Groundcover Care

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Frequently Asked Questions: Groundcovers

Your complete guide to groundcovers for SE Queensland gardens.

Zoysia 'No Mow'

  • Habit & Size: Low, cushiony mat forming soft hummocks ~H8–15 cm with spreading (indefinitely) by fine runners.
  • Sun & Soil: Full sun in well-draining, sandy or loamy soil. Prefers slightly acidic conditions. Avoid compacted clay or wet areas.
  • Water: Keep evenly moist through establishment (6–12 weeks). Once rooted, drought-tolerant and resilient through SE Qld heat.
  • Maintenance: Trim lightly once or twice a year to level mounds; avoid scalping. Top-dress any bare patches with a light layer of premium turf mix, if required.
  • Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring.
  • Foot Traffic: Light–moderate — best performance between steppers and open sunny borders.
  • SEQ Tip: Best planted in early autumn to establish before summer extremes. Avoid heavy foot traffic until fully knitted. Zoysia naturally slows and lightens in colour through winter — this is normal dormancy, not decline. Reduce watering during this period and delay trimming or feeding until active growth returns. Growth resumes in early spring (Sept) as soil warms. 

Creeping Thyme

  • Sun & Soil: Requires full sun and excellent drainage. Thrives in sandy  or raised beds. Avoid humidity and heavy clay.
  • Water: Light, frequent watering during establishment only; prefers to dry between waterings.
  • Habit & Size: Mat-forming aromatic herb ~H5–10cm × W0.5–0.8m. Dense evergreen foliage with bee-attracting summer blooms.
  • Maintenance: Clip after flowering to maintain tight form and encourage new growth.
  • Feeding: Minimal — too much nitrogen causes lush, short-lived growth. Use sparingly with low-P herb fertiliser, if desired.
  • Foot Traffic: Light, barefoot only (occasional steps between pavers).
  • SEQ Tip: Avoid overhead watering and strong seaweed dips on young thyme; use gentle dilutions after establishment. In humid months, plant in raised or sloping beds for airflow. Prefers cool, dry climates and often declines in SE Qld’s humid summers or wet winters — treat as a seasonal groundcover and replant each spring. For a longer-lived option, try Zoysia ‘No-Mow’ or Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’.

Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’

  • Sun & Soil: Full sun to light shade in very well-draining soil. Performs best in sandy or loamy conditions and struggles in compacted or waterlogged sites. Excellent heat and drought tolerance once established.
  • Water: Moderate — water when the top layer begins to dry, but must be free draining. Avoid prolonged wetness around the crown.
  • Use: Cascades over walls and pots; great heat tolerance in SEQ.
  • Habit & Size: Trailing silver-foliaged groundcover ~H10–15 cm × W1–2 m, forming graceful runners that cascade over pots, retaining walls and rockeries.
  • Maintenance: Trim runners occasionally to refresh density and maintain shape. Remove older or woody stems annually to encourage new silver foliage.
  • Feeding: Light application of slow-release fertiliser in spring or early summer; avoid overfeeding to prevent soft growth.
  • Foot Traffic: None — ornamental only. Ideal as a spillover, cascading edge or low-contrast foliage accent.
  • SEQ Tip: Performs well through dry, open summers but can decline in persistently humid or wet periods. Reduce watering and ensure airflow to prevent crown rot. In shaded or very wet, exposed sites, consider Zoysia ‘No-Mow’ for dense evergreen cover or Casuarina ‘Cousin It’ for a sculptural trailing form.

Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin It’

    • Habit & size: Prostrate, weeping groundcover ~0.1–0.25m high × 1.5–2.0m wide forming a dense “green waterfall”.
    • Sun & Soil: Full sun to light shade in very free-draining sandy or loamy soil. If drainage is marginal, mound or plant on a slope to prevent waterlogging.
    • Water: Deep soakings for 6–8 weeks during establishment, then low–moderate watering only. Avoid constant moisture to prevent crown and root rot.
    • Spacing: Plant ~50–100cm apart — 60–70cm for rapid cover, 90–100cm for economical spacing.
    • Maintenance: Minimal. Tip-trim edges once or twice a year, lift thatch and debris occasionally, and keep mulch ~5cm clear of the crown. Not suitable for foot traffic.
    • Feeding: Apply a light, low-phosphorus native controlled-release fertiliser in spring.
    • Pests/Disease: Generally trouble-free but prone to rot if drainage is poor or the crown stays wet.
    • Uses in SE QLD: Ideal for cascading over walls, rocks and pots, stabilising banks/edges, and tolerates coastal heat once established.
    • SEQ Tip: Performs best in open, sunny sites with excellent drainage. In humid summer rain, plant on a raised edge or bank and reduce irrigation to avoid crown rot. For denser green coverage or small-space alternatives, consider Zoysia ‘No-Mow’ for tufted texture or Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ for silver contrast in pots and walls.

Groundcover Comparison – SE QLD

Groundcover Habit & Size Foot Traffic Best Pairings Best Uses Avoid
Zoysia 'No Mow' Low tufting carpet ~H8–15cm; spreads by runners, forms mounds. Light–moderate, good between steppers. Feature trees Olive, Magnolia, Crepe Myrtle; low hedges Westringia, Murraya; stone steppers. Between pavers, sunny borders, living mulch patches, gentle slopes. Deep shade, boggy or poor draining soil, constant heavy wear.
Creeping Thyme Mat-forming ~H5–10cm; aromatic; spreads 0.5–0.8m. Light, occasional foot only. Mediterranean pairings: Feature trees Olive, Rosemary, Lavender; steppers; low hedges Grey Box. Between steppers, hot sunny banks, bee-friendly edging. Tropical-rain locations, humid/wet spots, heavy clay, over-irrigation.
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ Trailing spillover ~10–15 cm H; trails 1–2 m. Low, not for walking. Pots & walls with Olives, succulents, dark/contrasting foliage; modern xeric mixes. Cascading pots, retaining walls, rockeries, contrast planting. Tropical-rain locations, overhead irrigation, heavy shade, waterlogging.
Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin It’ Prostrate “green waterfall” ~H10–25cm × W1.5–2.0m. None, pure ornamental cover. Bold verticals Grass Trees, Dragon Trees, low hedges Westringia, Murraya, Agaves, boulders, walls. Banks, edges, spillover on walls or rocks, coastal sites; erosion cover. Poor drainage, waterlogged soil, mulch over crown, cramped spots with no airflow.

*Foot traffic guide: “Light” = occasional steps (e.g., between pavers); “Moderate” = regular but not daily wear; “None” = decorative cover only.

Spacing tip: For fast cover, plant closer (50–70cm); for economical massing, use wider centres (70–100cm) where noted.

General Groundcover Tips

    • Prepare soil by improving drainage; mound beds if needed.
    • Mulch lightly so crowns aren’t buried.
    • Weed early; groundcovers suppress, once established.

More coming soon! 

    • Myoporum parvifolium (Fine Leaf / Broad Leaf)
    • Aptenia cordifolia (Baby Sunrose & Variegated)
    • Viola hederacea (Native Violet)

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