Pulling weeds is a chore most property owners would rather avoid. But someone must remove weeds unless you want them to take over your yard. However, if you’d rather not use chemicals or sprays to eliminate weeds, you can use ground covers to choke them out. Growing plants with dense canopies block out the sun, minimizing the opportunity for weed seeds to germinate and grow. Here are the ground covers we recommend for suffocating weeds to keep them from taking over your landscape.

Ground Cover Roses (Procumbent Roses)

Ground cover roses are also known as Procumbent Roses. They can form a thick and dense carpet to block the sun and suffocate weeds when planted close together. They aren’t just great at suffocating weeds; they add a sea of color to your yard when in bloom. Ground cover roses thrive in an open area in your landscape that receives lots of sun.

Juniper

Juniper is an evergreen ground cover that is excellent at suffocating weeds. This low-growing species provides year-round greenery and prefers full sun and direct sunlight. Creeping junipers make an outstanding addition to landscapes with entry areas or next to hardscape features like pathways, stairs, or next to boulders.

Monkey Grass

You can use this touch and versatile ground cover to fill a large border in your landscape. It forms a dense carpet, so it can help keep weeds at bay. Once established, you won’t have to give it too much attention. Plus, it can easily tolerate dry spells during summer.

Creeping Thyme

If you’re hunting for a ground cover that suffocates weeds and adds colorful interest and inviting fragrance to your landscape, look no further than Creeping thyme. There are two varieties: a prostate that looks like dense moss and a mounding quality that grows into silver or green-tone hues that fit nicely between pavers or along garden borders.

Strawberries

Strawberries aren’t just a tasty treat that you can grow alongside the rest of your plants. They can also create a dense ground cover to choke out weeds. Of course, these aren’t plants you want to walk on, especially if you want to enjoy their sweet strawberries. Strawberries require some care, so keep that in mind before you plant them.

Angelina Sedum

This perennial groundcover does a great job of suffocating weeds that thrive in a variety of soil and light conditions. It can form a carpet of attractive succulent-like foliage that changes colors. It transitions from bright green to golden-yellow in the middle of summer before transitioning to a distinctive copper tone in fall. It’s drought-tolerant and can handle a wide range of conditions.

Bugleweed

Bugleweed is effective at managing weeds, but it does require a bit of management to keep it from being a nuisance. That said, it can form a dense mat quickly to keep weeds at bay. This versatile groundcover produces a carpet of blue-tone flower spikes that provide visual interest to any landscape. And if you have a shady spot in your landscape where plants have difficulty growing, Bugleweed can thrive in shady areas!