Killing weeds and Establishing Ground Cover - Ask Extension
There are two areas on my property where I am hoping to kill existing vegetation (weeds and grass) and establish low maintenance ground cover. The fir...
Knowledgebase
Killing weeds and Establishing Ground Cover #907716
Asked June 29, 2025, 3:17 PM EDT
There are two areas on my property where I am hoping to kill existing vegetation (weeds and grass) and establish low maintenance ground cover. The first is a slope at the front of my property, full sun, where I would like to establish ivy or a similar low height plant. The second is an overgrown garden bed in the rear of my house, partial shade, where I would like to establish wildflowers what are self maintaining. In both cases I would lean towards killing vegetation by smothering with black plastic, likely laying it down in the fall and uncovering it in the spring when I’ll remove debris and plant desired vegetation. Wondering if you have advice on what to plant, along with feedback on my planned strategy and timing or alternative advice. Thank you!
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
If no desirable vegetation is currently in either location, then smothering the areas by blocking light from the plants can work well. Avoid any solid plastic material, which can interfere with the health of tree and shrub roots in the area by depriving them of moisture and oxygen, which can also detriment beneficial soil microbes that help to keep roots healthy (even for the plants eventually going into these areas). A more sustainable approach may be to mow the area as close to the soil as possible first, then cover it with a thick layer of mulch, like arborist wood chips. They will not smother tree/shrub roots in that situation, and wood chips would also resist erosion on a slope. As an organic material, they will break down over time into soil-amending organic matter, for the benefit of future plantings as well as any tree/shrub roots currently present. If you opt to use porous synthetic "fabric" instead (landscape fabric, also called weed barrier cloth), be sure to remove it when you're ready to plant (that is, don't plant through it).
You can get some ideas for groundcovers to consider using on the linked page. If by "ivy" you meant English Ivy, we do not recommend growing that species, as it's invasive; in comparison, Virginia Creeper (sometimes called Five-leaved Ivy, despite not being related to other ivy plants) is native and a good source of food for wildlife, though it can turn into a climbing vine if the opportunity presents itself as it scrambles along the ground. No planting will be maintenance-free, but over time as perennials establish, weed pressures can become minimal as the plants crowd-out weed seedlings.
We don't have an exhaustive list of native plants (when it comes to plant tags and catalog listings, be aware that not all "wildflowers" are actually native here), but you can use resources like the linked pages below to learn which species will best fit the site conditions as well as your aesthetic preferences. Important site conditions to consider are summer sun exposure ("full sun" being about 6+ hours daily), soil moisture and drainage, and if deer browsing is a regular problem. Expected mature size should also be taken into consideration, both height and width, to make sure plants fit without needing to trim them back periodically. For the most benefit to wildlife, try to include a range of species that bloom at different times. Most plants will tend to fill in by their third year (the first year or two, they're diverting a lot of energy into establishing roots more than top growth), so take into account time for them to establish and reach their full size when deciding on placement and the space to leave between plants when installing them.
Miri
You can get some ideas for groundcovers to consider using on the linked page. If by "ivy" you meant English Ivy, we do not recommend growing that species, as it's invasive; in comparison, Virginia Creeper (sometimes called Five-leaved Ivy, despite not being related to other ivy plants) is native and a good source of food for wildlife, though it can turn into a climbing vine if the opportunity presents itself as it scrambles along the ground. No planting will be maintenance-free, but over time as perennials establish, weed pressures can become minimal as the plants crowd-out weed seedlings.
We don't have an exhaustive list of native plants (when it comes to plant tags and catalog listings, be aware that not all "wildflowers" are actually native here), but you can use resources like the linked pages below to learn which species will best fit the site conditions as well as your aesthetic preferences. Important site conditions to consider are summer sun exposure ("full sun" being about 6+ hours daily), soil moisture and drainage, and if deer browsing is a regular problem. Expected mature size should also be taken into consideration, both height and width, to make sure plants fit without needing to trim them back periodically. For the most benefit to wildlife, try to include a range of species that bloom at different times. Most plants will tend to fill in by their third year (the first year or two, they're diverting a lot of energy into establishing roots more than top growth), so take into account time for them to establish and reach their full size when deciding on placement and the space to leave between plants when installing them.
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- you can use what is essentially a web version (and searchable and filterable) of this via the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay's Native Plant Center
- Native Plants of Maryland by UMD Extension
- Landscaping with Native Plants by the Maryland Native Plant Society
- Native Plants for Northern Virginia (still applicable for your region)
Miri
