Tough Ground Cover Plants for Harsh Winters

Ground cover plants are an ideal solution for preventing soil erosion, and can also help keep unwanted weeds out of your garden. These plants can provide a decorative border, make a pathway to your house door, be used as a marker at either side of your driveway, or any other number of imaginative ideas. They also come in a variety of textures and colors, allowing a wide range for the gardener to choose when buying these types of plants. The garden, or area where you will be planting your ground coverage plants should be prepared in advance. Make sure all weeds, and grass are removed from the growing area, and the soil is worked to 6 - 8 inches in depth. The soil should be tested when using fertilizer, these testers can be bought at your local gardening store. Some of these types of plants won't do well in cold weather, but some are very suited to harsh winter weather conditions.

- Creeping Raspberry -

These are very hardy ground cover plants that do very well at surviving the winter months, as well as thriving during all other seasons. These have thick textured tough leaves with uneven edges. They are commonly an evergreen plant, starting off in spring as a bright green color, orange and red during the fall season, and turn a bronze color during the winter.

- English Ivy -

This plant will tolerate any conditions, it will keep thriving no matter what the conditions are like. It is a fast growing evergreen, ground coverage plant. This plant is good for masses of ground cover, and excellent if you want an area covered quickly. It has large glossy leaves with white through them, and can be propagated at any time of the year.

- Wooly Yarrow -

This plant is rugged, and can even take foot traffic, and not be damaged. There is also a nice fragrance that comes of the plant, especially pleasing when you wald passed the plant during the summer months. It grows yellow flowers during the summer, that go well with the greenishgrey foliage. It grows from 6 to 9 inches tall.

- Winter Jasmine Plants -

These plants are suitable for even the hardiest zone areas. They are described as creeping vine plants, the stems stay green during the winter, and yellow blooms appear in late the late winter months. These grow fast, and the stems put out roots wherever they touch the soil. It is advisable to prune these plants in the spring, after they have bloomed.

- Creeping Myrtle -

As the name suggest this is a creeping ground plant, it is very pretty in looks, but a very hardy plant. These plants spread rapidly for quick ground coverage. They have attractive blooming lilac flowers, with lush green leaves.

There are also many different types of ornamental grasses that would survive the winter with no problems at all. Many of these ground coverage plants can be used as an alternative to grass, or be used to patch an area where there is no grass. Insects that are common in your garden are not always bad for the garden, ground coverage plants can help protect the good bugs in your yard. Spring is probably the best time for planting any of the plants listed above. These plants are also very decorative under trees or in a rock garden. As long as these plants are well taken care of they will continue to thrive and survive any weather conditions.