Any groundcover recommendations?

I just bought a new house with a bare dirt backyard. I don't want to put in sod because I want room to plant various flowers and herbs and vegetables. I do want a groundcover also though so it's not just bare dirt where I don't have anything growing. Can anyone recommend a hardy easy to grow groundcover that is attractive but grows like a weed? I live in a very sunny and dry location (Southern California) with clay and sandy soil. Thanks!

Any groundcover recommendations?
Once established, these plants usually require little or no maintainence other than a yearly feeding with a balanced 5-5-5



Arctostaphylos uva-ursil-Bearberry

Ht. 3-8”; Sandy, acidic, well drained soil; Never fertilize

This is a good groundcover. Uva-ursi means literally berry of bear. It forms fast-creeping mats of glossy leaves that are deep green in summer and bronze-red in winter. Bearberry will survive heat and humidity provided there is good drainage.The flowers are light pink and bloom in Spring. The fruits are bright to dark red %26amp; eaten mainly by mammals. Bearberry is a food plant for the larvae of several butterflys. Pick berries that are fully red and enjoy fresh or dried. They are drought, wind and salt tolerant once established.



Ajuga reptans Bugleweed

Arenaria Sandwort

Drosanthemum floribundum Rosea Ice Plant

Erigeron karvinskianus Santa Barbara Daisy

Osteospermum fruticosum Trailing African Daisy

Fragaria chiloensis Wild Strawberry

Cotula squalida New Zealand Brass Buttons

Arabis Rock Cress

Carissa macrocarpa Natal Plum

Dampiera diversifolia Kangaroo Lobelia



Consider oregano, thyme, or herbs as lawns

Origanum 'Kent Beauty'

Origanum vulgare 'Aureum' - golden oregano

Origanum vulgare 'Hot and Spicy Greek'

Thymus praecox subsp. articus - mother-of-thyme

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Nepeta xfaassenii - Fassen's catnip (cats are not as enamoured by this variety as they are by the much taller growing regular catnip (Nepeta cataria))

Chamaemelum nobile Roman camomile
Reply:for a drought tolerant ground cover that fills in fairly well would be either aptenia cordifolia "hearts and flowers" or Carpobrotus edulis. they are both succulents and are very drought tolerant.
Reply:Hello,

Might want to visit secilysgardentips.com for great tips on gardening. lots of recommendations.





Cheers, Secily W,.
Reply:check out this website they offer all kinds of groundcover perfect for any area and soil.



http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm...
Reply:cacti. they are great, plant many, they will love your climate and soil, butg dont grow very fast for the first year so be patient.
Reply:Vetch is great... it will feed the soil nitrogen and improve the soil. Grows quick, easy, and has interesting looking flowers.
Reply:here is youre answer. Periwinkel it comes in different shades and very pretty and very fast grower. it will grow in anything. really it is a weed but a nice one .go to any where they sell plants. Wallmart,Kmart, or wherever plants are sold. I have it growing up through my back porch. grows very fast. Good Luck. indmiles@yahoo.com