Ground Cover Sedums for a Low Maintenance Garden

Ground cover sedums are a low-maintenance option for gardens with poor soil. They can thrive in areas with full sun and well-draining soil.

Sedum plants are succulents, which means they store water in their leaves, allowing them to survive with minimal watering. This makes them ideal for areas with low rainfall.

Some popular ground cover sedums include Sedum spurium, Sedum anglicum, and Sedum sexangulare. These varieties are known for their ability to spread quickly and form a dense mat of foliage.

They can tolerate a range of soil conditions, from alkaline to acidic, and can even survive in areas with poor drainage.

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Sedum plants come in many shapes and sizes, making them a versatile choice for groundcover.

They are prized for their quick establishment and "set it and forget it" nature, requiring only a little bit of care for baby plants.

Rockeries, paths, containers, and hilly areas are perfect sites for growing sedum groundcover, which is one of the lowest forms of the group.

Low growing sedum, also referred to as stonecrop, can literally burst with life even in the cracks of a stone wall.

Their thick leaves allow them to store water and thrive in hot, dry locations.

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As for Creeping Sedums, they're a wildly variable group, with long narrow stems that grow along the ground and form mats of colorful fleshy foliage.

Creeping sedums like Sedum ternatum, Sedum tetractinum, and many others are traditionally grown for their colorful foliage or draping form, which softens the edge of containers and rock walls.

Some creeping sedums produce attractive but short sprays of flowers, although they're not specifically grown for this purpose.

There are also a few stonecrop plants that are intermediate between tall and creeping sedums, like Sedum ussuriense, but these are fairly rare and available from specialty plant nurseries only.

Sedum bithynicum (Turkish Stonecrop) forms wonderful blue foliage, making it a great choice for those who want a pop of color in their garden.

Sedum 'Boogie Woogie' (Boogie Woogie Stonecrop) is a recently introduced groundcover with beautiful variegated foliage, perfect for adding visual interest to your landscape.

Sedum tetractinum has nice green leaves that turn reddish in the winter, providing a beautiful seasonal change in your garden.

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Sedum plants thrive in well-drained soil, so it's essential to choose a soil type that allows for good drainage.

Heavy wet soil can quickly rot sedum plants, so avoid using it in your garden.

Raised beds and containers are great options for sedum plants because they allow for excellent drainage.

Sedum plants also do well in sandy soil, which is another type of well-drained soil.

Rock gardens and crevice gardens are perfect for sedum plants because they provide a well-drained environment.

Green roofs are another option for growing sedum plants, as they also require well-drained soil.

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Most ground cover sedums like full or part sun, with some species requiring as little as 5 hours of direct sun per day to thrive.

Some sedum species, like Sedum ternatum, are more adapted to dappled shade and can be found growing on top of rocks in woodland areas.

To prevent sunburn, highly variegated sedums like S. alboroseum 'Lemonade' need dappled sunlight, which filters the intense sun and protects their delicate foliage.

Most sedums like full or part sun, with at least 5 hours of direct sun per day.

Some sedums, like Sedum ternatum, prefer dappled shade and can thrive on top of rocks.

Highly variegated sedums, such as S. alboroseum 'Lemonade', need dappled sunlight to prevent sunburn.

Their pale green, yellow, and white foliage can't handle direct sun for too long.

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Sedum plants prefer slightly acidic conditions, but can tolerate most soil pH.

To ensure your sedum thrives, provide it with plenty of sun and loose, well-draining soil.

The soil doesn't need to be particularly fertile, as sedums seem to do best in areas with low nutrient content.

Space sedum plants as far apart as their final dimensions to achieve a full, carpet-like effect.

Water young sedum plants weekly, but mature specimens can usually do without irrigation, except in the hottest summers.

It's a good idea to remove the faded flowers by pulling or cutting them off to keep your sedum looking tidy.

Watering your ground cover sedums is a bit of a balancing act. You'll get the largest, most floriferous plants with regular (weekly) water while the plant is actively growing (spring to fall).

Some creeping sedums can thrive in super dry conditions, but be careful when selecting one for a dry site because some creeping sedums don't tolerate drought.

Watering too much during the winter can lead to winter rot, so it's best to greatly reduce watering once the active growing season is over.

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Water tall sedums like Autumn Joy, Frosted Fire, and Dynomite weekly while they're actively growing in the spring to fall.

Tall sedums can grow more slowly, not fill out and branch as much, and may even get spindly in very dry conditions.

The best stonecrops for super dry conditions are certain creeping sedums, such as Sedum tetractinum, S. scre, S. album, and S. kamshaticum.

Some creeping sedums, like Sedum ternatum, don't tolerate drought and should be avoided for dry sites.

If you're unsure whether to water a stonecrop, it's better to err on the dry side, and give it drought.

Once the active growing season is over, you should greatly reduce watering to prevent winter rot.

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Sedums generally prefer lean conditions, so it's best to go easy on the fertilizer.

Chemical fertilizer can lead to stretching and flopping, which can be a real problem for these plants.

An organic compost applied is the best option for sedums, and it's a great way to give them the nutrients they need without causing any damage.

Sedums are adapted to growing in poor soil, so they don't need a lot of fertilizer to thrive.

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Sedums are perfect for wall gardens and roof gardens due to their low water requirements and spreading nature.

They're also great for areas with low foot traffic, making them a great substitute for water-needy sod grass.

Sedums can thrive in poor soils, so if your landscape has trouble spots with insufficient water and terrible soil, sedums will happily claim them as their home.

These plants love rocky or sandy soil that easily drains excess water away.

Too much fertilizer will result in floppy growth, so it's best to avoid over-fertilizing.

Sedums come in many shapes and sizes, and are prized for their quick establishment and "set it and forget it" nature.

They can mostly be left alone once they've been in site for a couple of months.

Rockeries, paths, containers, and hilly areas are perfect sites for growing sedum groundcover.

Low growing sedum are also referred to as stonecrop, and for good reason - they can literally burst with life even in the cracks of a stone wall.

The blooms of sedums are an outstanding surprise and contrast to the interesting leaves, with tiny starry flowers in dense, airy clusters coming in hues of yellow to pink.

Tall sedums do not spread but when grown in mass plantings are beautiful and tough ground covers.

Creeping sedums will spread slowly but surely and make a very low ground cover for sunny spots.

Propagating ground cover sedums is a breeze, and one of the easiest ways to do it is by pulling up or cutting some of the stems and laying them on top of some potting soil.

Creeping sedums can be propagated in as little as a few minutes, and the results are almost instant. Simply pull up some stems and stick them into the soil.

For larger clumps of tall sedums, division or stem cuttings are the way to go. To take stem cuttings, cut some 3 to 5 inch long sections from the plant.

Before sticking the cuttings into the soil, be sure to strip the leaves from the bottom inch or so. This will help prevent the cuttings from rotting.

With a little care and patience, your ground cover sedums will be thriving in no time.