The phrase "ground cover" means different things to different people. Someone living in a large city might associate ground covers with tarps and asphalt, while a person in a more rural setting might think of his obsessively maintained lawn. Both would be correct, but to those of us who garden, ground cover means plants -- lots of beautiful, diverse plants, under trees and shrubs, running along paths and driveways, protecting, accenting and highlighting the best parts of the garden, and asking very little in the way of maintenance. Ground covers also can act as an alternative to the traditional, manicured lawn and create a living mulch around trees and shrubs. Technically, any plant can be considered a ground cover, and it's a good idea to keep that in mind to avoid the obvious. But for most purposes, ground covers usually exhibit low, horizontal growth habits. They will grow fairly rapidly and usually spread to form a solid mat that protects against erosion and discourages weeds while beautifying an area that might otherwise be difficult to maintain, such as a steep slope. Ground covers can be herbaceous or woody, deciduous or evergreen. It all depends on your particular garden needs -- and your imagination. Probably the best known ground cover is lawn grass, valued for its tolerance of foot traffic and beloved by golfers, football players and anyone who enjoys a romp in the yard. But lawn grass can hardly be called low maintenance. It is, in fact, the most labor-intensive planting in the yard. And our national obsession with the perfectly manicured, chemically treated lawn has created a host of environmental problems. A planting interspersed with trees, shrubs and flowers can give your property much more beauty, as well as value. And think what you can do with all the time you save by not mowing, spraying and spreading assorted fertilizers and weed killers. The next most obvious ground covers are the big three: pachysandra, vinca and ivy. These plants are high-volume sellers, easy to propagate and peddle in quantity. They undeniably do what they are intended to do: All three are strong growers and rapid spreaders in almost any soil. And they tolerate partial shade while producing attractive foliage and flowers. Problem is, they have been vastly overused. Still, they can be of value to the landscape, especially some of the newer cultivars. But there are many other fine choices. A few ground covers with similar vigor are sweet woodruff ( Galium odoratum ), ajuga, thyme (Thymus spp.) and my current favorite, lamium or dead nettle ( Lamium maculatum ), whose silvery leaves are quite wonderful in a shady spot. Other fine plants to consider include various hostas, ideal for shady areas; lady's mantle ( Alchemilla mollis ), whose leaves make water droplets shine like diamonds after a rain or early morning dew; hellebores (Helleborus spp.), for perhaps the earliest flowers of the year; lamb's ear ( Stachys byzantina ), whose downy leaves simply must be touched; epimedium, for underused beauty in foliage and flower; and geranium, heuchera, tiarella and wild ginger (Asarum spp.) cultivars, with their fascinating foliage. The list of plants is almost endless, so remember to think beyond the obvious. For example, a steep slope that's hard to maintain, and dangerous as well, might be planted with cotoneaster or a ground cover shrub rose, or perhaps a sweep of the golden ornamental grass Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola,' to give the illusion of a flowing stream. Even raspberries can add beauty, with the bonus of fruit. Once you know why and how you want to use plants as ground covers, as well as the conditions of your existing landscape, there is no limit to what can be created. Look for ideas in neighborhood yards, visit nurseries and talk to the owners, or contact Master Gardeners in your area. Browse garden magazines and books, and by all means visit demonstration gardens like the ones at the Donohoe Center near Greensburg. Soon you will be looking for places to plant your own unique ground cover masterpieces. Jerry Stanczak is a Master Gardener with the Westmoreland County office of Penn State Cooperative Extension. For more information about this topic, or about the Master Gardener program, call the extension office at 724-837-1402.

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