Before planting, always prepare the soil. Groundcovers are capable of giving long-lasting beauty and function, but their performance is only as good as the effort one puts into soil preparation.

Top an exposed slope with hardy ornamental grasses. Plant a steep slope with a deep-rooted ground cover, such as pachysandra. Doing so will prevent soil erosion and groundcovers will never need mowing like a lawn would.

If you are planting a groundcover, it is important that you remove all turf grass, weeds, and other vegetation to eliminate competition. Then your groundcovers can grow to their full potential.

Do not think of groundcovers as merely a solution for problem areas. They can be used to visually unify different components of a landscape, and they can be used to soften the edges of borders, pathways, steps and drives.

A good idea is to test the soil for pH and nutrient levels before planting your groundcovers. Then make the reccomended changes to prevent deficiency. This is especially important if the level of phosphorus is low, since it does not move readily through the soil.

In colder areas, plant groundcovers in the spring. They will have a longer growing season to get established. Planting in early fall is acceptable, but don't wait too long, or your plants might suffer from the frost. In warmer areas, groundcovers can be planted almost any time of the year.

Be sure that your groundcovers are watered regularly either by rain or by hand.