For homeowners who want to have a low-maintenance garden, a succulent ground cover is an excellent option. Succulent ground cover is low-growing and comes in many sizes, colors, and flowers. Many of them have unique charms that will add beauty to your garden. This guide will show you how to care for succulent ground cover.

Know Your Zone of Hardiness



Succulents thrive in frost-free, warm climates. You can use this type of ground cover in cooler, moist areas, but make sure you plant the right varieties. These are some of the most popular choices:

• Caucasian stonecrop (zones 3 to 8)
• Hens and chicks (zones 3 to 8)
• Creeping sedum (zones 4 to 9)
• Ice plants (zones 5 to 9)
• Ghost plants (zones 7 to 11)
• Echeveria (zones 9 to 12)

How to plant succulent ground cover

Succulent ground cover is ideal for xeriscaping because of its drought-tolerant qualities. These plants add greenery and flowers to gardens that are restricted by watering. Because they move along the ground, only a few plants can provide excellent coverage.

Succulents thrive in well-drained soil. You can amend your soil if it is too heavy by adding gravel or sand to the top few inches. Succulents have a shallow root system, so a few inches is usually enough. Once your ground cover is established, water lightly and frequently for the first month.

Organic mulch should not be used around succulents as it can lead to pest and fungal problems. These desert-dwelling plants also don't get enough moisture from organic mulch. Inorganic mulches can be made from pea gravel and small stones.

How to Keep Your Ground Cover Healthy

Succulents require little to no maintenance. Succulents are resistant to disease and pests and can tolerate poor soil. Ground cover is also resistant to weeds. Here are the steps involved in maintaining succulent ground cover:

• Deadheading: Make sure to check for dead flowers while your succulents are still in bloom. To encourage more blooms, remove them.

• Fertilizing: Once a year, add liquid fertilizer to the watering can at the beginning of the growing season. This will give your ground cover an extra boost as the summer nears.

• Watering: Succulents are desert plants, but some plants require extra watering. The frequency and amount of watering required will vary depending on the season, soil conditions, and sun exposure. You should water your succulent ground cover well, then stop watering until the soil is dry to several inches. Succulents require more water during the active growth season and less in winter.