Groundcover Layer — FarmPal
Low-growing plants that protect soil, suppress weeds, and provide additional harvests.
Height
0-1 foot
Functions
- •Soil protection from rain and sun
- •Weed suppression through competition
- •Nitrogen fixation (clovers, vetches)
- •Habitat for ground beetles and predatory insects
- •Moisture retention
Design Tips
- •Combine nitrogen fixers with non-fixers
- •Consider foot traffic and use creeping varieties on paths
- •Alpine strawberries tolerate shade well
- •Avoid aggressive spreaders near delicate plants
- •Leave some bare patches for ground-nesting bees
Example Plants
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
Nitrogen fixation, Living mulch, Bee forage
Spacing: Broadcast seed | Zones: 3-10
Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)
Berries, Ground protection, Living mulch
Spacing: 12-18 inches | Zones: 3-10
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Culinary herb, Ground cover, Bee forage
Spacing: 6-12 inches | Zones: 4-9
Mint (contained) (Mentha spp.)
Culinary, Tea, Pest deterrent
Spacing: Contained or edged areas | Zones: 3-10
Wild Violets (Viola odorata)
Edible flowers, Medicinal, Dye, Ground cover
Spacing: Naturalizes | Zones: 4-9