Groundcovers are often chosen from a photo or a nursery tag. The plant then goes into a spot with different sun, soil or water than it needs. Checking groundcover site conditions first gives each plant a better chance and makes the whole bed easier to care for.
A single Sacramento lot can hold several distinct growing areas. The steps below help you read them before buying plants.
Why the Site Comes First
Plant needs differ widely. The UC Statewide IPM page on fertilizing and watering landscape plants says the amount and frequency of water needed vary greatly depending on plant species, soil conditions and the local environment.
That means the same groundcover can need very different care in two parts of a yard. Matching plant to place reduces that variation and helps avoid overwatering. UC IPM calls overwatering the most common cause of decline in landscape trees and shrubs.
Map Sun and Shade
Start with light. Watch the area in the morning, at midday and in late afternoon. Note how many hours of direct sun it receives. Trees, fences and buildings all cast shadows that shift with the seasons.
The article on mapping afternoon shade in a west facing yard walks through that process in detail.
Record what you see on a simple sketch. Label each zone as full sun, part shade or shade so plant tags are easier to match later.
Check the Soil
Soil can change across a single lot. Clay in one area, fill soil near the house and compacted ground along a path can all sit within a few feet of each other.
Dig a few test holes and look at the soil in each zone. Note texture, color and whether water drains or stands. See why soil can change across one Sacramento lot for more on local variation.
Drainage deserves its own check. A spot that stays soggy after rain may need a plant suited to wet soil or site work first, so note it before choosing.
Watch How Water Moves
Water from roofs, driveways and patios has to go somewhere. Follow it during a rain or while running a hose to see where it flows and collects.
The UC IPM page on landscape design and water quality recommends installing dense plantings with fibrous root systems along landscape edges to reduce runoff and soil erosion. For low spots that collect heavy runoff, it describes rain gardens planted with species that can survive both wet and drier conditions.
Slopes need extra care while plants fill in. Read when a site needs erosion control if an area is steep.
Capture Roof Water
Downspouts often deliver the most water to one small spot. UC IPM suggests rain barrels to collect and store rooftop runoff for irrigating plants. Where barrels do not fit, note where each downspout empties so groundcover there can handle extra water.
Perforated drainage lines are another option on the same UC IPM page. They let water filter into surrounding soils instead of running off the lot.
Consider Foot Traffic and Use
Some groundcovers handle light foot traffic and others do not. Notice where people, pets and wheelbarrows cross an area.
Paths that people already use rarely change. The UC IPM water quality page suggests porous materials for walkways and other unplanted areas, along with gravel or organic mulch that let water soak in. Planting around a natural path, rather than across it, often works better than asking a plant to take steady wear.
Existing Trees and Shade
Mature trees change groundcover site conditions beneath them. They cast shade, drop leaves and send roots through the soil. Note the canopy edge of each tree on your sketch.
The City grass conversion FAQs encourage customers to keep existing trees, which shade homes and landscapes. For eligible trees inside a converted area, up to one quarter of the mature canopy may count toward the 60% coverage rule. Plants outside the converted area do not count, even if they overhang it.
Under a canopy, groundcover often needs to tolerate shade and share water with tree roots. Plan irrigation so the tree and the planting both get appropriate moisture.
Mulch Between Young Plants
Groundcovers take time to spread. Mulch protects the soil in the meantime.
The City describes mulch as material such as decorative rock or bark placed over soil to help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, reduce weeds and erosion and protect plants. It adds that wood mulch can also add organic material to the soil.
Plan for Water and Irrigation
Note where existing irrigation reaches and where it does not. Sprinklers that spray paving or miss corners create uneven growing conditions.
UC IPM recommends drip systems or soaker hoses for trees, shrubs and some ground covers. The same page notes that newly planted trees and shrubs need water more often for up to two growing seasons until they are well rooted, then can be weaned to less frequent watering.
Group groundcovers by water need where possible. That keeps one irrigation zone from overwatering some plants while underwatering others.
Rebate Rules If You Are Converting Lawn
Replacing grass with groundcover may qualify for a City of Sacramento rebate. The grass conversion FAQs explain several plant rules worth knowing before choosing.
- Plants must be non invasive with very low or low water needs.
- At maturity, plants must cover at least 60% of each converted area.
- A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch is required, with pieces 6 inches or smaller.
- Coverage is judged on expected mature size, not size at inspection.
The City points customers to the River Friendly Landscape Program Plant List, which includes each plant’s mature size. Mature spread matters when spacing groundcovers to meet the coverage rule.
A Groundcover Site Conditions Checklist
- Hours of direct sun in each zone
- Soil texture and drainage from test holes
- Where water flows and collects after rain
- Slope and any signs of erosion
- Foot traffic and regular paths
- Irrigation coverage and type
- Rebate rules if lawn is being converted
With these notes in hand, nursery tags and plant lists become much easier to use. Exposure to wind can also shape the right choice, covered in wind and exposure in an open Sacramento yard. More guides sit in the Sacramento conditions category.