Planting Ground Cover Plants - Typical spacing for ground cover plants is 12 to 18 inches apart. Bare root plants can be planted 6 to 8 inches apart for a quicker fill in.
When planting on sloped areas, use an independent sprinkler, the type that attaches to a hose. The sprinkler will need to be run until water soaks down several inches. The time for this will vary so it is best to check the soil each time it is run. How often to water will depend on local factors, but in many cases should be done every 3 to 5 days after planting for the first 6 to 8 weeks for the plants to fully establish a newer root system and begin growing. Checking the soil allows you to monitor and make the proper adjustments. If the soil is extremely dry after 3 days, you may need to water every 2 days instead. Rainfall isn’t dependable and often just runs down the surface of the ground without being absorbed into the soil.
Mulching ground cover plants can be difficult, especially on sloped areas. For sloped areas, I recommend putting down a thin layer of straw. The straw will protect the young new plants from the sun’s heat, heavy rainfall, which can wash bare root plants out of their holes and down the hill, as well as keep the soil cool and moist. Straw decomposes and helps to build up the soil. Once the plants have fully established and are beginning to grow any remaining straw can be removed and mixed into other areas of the garden or landscape.
Whether your project requires evergreen ground cover plants or flowering ground cover plants between stepping stones, our online nursery plant catalog offers the best choices for the job. With limited amount of care and maintenance, ground cover plants are quick to establish a new root system, your new ground cover will become a wonderful part of your new landscape.
It can be difficult in figuring out how many ground cover plants that your project will require. Use the guideline below to help find your number.
Use our navigation filter on the left hand side of the ground cover page to narrow down ground cover selections based on the above criteria for your needs.
Determining the Number of Plants Needed:
| Square feet of planting area | Spacing (in inches) |
| 6 in. | 8 in. | 9 in. | 12 in. | 18 in |
| 100 | 400 | 225 | 178 | 100 | 45 |
| 200 | 800 | 450 | 356 | 200 | 90 |
| 300 | 1,200 | 675 | 535 | 300 | 135 |
| 400 | 1,600 | 900 | 712 | 400 | 180 |
| 500 | 2,000 | 1,125 | 890 | 500 | 225 |
| 600 | 2,400 | 1,350 | 1,068 | 600 | 270 |
| 700 | 2,800 | 1,575 | 1,246 | 700 | 315 |
| 800 | 3,200 | 1,800 | 1,425 | 800 | 360 |
| 900 | 3,600 | 2,025 | 1,602 | 900 | 405 |
| 1,000 | 4,000 | 2,250 | 1,780 | 1,000 | 450
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