subject: Ground Cover: Uses, Benefits And Varieties [print this page] The term Ground Cover refers to anything that covers the bare earth. Ground Cover is for the plants that are low growing and spread very fast and densely. The term brings takes us back to primary classes where a science student is taught about how plantation is necessary and reforestation should be stressed upon.
Ground Cover and Soil Erosion
Ground Cover is just the way it is named, it covers the ground in order to prevent natural calamities like soil erosion and drought and is available in both man-made as well as natural form. Its main aim is to prevent the minerals rich top layer of soil from flowing to other areas with rainfall along with the beautification of a bare piece of land. Farmers do not leave the land bare right after fresh plow or harvest season, some or the other vegetation is grown in order to keep the soil tight. During all this, ground cover technology helps in keeping a close check on the growth of weeds and helps in binding moisture of the soil intact.
Ground Cover and Pollution
With increasing level of pollution in cities and towns, natural plantation is the need of the hour. Planting helps in decreasing pollution as plants take in Carbon dioxide to aid photosynthesis, which is the process of making food during sunlight and in return release Oxygen. Schools and colleges are also running awareness drives to explain the advantages of greenery in cities. Amidst all such eco friendly practices, ground cover also joins the party and acts as an ultimate solution to the miseries faced by people living in high rise buildings, away from natural surroundings such as parks and nearby gardens.
Ground Cover and its varieties
It is available both in the artificial and natural avatar, hence investment can be made in wild flowers, Ivys, mosses, shrubs and even wild grass. As we see, grass is the best suited plantation to cover the ground. However, it is not the easiest one to maintain. Some of the suggested varieties for ideal ground covers include Creeping Juniper or Juniperus horizontalis, Moss Pink or Phlox subulata, Yucca or Yucca filamentosa, Ornamental grasses, English Ivy or Hedera helix.
Ideal Location
Ground Cover is ideal for areas that are too wet or too dry; in areas that are steep, beneath the shade of tree cover and as under plants for shrub plantation. It is used in shaded structures, plants nurseries, green houses as well as for landscaping and beautification purpose of a bare piece of land.
