Eco Balance Landscaping Ballito | Garden Services | Irrigation | Paving

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Autumn: Ground Cover

Other than being colourful and versatile, groundcovers planted in the garden offer a huge environmental benefit. So let me tell you more about how they contribute to the health of our planet, which makes them an asset worthy of care. 

Living mulches

Evergreen ground covers will help conserve water by reducing water evaporation from the soil, prevent weed problems and buffer soil temperatures.

Encourage wildlife

Earthworms and other insects thrive in the cool moist environment, provided by groundcovers. This in turn attracts the birds that forage on the worms and insects.

Carbon credit

Bare soil is exposed to air and to the heat of the sun, which results in the breaking down of organic matter in the soil and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Plants trap carbon in their tissues and increase the amount of organic matter that is returned to the soil. The more groundcovers you plant to cover exposed soil in your garden the more carbon you can trap.

Lawn substitutes

Eco-savy gardeners are replacing grass with groundcovers, to cut out the time, energy and effort used to mow the lawn. With careful selection, groundcovers can provide pretty colourful masses and at different time of the year they will flower and add colour to your landscape.

Softens Paved areas

In terrace or townhouse gardens, where paving occupies much of the available space, ground covers can be used to frame pavers to soften the effect.

Groundcover care

Groundcover care and maintenance involves adequate watering, feeding and some groundcovers even benefit from pruning and clipping like the Wild Fox Glove (Asystasia gangeteca) which can even be cut with a brush cutter!