Why it matters
Healthy soil is the foundation of every functioning ecosystem. It stores carbon, filters water, cycles nutrients, and supports the microbial communities that plants, insects, and ultimately all wildlife depend on. Yet roughly a third of the world's soils are already degraded, and in drylands and disturbed landscapes, the loss of soil structure is one of the primary drivers of desertification.
Native groundcovers address this at the source. Unlike bare soil or invasive grasses, native groundcovers actively rebuild soil structure by adding organic matter, creating channels for water infiltration, and hosting the fungal networks that transfer nutrients between plants. Their deep root systems anchor topsoil against wind and rain erosion, while their leaf litter feeds the microbial life that keeps soil carbon levels high.
In disturbed or degraded landscapes, native groundcovers are often the first step toward ecological recovery — the living mulch that makes everything else possible.
How to do it
- 1Choose native groundcovers: select species adapted to your region's rainfall, soil type, and temperature extremes. Native groundcovers have co-evolved with local conditions and require minimal intervention once established. Use your state's native plant society or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at wildflower.org to identify appropriate species.
- 2Prepare the soil surface: lightly loosen compacted soil, remove invasive grasses, and retain existing leaf litter. Avoid deep tillage, which disrupts soil structure and kills the fungal networks that make native groundcovers so effective.
- 3Plant during optimal moisture windows: time planting for when soil moisture is highest in your region. In Central Texas, for example, fall or early spring gives plants the best chance of establishing before summer heat arrives.
- 4Mulch strategically: use thin layers of shredded wood or leaf litter to retain moisture without smothering seedlings. Over-mulching is one of the most common establishment mistakes.
- 5Water only for establishment: after roots take hold, native groundcovers thrive without supplemental irrigation. Overwatering during establishment can promote shallow root growth and reduce long-term drought resilience.
Ecological impact
- Increases soil organic carbon, improving long-term fertility and climate resilience
- Reduces erosion from wind and water, protecting topsoil and downstream waterways
- Supports soil microbial communities, including mycorrhizal fungi essential to plant health
- Suppresses invasive grasses that outcompete native vegetation and degrade soil structure
- Improves infiltration and drought resilience, reducing runoff and recharging groundwater
- Over-mulching, which can block seedling emergence
- Invasive grasses re-establishing in disturbed areas — check monthly in the first season
- Bare patches that need reseeding after heavy rain events
Soil degradation is one of the least visible but most consequential ecological crises of our time. Restoring native groundcover is not gardening — it is ecological infrastructure. Every patch of healthy, plant-covered soil stores carbon, filters water, and supports the food web from the ground up. Landscape-scale restoration begins with the choices made at the smallest scale.
Sources: FAO (2015), Status of the World's Soil Resources; Rillig & Mummey (2006), New Phytologist; Prober et al. (2014), Nature Climate Change.