Grasses, Sedges, Lawns, and Groundcovers

Ground-layer plants control the way a garden feels at foot level. They can replace mulch, soften edges, stabilize slopes, or create durable paths.

Main Kinds

Kind	Examples	Uses
Ornamental grasses	Miscanthus, pennisetum, switchgrass	Texture, movement, seed heads
Sedges and rushes	Carex, juncus, lomandra	Shade, damp soil, borders
Lawn grasses	Bermuda, fescue, ryegrass, zoysia	Traffic and recreation
Flowering groundcovers	Creeping thyme, ajuga, alyssum	Pollinators and color
Foliage groundcovers	Liriope, mondo grass, dichondra	Low maintenance coverage
Slope stabilizers	Juniper, cotoneaster, native grasses	Erosion control

Care Pattern

Groundcovers must be matched to traffic. Many beautiful low plants tolerate stepping only occasionally, while true lawn grasses are bred for repeated wear.