Because intense rain, wind and heat can drain away valuable topsoil, one way to increase soil health is to cover it, according to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
To keep your soil healthy, consider planting low-growing plants called groundcovers. There are many to choose from. I prefer native plants for their resilience, suitability to our location and ease of care. Groundcovers vary in height from less than an inch to a few feet high. They cling to the ground, keeping the soil in place, crowding out weeds and some even transform bare spots into carpets of color.
Fall is the best time to plant natives. The winter rains will help their roots dig in deep. Native plants most often reach their full size in a couple of years; during that time, they may need regular watering. Otherwise, they are mostly maintenance-free.
Most important in selecting a groundcover is where it will grow. In shade or sun? In a dry or wet area? In a pot or on a slope? In addition, for replacing a grass lawn with native groundcovers, consider how you use the lawn and select the plants for your preference for size and walkability.
There are three native groundcovers known for their ever-green beauty and tough woody stems. The first is a Bay area native commonly called bearberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Point Reyes’). Bearberry grows 1 1/2 feet high and slowly spreads to 8 feet wide. It thrives in partial sun to light shade, developing tiny bell-shaped flowers in winter, followed by red berries much loved by wildlife. Tough leathery leaves make it deer-resistant.
The other two woody plants are anchor bay creeping ceanothus (Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’) and pigeon point coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’). These grow well in the sun near the coast but need more shade inland. Anchor Bay ceanothus is covered in stunning blue-violet flowers in the spring. Deer will nibble, but not destroy, the young leaves.
Non-woody, herbaceous groundcovers include a wide variety of plants. I mention a few of my favorites below. Don’t be afraid to mix them — most natives look great together.
• Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) forms a green mat 4 inches high. It does well in sun or partial shade and spreads by runners with white flowers followed by edible berries. Deer resistant.
• Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) is not related to culinary ginger but is a member of the pipevine family. It has heart-shaped leaves and favors a shady, moist area.
• Yerba buena (Clinopodium (Satureja) douglasii) is a creeping herb (good for tea) that grows in shade. Although it can be crowded easily by larger plants in the garden, it does well in pots.
A few native plants burst into color in the summer when the majority are fading into their dormant period. For instance, San Francisco gum weed (Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima) produces bright yellow flowers in summer and fall. Coyote mint’s (Monardella villosa) aromatic purple flowers attract bees and butterflies. And California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) has firecracker red tubular flowers loved by hummingbirds. All of these are sun-loving, drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
Native clovers and grasses also make good groundcovers. Clover has the added benefit of being walkable while also enriching the soil with nitrogen. Seeds can be found at some local native plant stores or online.
Since all plants can burn, the latest fire safety advice is not to plant any plant within 5 feet of your home. Further away, allow plenty of growing space, filling in with non-combustibles, such as gravel or rocks. In the fire season, keep plants well hydrated and prune out dead leaves.
No matter what size your garden is, native groundcovers are incredibly versatile, easy to maintain and will keep your soil healthy for many years to come.
For more on groundcovers, go to the UC Marin Master Gardeners’ website and look under plants.
Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension, the University of California Marin Master Gardeners provides science- and research-based information for Marin home gardeners. Email questions to helpdesk@marinmg.org. Attach photos for inquiries about plant pests or diseases. Please call 415-473-4910 to see when a master gardener will be at the office or drop off samples 24/7 in the sample box outside the office. To attend a gardening workshop or subscribe to Leaflet, a free quarterly e-newsletter, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu.
