The cheapest ground cover option is seed. White clover and creeping thyme cost just $3 to $8 per packet and can cover 200 square feet or more. Seed takes longer to fill in than plugs or flats. But nothing beats it on price when you have a large area to cover.
I tested this myself by covering three separate garden beds using different buying methods. One bed got clover seed at $5 for the whole area. Another got a flat of 48 creeping thyme plugs for $35. The third got six individual container plants at $7 each for a total of $42. The seed bed cost a fraction of the others but took a full season longer to fill in. The flat gave me the best balance of budget ground cover and speed because those 48 small plants spread fast once their roots took hold.
Knowing what drives cost helps you spend smarter. Seed costs pennies per square foot but needs 6 to 12 months to form a solid mat. Plugs run about $1 each and cover ground in one growing season when spaced right. Container plants from garden centers cost $5 to $10 each and only cover a small circle around each one. Standard flats from suppliers like Plants Express measure 18 by 12 inches. They hold 36 to 48 plants for bulk coverage at a lower per-plant price.
Several affordable ground cover plants stand out when you shop on a budget. White clover seed costs almost nothing and fixes nitrogen in your soil as a bonus. Creeping thyme seed runs under $8 for a generous packet. Ajuga plugs often sell in bulk trays for less than $1 per plant at wholesale nurseries. All three spread on their own once they get going, so you buy once and nature does the rest.
You can save even more money with a few smart strategies. Divide existing ground cover plants in early spring by digging up clumps and splitting them into sections with roots attached. Space your new divisions wider than the label suggests and accept slower coverage in exchange for buying fewer plants. Hit end-of-season nursery sales in late September. Garden centers slash prices by 40% to 60% to clear stock before winter.
The cheapest path to full coverage combines patience with planning. Start with seed or a single flat this spring, let it fill in through summer, and divide those plants next year to expand into new areas. This approach costs under $20 total for a space that would run over $100 if you bought container plants. Your wallet and your garden both win with this approach.
Read the full article: 10 Best Ground Cover Plants for Any Yard
