Michigan gardeners, August isn’t too late to get something growing—especially if you pick fast-spreading ground covers. I’ve tested a few that filled in bare spots quicker than I expected (and saved me from more weeding).
Creeping thyme, clover, and ajuga are total champs this time of year. They settle in fast, handle the heat, and give your beds that neat, finished look before fall rolls in.
Let’s patch those bald spots with something green and gorgeous, shall we?
1. Creeping Thyme
Low-growing and aromatic, this perennial spreads quickly in Michigan’s late summer conditions. The tiny leaves form a dense mat that turns your garden into a fragrant carpet.
Plant it between stepping stones where you can enjoy the delightful scent with every step. Michigan gardeners love how it tolerates light foot traffic while keeping weeds at bay.
2. Sweet Woodruff
Dappled shade areas in Michigan yards transform quickly with this woodland beauty. The star-shaped whorls of leaves create an elegant green carpet that smells like fresh hay when crushed.
While many ground covers struggle in shade, sweet woodruff thrives there. Michigan gardeners appreciate its rapid establishment even under mature trees where other plants fail to grow.
3. Sedum
Drought-tolerant and practically indestructible, sedums establish remarkably fast in Michigan’s August heat. Their succulent leaves store water, making them perfect for sunny, dry spots in your landscape.
Many varieties offer colorful foliage ranging from blue-green to burgundy. Michigan gardeners particularly value how quickly they fill in rocky areas where other plants struggle to survive.
4. Ajuga
Also called bugleweed, this rapid spreader creates a dense carpet of glossy, often purple-tinged foliage. The plant produces striking blue flower spikes in spring but establishes its root system beautifully in August.
Michigan gardeners find it particularly useful for controlling erosion on slopes. The tough little plant handles our state’s varied conditions from partial shade to sun with impressive adaptability.
5. Vinca Minor
Evergreen and vigorous, vinca minor (periwinkle) quickly establishes itself even in challenging Michigan soil. Its glossy leaves maintain color through winter, providing year-round interest in the landscape.
The pretty blue-purple flowers appear in spring, but August planting gives roots time to develop before frost. Michigan gardeners rely on vinca for quick coverage in partially shaded areas where grass struggles.
6. Irish Moss
Despite its name, Irish moss isn’t actually moss but a low-growing perennial that forms a lush, carpet-like mat. The bright green cushion adds a magical touch to Michigan gardens, especially between stepping stones.
It establishes surprisingly fast during August’s warm days and cool nights. Michigan gardeners love how it creates the look of a miniature lawn without mowing, perfect for small spaces.
7. Creeping Jenny
Bright chartreuse foliage spreads rapidly across the ground, lighting up shady corners of Michigan gardens. The coin-shaped leaves form a striking contrast against darker mulch or neighboring plants.
Water regularly during establishment in August, and you’ll have significant coverage before fall. Michigan gardeners particularly appreciate how creeping Jenny softens the edges of water features and containers.
8. Dragon’s Blood Sedum
The ruby-red foliage of this tough succulent creates instant impact in Michigan rock gardens. Unlike some sedums, Dragon’s Blood spreads quickly, filling gaps between stones with its colorful display.
August planting allows roots to establish before Michigan’s winter arrives. Gardeners throughout the state value its extreme drought tolerance once established and the way it turns even brighter red in fall.
9. White Clover
Environmentally friendly and quick-growing, white clover establishes rapidly from seed scattered in August. The nitrogen-fixing abilities improve Michigan’s sometimes challenging soil while creating a lush green carpet.
Many Michigan homeowners are replacing traditional lawns with this low-maintenance alternative. It requires minimal watering even during dry spells and provides food for important pollinators throughout the growing season.
10. Mazus
Fast-spreading and only one inch tall, mazus creates a living carpet that erupts with purple-blue flowers in spring. The tiny leaves form a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds in Michigan gardens.
August planting gives this ground cover time to establish before winter dormancy. Michigan gardeners particularly value how mazus handles light foot traffic while thriving in both sun and partial shade.
11. Snow-in-Summer
Silver-gray foliage creates a striking contrast against green lawn areas in Michigan landscapes. The plant lives up to its name when covered with pristine white blooms, but its quick-establishing foliage is the real star.
Plant in August to enjoy substantial coverage before winter arrives. Michigan gardeners find it especially valuable for hot, dry spots where other ground covers struggle to survive.
12. Creeping Phlox
Low-growing and eager to spread, creeping phlox quickly establishes itself in Michigan’s late summer conditions. The needle-like evergreen foliage creates interest year-round, not just during spring’s spectacular bloom period.
Michigan gardeners love using it on slopes and wall edges where it can cascade down. August planting gives roots time to develop before winter, ensuring a stunning floral display the following spring.
13. Lamium
Silver-splashed foliage brightens shady corners of Michigan gardens almost immediately after planting. Also called dead nettle, this quick-establishing perennial brings color to areas where flowers typically struggle.
August planting allows lamium to develop strong roots before Michigan’s winter arrives. Gardeners throughout the state appreciate how it spreads rapidly without becoming invasive, filling in bare spots under trees.
14. Dwarf Mondo Grass
Not actually a grass but a lily relative, dwarf mondo creates a tidy, low-maintenance ground cover that establishes quickly in August. The grass-like foliage forms neat clumps that gradually spread to create a uniform carpet.
Michigan gardeners appreciate its versatility in both sun and shade. Once established, it handles our state’s winter temperatures with remarkable resilience while maintaining its attractive appearance year-round.
15. Dwarf Cinquefoil
Bright yellow flowers appear above the spreading foliage of this native-friendly ground cover. Establishing quickly in Michigan’s August conditions, dwarf cinquefoil creates a weed-suppressing mat in sunny areas.
The five-fingered leaves add interesting texture to the landscape. Michigan gardeners value this plant for its drought tolerance once established and its ability to attract beneficial pollinators to the garden.
16. Wild Strawberry
Charming and productive, wild strawberry quickly establishes itself in Michigan’s August garden conditions. The familiar three-lobed leaves spread by runners, creating a living mulch that also produces tiny, intensely flavored berries.
Michigan gardeners appreciate this native plant’s ability to thrive in our climate. The white spring flowers attract pollinators, while the fast-spreading habit makes it perfect for covering bare soil quickly.