Please help with ground cover.

[Dsmith2617]

Hello everyone, I’m new to the forum. I am just finishing redoing my back yard and am hoping someone can point me in the right direction for some ground cover.
Im looking for a quick growing evergreen ground cover that won’t climb fences or trees. The area is covered with pretty dense shade from 3 large Chinese Pistach trees.
During the summer it might get an hour or two of direct sunlight in the morning. During the winter once levees fall it gets sun for a big part of the day. The area has a good sprinkler system so I can get it as much water as it needs.
According to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map I live in zone 9b. (Central California, Fresno area). Dry hot summers, mild dry winters.
Any recommendations?

Thank you in advance

 

[roadrunner]

I had a similar problem when I first started working my yard; a lot of shade and the grass didn't grow. After looking at numerous ground covers/grasses, I decided the best route to go would be to just cover in mulch and plant a few things here and there. Much cheaper and less maintenance.

Here's some pictures after I laid down live oak leaves that I collected from around the neighborhood for free, but you could use any type leaf.

 

[Fern_girl]

Hello everyone, I’m new to the forum. I am just finishing redoing my back yard and am hoping someone can point me in the right direction for some ground cover.
Im looking for a quick growing evergreen ground cover that won’t climb fences or trees. The area is covered with pretty dense shade from 3 large Chinese Pistach trees.
During the summer it might get an hour or two of direct sunlight in the morning. During the winter once levees fall it gets sun for a big part of the day. The area has a good sprinkler system so I can get it as much water as it needs.
According to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map I live in zone 9b. (Central California, Fresno area). Dry hot summers, mild dry winters.
Any recommendations?

Thank you in advance

You might consider moss as an alternative to grass or other ground cover. Especially with the mild winters. Moss yards are a big thing in some other countries, Japan in particular, and once it establishes itself it’s super low effort.
As far as ground covers that will grow in the shade, I really like stonecrops. I keep some in a pot inside, but it’s a good ground over.

 

[oneeye]

Where I live we use both kinds of dwarf mondo and reg. mondo grass, or variegated liriope and green liriope, asin jasmine, and Vinca minor, under tree canopies. I have planted 1000s of these different plants under live oaks, big pecan trees and other large trees..

 

[cpp gardener]

You could also use Catalina Perfume Ribes viburnifolia, either vinca-major or minor, Pachysandra, Ajuga, ornamental strawberry, Potentilla verna, Giant Chain Fern Woodwardia, Sword fern, Asparagus densiflorus— either sprengerii or meyerii, Carex— there are many species, creeping Oregon grape, Nandina domestica ‘Harbor Dwarf’, Campanula poschyarskianum, Manzanitas, Yerba buena, Indian Mock Strawberry Duchesnea indica. There are probably several other California natives that would work as well and provide nectar for pollinators and/or food for critters. Mix and match to your heart‘s content!