How to Choose Groundcovers for Colorado Landscape Beds

Groundcovers can make a landscape bed feel connected rather than sparse. They fill open soil around larger plants, soften hard edges and can reduce the amount of exposed ground that dries quickly or invites weeds. But a groundcover is not simply a smaller plant chosen to cover every empty space. The best choice depends on what the bed actually receives: sun, reflected heat, wind, water, traffic and room to grow.

Colorado conditions make that match especially important. A plant that works in a sheltered, shaded bed may struggle beside a south-facing wall or a hot driveway. Start by observing the site and by deciding what job the groundcover should do. This guide focuses on that selection process, not on a one-size-fits-all plant list.

Define the Groundcover's Job First

“Groundcover” describes a growth habit and a landscape role, not one specific kind of plant. Some groundcovers form low mats; others spread in clumps, trail over an edge or create a loose layer beneath shrubs. Before choosing one, decide whether you need to cover bare soil, knit together a border, stabilize a lightly sloped bed, create a visual edge or add seasonal texture.

Read the Bed Before You Shop

Spend a few days looking at the area at different times. A label that says “full sun” does not explain whether the plant will receive gentle morning light or intense afternoon heat reflected from concrete. Note what happens after rain, how quickly the surface dries and whether wind funnels between structures.

Light and reflected heat

Count the approximate hours of direct sun during the growing season. Also note nearby pavement, walls and gravel, which can radiate heat. A sunny strip beside a driveway may demand a more heat-tolerant choice than an open bed that receives the same number of hours of sun.

Soil and moisture patterns

Check whether water soaks in, runs off or sits at the surface. Dig a small test hole away from roots and utilities, then observe whether the soil is sandy, compacted, heavy or full of rubble. Groundcovers with similar light needs can still differ in their tolerance for dry soil, occasional moisture or poor drainage. Match the plant to the existing pattern rather than trying to water every portion of the bed alike.

Choose a Growth Habit That Fits the Site

A groundcover should complement the rest of the planting rather than fight it. Dense, fast-spreading types may be useful in a broad, contained area, but they can become a maintenance burden in a small bed with perennials. Clump-forming choices usually stay more predictable, although they may take longer to fill open space.

Think about height as well as spread. A very low groundcover can define the front of a bed without hiding other plants. A taller, looser one may work under shrubs but can obscure small perennials or irrigation components. If the groundcover will trail over a retaining edge, give it enough room so it does not block steps, drains or access points.

For a broader way to compare plant needs before narrowing to groundcovers, see our guide to choosing low-water plants for Colorado landscapes. It explains how exposure, soil and maintenance expectations guide plant selection across a bed.

Plan for Water During Establishment

Even a low-water groundcover needs attentive watering while its roots establish. Check moisture below the surface, then adjust for heat, wind and the plant’s response. After establishment, a shaded bed and a sunny turf zone should not automatically share the same controller schedule.

When growth is uneven, check coverage, soil moisture, root competition and the plant-site match before increasing runtime for an entire zone. The guide to signs a sprinkler system may need repair can help identify likely coverage concerns.

Use Spacing to Balance Coverage and Care

Plant tags and nursery guidance generally list a mature spread. Use that measurement as the starting point for spacing, then account for how quickly the plant grows and how complete you want the bed to look in its first season. Closer spacing can create quicker coverage, but it also costs more initially and can make thinning necessary sooner.

Leave enough open soil around each new plant for water to enter and for stems to be visible. Placing plants in a simple grid can look stiff; staggered rows often produce a more natural pattern while maintaining consistent spacing. Set containers on the soil first, step back from the bed and adjust the arrangement before digging. This makes it easier to see gaps, crowding and sightline issues.

Do not confuse fast coverage with low maintenance

A vigorous spreader may reduce bare ground quickly, but it may also need edging, division or removal from nearby plants. Choose a spreading habit only where its boundaries can be monitored. In a tight mixed border, a slower clumping plant may require less corrective work over time.

Prepare the Bed Without Overworking It

Remove construction debris, litter and existing weeds before planting. Identify persistent weeds when possible; a perennial root system can grow through open spaces between new plants. Avoid deep, repeated tilling around established shrubs and trees, where it can damage roots and bring more weed seed to the surface.

Combine Groundcover and Mulch Thoughtfully

Mulch can be useful between young groundcover plants while the bed fills in. It shades bare soil, helps reveal weeds and can reduce surface drying. Keep it at a modest, even depth and away from the crowns of plants. As the groundcover spreads, reduce or redistribute mulch where it is smothering low stems or blocking new growth.

Rock and gravel deserve extra thought in exposed areas because they may hold and reflect heat. They can be a deliberate design choice, but they should not be used automatically around every plant. Our guide to choosing mulch for Colorado landscape beds explains material, placement and maintenance considerations in more detail.

Maintain the Planting as It Fills In

During the first year, inspect the bed regularly. Pull weeds while they are small, replace a failed plant only after considering why it failed, and guide stems away from walks and neighboring plants. A little early attention is usually easier than recovering a bed after one plant has overtaken the others.

Seasonal cleanup should be gentle. Some groundcovers retain foliage or provide winter structure, while others die back and benefit from removal of loose debris. Learn the growth cycle of the selected plant before cutting it back. Avoid routine shearing simply to make every plant identical; the goal is healthy growth, clear access and a bed that still has room for its neighbors.

Common Selection Mistakes

Choosing only for flowers or color

Appearance matters, but it is not enough. A color that looks right in a photo may come with a growth rate or moisture need that does not fit the bed. Choose site compatibility first, then compare foliage, flowers and texture among suitable options.

Ignoring mature size

A small container can make a vigorous plant look harmless. Read the expected spread, leave workable space and plan a boundary before planting.

Using plants to solve drainage

Plants may tolerate certain moisture conditions, but they do not fix a grade, leak or recurring water flow. Investigate drainage symptoms before using a groundcover to hide bare or soggy soil.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good groundcover for a Colorado landscape bed?

A good choice matches the bed's light, soil moisture, heat exposure, available space and maintenance level. It should have a mature height and spread that work around nearby plants, edges and access areas. There is no single best choice for every Colorado site.

Are low-water groundcovers maintenance-free?

No. They need water while establishing, occasional weeding, boundary checks and observation during unusual heat or dry periods. “Low water” describes mature needs in a suitable site, not a promise that no care is required.

How closely should groundcovers be planted?

Start with the mature spread on the plant label or from a reliable nursery source. Space more closely only when faster coverage is worth the added cost and future thinning. Arrange plants before digging so you can check the pattern.

Can groundcover replace mulch?

Once established, a dense living layer may reduce how much bare soil needs mulch. Young plants often benefit from mulch between them, provided it is kept away from crowns and does not bury low stems.

Where can I ask about landscaping work?

Green Vista Landscaping lists landscaping, lawn care, re-sodding, irrigation and landscape construction among its verified service categories. Use the contact page to discuss current availability and project scope.

Start With the Site, Then Let the Bed Fill In

Successful groundcover planting is usually quiet work: observe the conditions, choose a growth habit that belongs there and give young plants enough space and care to establish. When light, moisture, mature size and maintenance expectations all align, groundcovers can make Colorado landscape beds more cohesive without becoming a problem to manage later.