Q: Are ground covers really helpful in reducing soil temperature and retaining soil moisture? A: By definition a ground cover may be any organic material or low-growing plant that can be used to ...

Ground covers grow fast, so spacing between plants depends on the ultimate spread of the variety. Planting too close will result in a tangled mess of growth that requires frequent pruning.

There is an extremely drought-tolerant ground cover, cold hardy down to zero degrees, that is known as lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus). It is seldom seen but is a pleasant garden ...