Ground cover plants are low-growing, spreading species used to cover large areas of soil, often serving purposes like erosion control or weed suppression. These plants establish dense mats of foliage that stabilize the ground and help block out competing weeds. Choosing the correct source depends heavily on the scale of the landscape project and the allocated financial resources.
Primary Physical Retail Sources
Local garden centers and independent nurseries represent the primary point of physical purchase for many landscape projects. These establishments often carry regionally adapted varieties and can provide specific advice on species that thrive in the local microclimate. A significant benefit of purchasing here is the ability to physically inspect the plant’s health, checking for robust root systems and freedom from pests or diseases before payment.
While the unit cost per plant may be higher compared to bulk sources, immediate availability allows for quick project commencement. These smaller businesses frequently source stock from specialized regional growers, offering better genetic diversity and quality control than mass-market options. For smaller projects or immediate repair work, the convenience and quality control often justify the premium price.
Large chain home improvement stores offer another physically accessible option for obtaining ground covers. These stores maintain high inventory levels of common, fast-selling varieties like creeping phlox or sedum, making them suitable for moderate-sized projects. The pricing structure is generally more competitive than independent nurseries, appealing to budget-conscious buyers.
The selection is often limited to widely distributed, generic cultivars, and the plants may have been subjected to less specialized care during transport and display. Buyers must carefully examine the stock for signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves or dry potting mix, as the staff may not possess specialized horticultural knowledge. However, purchasing in person avoids the logistics and potential damage associated with shipping live plants.
Specialized and Online Vendors
When landscape projects scale up, or when specific, hard-to-find species are required, specialized and online vendors become the most practical source. E-commerce platforms provide access to an extensive catalog of varieties, including regional native plants, heirloom selections, or cultivars that are simply not stocked by local retailers. This expanded selection is invaluable for designing ecologically specific or highly customized planting schemes.
Buying through mail-order nurseries offers a lower price per unit when purchasing in bulk quantities, such as flats or trays of starter plants. These vendors specialize in logistics, efficiently shipping large volumes of material directly to the project site. This dramatically reduces the overall material cost for covering expansive areas and is optimized for projects requiring thousands of plants.
The logistics of shipping live material necessitate careful consideration of transit time and associated costs, which can sometimes negate initial savings on plant material. Plants ordered online cannot be inspected for health or root development prior to delivery, introducing an inherent risk of receiving damaged or stressed specimens. Buyers should carefully review the seller’s reputation and their specific shipping methods before placing large orders.
To mitigate the risk of transit damage or poor plant performance, reputable online nurseries frequently offer guarantee policies. These guarantees cover the plant for a set period, ranging from thirty days up to a full year, promising replacement or refund if the material fails to thrive under proper care. Understanding the terms is a protective measure when purchasing plant material sight unseen.
Key Buying Considerations
The success of a ground cover project depends on selecting the appropriate form of plant material for the specific application. Containerized plants, sold in pots ranging from four inches to one gallon, offer the most immediate visual impact and highest rate of establishment. These are suitable for smaller, high-visibility areas where instant density is desired, as they possess a well-developed root mass.
Plugs represent small starter plants, often grown in trays with cell sizes ranging from 50 to 128 cells per flat. This form is the preferred choice for large-scale projects where thousands of individual plants are needed, offering the best balance between cost efficiency and establishment reliability. While plugs take longer to mature and cover the space, their small root balls make them easy to handle and transplant rapidly across large areas.
The most budget-conscious option is bare root stock, which consists of dormant plants shipped without soil around the roots. This material must be planted immediately upon arrival to prevent desiccation. It is reserved for extremely large, budget-restricted areas or species that naturally transplant well, but requires patience as it takes the longest to show significant growth and coverage.
Regardless of the form chosen, accurately calculating coverage requirements is necessary before purchasing. This calculation involves determining the total square footage of the area and dividing it by the recommended spacing density of the chosen species. Understanding this number prevents both over-purchasing and under-planting, ensuring the project budget aligns with the desired mature plant coverage.