As gardeners, weeds are one of our biggest pet peeves. They compete with our plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight, take up space, and aren’t always as pretty as what we’ve got growing.
While some weeds benefit pollinators, most species crowd out cultivated plants, and some can even harm animals. Prevention is more effective than removal — dense, low-growing plants strategically placed throughout your garden can naturally stop or prevent weed growth, saving you time and effort while protecting your garden.
Hardy Plumbago
The leaves of this evergreen shrub are hefty and dense, making it ideal for weed management. It spreads through underground stems and makes an excellent ground cover; weeds don’t stand a chance. Plus, it has beautiful blue flowers that will stand out in your garden.
Hardy plumbago grows well in full sun to partial shade and is suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) zones 9–11. It’s drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and easy to maintain.
Yarrow
When planted in groups, yarrow effectively stifles weed growth. This perennial has many benefits for your garden. Its flowers come in various colors and add vibrancy to your space. The colorful blooms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
However, this plant self-seeds and can overrun the garden if left unchecked. Yarrow is versatile and low-maintenance. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, suitable for zones 3–9.
Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox is a low-growing plant that creates thick coverage that helps deter weeds. It grows into a dense mat of evergreen foliage that grows well on walls or crevices. It produces pink, white, and purple star-shaped flowers that add color to your garden and attract bees.
Creeping phlox is suitable for USDA zones 3–9 and grows well in full sun and moist, well-draining soil.
Azalea
Azaleas are part of the rhododendron variety. This flowering shrub grows thick foliage that inhibits weed growth. Azaleas are great for foundation planting, hedging, or screening.
Azaleas thrive in sunny and partly shaded areas; a couple of hours of sun in the morning is enough. Well-draining soil is ideal for this plant, suitable for USDA zones 6–9.
Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme is a ground cover that forms a thick carpet covering the ground and blocking weeds from sunlight. It’s a great alternative to turfgrass for small spaces and makes a beautiful ornamental plant. It produces small, fragrant pink and purple flowers that attract pollinators.
It’s a member of the mint family. Some varieties are grown as herbs and often used in cooking. The hardy perennial requires full sun and grows well in well-draining sandy soil. It’s suitable for USDA zones 2–9.
Lambs Ear
A member of the mint family, Lamb’s Ear is a fantastic option for a ground cover plant that blocks weeds. The plant has velvety gray-green foliage that forms a dense carpet and covers its planted area.
Lamb’s Ear needs total sun exposure and thrives in well-draining soil. It grows well in USDA zones 4–8 and is relatively low-maintenance.
Creeping Mazus
This fast-growing perennial is ideal for weed suppression because it forms thick carpeting covering the ground. It grows little blue-purple flowers that bloom from spring through early winter.
Creeping mazus is a beautiful lawn alternative for small areas. It tolerates foot traffic, prefers well-draining soil, and thrives in sunny areas. While it’ll still grow in the shade, growth will be slow. It’s ideal for USDA zones 5 to 8.
Bugleweed
As the name suggests, Bugleweed is sometimes considered a weed, too. Hence, it’s best to choose the less aggressive varieties. The stunning perennial grows dense and thick, thus blocking sunlight from reaching the soil.
Bugleweed is low-maintenance and durable. Its vibrant purple spikes make a great addition to the garden. It tolerates all light levels and grows well in USDA zones 4-11.
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet woodruff is a low-maintenance ground cover plant. Its thick, deciduous foliage can choke out weeds. It’s bushy and can spread quickly, creating a dense carpet. In the spring, it produces small white aromatic flowers.
Since it can spread quickly, denying it water and growing it in the shade helps keep it in check. It only requires water in times of drought. It needs part or full shade and requires well-draining loamy soil. It’s suitable for zones 4 through 8.
Hellebores
Commonly known as lenten rose, it produces thick foliage, leathery leaves, and rose-like colorful blooms. Because it forms a dense cover, it lessens the likelihood of growing weeds. It’s easy to care for and adds color to the dark corners of the garden.
Lenten roses are great beneath trees and shrubs for perfect ground cover or edging. They prefer partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. The hardy plant is suitable for USDA zones 4-8 and is rabbit—and deer-resistant.
Hosta
Hostas are a personal favorite of mine. They are beautiful and characterized by overlapping thick leaves. They can be grown around shrubbery and trees to block weeds from seeing the light of day. There are several varieties of hosta to choose from, and they’ll all keep weeds out.
Hostas tolerate shade and can be grown even in the dark corners of the garden. They thrive in sunny spots, too, provided they get enough water and are ideal for USDA zones 3-8.
Catmint
‘Walker’s Low’ catmint is a mounding plant, meaning it grows vertically and horizontally, giving it a rounded appearance. The mounds of foliage are fantastic weed suppressants. Catmint is known for its beautiful small tubular flowers and aromatic foliage.
Catmint is a versatile plant that is fantastic for underplanting trees and shrubs. It loves full sun and partly shady areas and grows best in well-draining soil. It’s low maintenance, disease — and pest-free, and hardy in zones 3-8.
Green-and-Gold
Green-and-Gold is a flowering ground cover plant with dense green foliage that can hinder the growth of weeds. Its vivid green leaves and vibrant yellow flowers earn the plant its name. It self-seeds, but it doesn’t spread aggressively, making it a great addition to your space.
There is conflicting information regarding the amount of light it requires, but everyone seems to agree that it needs part sun and part shade. It grows best in moist soil and is suitable for zones 5 to 9.
Pachysandra
Also called Japanese spurge, pachysandra spreads via underground runners and forms a dense mat that inhibits weed growth. Its shiny, leathery leaves overlap each other, blocking out light from anything underneath it.
It spreads aggressively if not controlled. Pachysandra grows well in partial to full shade. It grows in most types of soil but prefers acidic soil. It’s easy to grow and is hardy in zones 4 through 9.