Ground covers — low-growing plants that mat, sprawl, trail, or clump on the ground — play a valuable role in the landscape.

No matter how much you love your dog, you don’t want him or her digging under the fence or rooting around in your flower gardens. The digging can destroy your beautiful blooms, plus create a big mess.

Katherine Gallagher is a writer and sustainability expert. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Chapman University and a Sustainable Tourism certificate from the GSTC. Also known as pot ...