This Low-Growing Plant Might Help Control Weeds In Your Garden (& Other Benefits)

Weeds are the bane of every gardener and trying to control them can be almost a full-time job, especially in the summer when conditions are perfect for their lush growth. Over the years, gardeners have tried a variety of methods — from using selective herbicides, laying down landscape fabric and piling on the mulch — in order to suppress weed growth as much as possible. But, another method that can be even more successful and requires minimal maintenance is to grow a ground-cover plant, such as creeping stonecrop, to basically crowd out any weed growth.

Creeping stonecrop (Phedimus spurius), previously known as Sedum spurium, is a hardy low-growing plant that will cover the soil so that weed seeds receive no sunlight for them to germinate. It's one of a number of beautiful plants that'll help prevent pesky weeds in the garden. Apart from limiting the growth of pesky weeds, this particular creeping stonecrop also has attractive flowers that are loved by pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Plus, it's drought tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits. You just need to remember that the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems of this plant are mildly toxic if ingested.

Creeping stonecrop is a low-growing plant that only reaches a height of around 6 inches. But its benefit lies in the way it spreads across the ground — up to a maximum width of 3 feet. Not only that, but the plant also forms a really dense mat as it creeps along the ground. This effectively shades the soil and stops the sunlight from getting through. So, the weed seeds that can live in the soil for many, many years aren't able to germinate, because most need sunlight to grow.

Ground cover plants, such as creeping stonecrop, act much like a living mulch to cover the soil and prevent weed growth. But, they can also outcompete the weeds by using up all the available moisture and nutrients found in the soil. Growing a ground cover plant like creeping stonecrop, or any of the other low-growing stonecrop, varieties will help you to control the weeds in your garden beds without giving you extra work to do. That's because these plants are tough and can tolerate full sun, prolonged periods of drought, and poor soils. Apart from that, there are many varieties with different colored foliage, from green to crimson, as well as pretty star-shaped flowers in pink, red, and white. In fact, stonecrops are the perfect ground cover for year round color in your garden.

This hardy ground cover can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8. It needs well-draining soil, but will tolerate a range of different soil types, as long as the soil doesn't remain wet. Even dry, rocky soils are fine. You can grow this plant in full sun, but it will also tolerate part shade in the afternoon. It's perfect for growing in your garden beds among taller shrubs and flowers. It's also ideal for your rock garden, as it will creep over the ground and cover empty spaces. If you have a butterfly garden, you can plant creeping stonecrop as a ground cover, because the flowers that appear over spring and summer will help to attract butterflies and even songbirds.

One interesting variant of creeping stonecrop is Sedum spurium "red carpet." This cultivar features green to reddish foliage that turns a lovely crimson color in the fall and throughout winter. It has small star-shaped flowers that are pink in color. These appear in early summer and can last for several weeks. But the plant can become invasive if not controlled adequately — so watch out for that. You can even pair this beautiful plant with your lavender for extra color in the garden.