptable, drought-resistant varieties, and watering may not be necessary, but when continuous drought occurs with no rain, watering should be carried out to prevent the ground cover plants from suffering severe drought.

  4. Pest and disease control Most ground cover plant varieties have relatively strong resistance to pests and diseases, but sometimes poor drainage, improper fertilization, and other reasons can also cause pest and disease problems. In large-area ground cover plantings, the most likely disease to occur is damping-off, which can cause entire patches of ground cover to wither, and spraying measures should be used to control it and stop its spread and expansion. Next are gray mold and sooty mold, which should also be noted for control.

  The most likely insect pests to occur are aphids, inchworm, and others, and spraying should be carried out after pest outbreaks occur. Because ground cover plants are planted over large areas, control methods should focus mainly on prevention.

  5. Preventing bare patches

  In large-area cultivation of ground cover plants, the greatest fear is the appearance of bare patches, and especially once continuous bare patches appear, it is very unsightly. Therefore, once they appear, the cause should be investigated immediately and the soil layer loosened. If the soil quality is poor, the soil should be replaced, and replanting carried out to restore the landscape.

  6. Pruning and leveling

  Generally, low-growing type varieties do not need frequent pruning, and extensive management is the main approach. However, because in recent years a large number of flowering ground cover plants have been introduced in various places, a small number that carry spent flowers or have tall flower stems must be appropriately cut back after flowering, or appropriately pruned in combination with seed collection.

  7. Renewal and revival

  In the care and management of ground cover plants, various unfavorable factors often cause entire patches of ground cover to age prematurely. According to different situations, the surface soil should be perforated to make the root-zone soil loose and breathable, while strengthening fertilization and watering, which is beneficial for renewal and revival. For some perennial flowering ground covers, root division and replanting must be carried out once every five or six years or so; otherwise, natural decline will also be caused. When dividing and replanting, the aged plants and diseased plants should be removed, and vigorous ones selected for replanting.

  8. Adjustment of the ground cover community

  Ground cover has a longer cultivation period than other plants, but it is not unchanging after a single planting. Apart from some varieties that have their own self-renewal capacity, generally appropriate adjustments are needed when necessary, considering ornamental effect, coverage effect, and other aspects.

  Pay attention to harmony of flower colors; it should be eye-catching. Weeds should be avoided. For example, appropriately arranging and planting some flowering ground covers on a green lawn makes the colors easy to harmonize, such as the low-growing violet, white clover with white flowers, and dandelion with yellow flowers. Another example is planting snow-white sweet alyssum and moss rose at the edges of roads or lawns, which appears even more elegant, eye-catching, and noble.