I have a slope above the leach field for our septic that I want to plant some sort of ground cover on. I would like it to be something that will help hold the hill in place but at the same time not have a terribly invasive root system because of the leach field. It can be flowering or not but I would prefer something that either flowers or has variegated foliage.

Can anyone recommend a good ground cover for me? I live in northeastern Washington state near Spokane. Our winters can get fairly cold, we're in zone 5 in most of the seed catalog zone maps.

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¤ They say that we should talk to plants, as this will help them grow.
But who's been talking to my weeds? That's what I'd like to know! ¤

Hi Wild Rose,

The only thing you didn't mention was the sun conditions. I'd love to see you be able to use native plants, but that isn't always an option. Take a look at these sites for some ideas.
http://stepables.com/
http://classygroundcovers.com/

Have you considered shrubs? Maybe you don't have the room for them, but these sites have shrubs that can be grown on a leach field.
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/CountyDp...bPDF/Trees.pdf
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/envirohor...7/426-617.html

Newt

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When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

Thanks for the sites Newt! The area is shaded by big trees part of the day but gets plenty of sun for just about anything I think. I'll see what I can find on the sites you provided. I'd rather have a low growing ground cover rather than shrubs, I just think in the area I'm looking at it would look nicer.

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¤ They say that we should talk to plants, as this will help them grow.
But who's been talking to my weeds? That's what I'd like to know! ¤

Rose, you are very welcome! Since it's full sun you might want to consider one of the creeping thymes. They aren't overly aggressive and are easy to control. I don't think I'd use more then 3 diferent kinds or it might look too busy. You could even plant spring bulbs that could come up throught it.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/groundc...ory/thyme.html

Sedum is another that wouldn't be overly aggressive and is easy to root so you can propagate it easily. Many different creeping ones.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/groundc...ory/sedum.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...hs07cover.html

Cotoneaster would also be good and low maintenance.
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...er&btnG=Search

Don't hesitate to ask if you find one and want to know if it's invasive.
Newt

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When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

Thanks again Newt, what great ideas, now I have too many choices!! LOL

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¤ They say that we should talk to plants, as this will help them grow.
But who's been talking to my weeds? That's what I'd like to know! ¤

Uh oh!! I've done it now! LOL

Newt

__________________
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

Hello,

At the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens they use Gallium odoratum (sweet woodruff) a great deal. It grows beautifully in shaded conditions. It was not planted on a leach field, however, it is has a fibrous shallow root system, and so it should be tolerant of those conditions while not causing any problems.

Raakel

Thanks Raakel, I'll look into that one too. :)

__________________
¤ They say that we should talk to plants, as this will help them grow.
But who's been talking to my weeds? That's what I'd like to know! ¤