If you’re considering what to do about a hard-to-mow patch of your garden, ground cover may have it covered.

Most ground covers require less work and fewer chemicals than a lawn — and they never need mowing. Ground covers do exactly what their name implies: covering the ground with dense plant growth, choking out weeds and lending color and texture to a space. Even hostas and day-lilies can be considered ground covers.

Regular turfgrass does a good job if you have a very large, sunny yard. But if you have a smaller area or a spot with shady pockets where turfgrass struggles, try a ground cover. Many ground covers don’t like to be walked on, but a few, such as creeping thyme or brass buttons, tolerate some foot traffic and look great when planted between pavers and flagstones.