Gardening expert reveals best type of plant to help stop nuisance weeds growing

A horticulture expert has offered a key piece of advice to gardeners as she claims there is one easy way to avoid weeds making their way through the soil and into our gardens.

In her latest column for Amateur Gardening magazine, Liz Zorab has advised fellow gardeners to seek her advice and lay 'ground cover plants' across their patches now to help stave off weed growth.

She said: "Ground cover plants serve a variety of purposes and can make the garden look great all year round. They suppress weeds by limiting the amount of light that reaches the soil, reducing the number of unwanted seeds that germinate."

As the wintry conditions start to take hold across the country, weeds are still finding a way into our gardens, and Liz highlighted the ability of ground plants being able to protect against wind and rain which also has a knock on affect in reducing weeds making an appearance.

Our gardens aren't the only beneficiaries of the ground plants. The expert added: "Ground cover plants also provide shelter for wildlife."

While there's a wide array of ground cover plants that thrive during summer and spring, our options can become somewhat limited as the temperatures dip, reports the Express.

Liz has come up with a list of her favourite ground plants that will be able to withstand an array of weather conditions to survive all year round.

Glandora prostrata or 'heavenly blue' as it is commonly known is among the top of Liz's ground plant suggestions as although they enjoy their best months of the year during summer, their evergreen qualities ensure that they're a viable solution all year round.

She explained: "Here's a gem for well-draining loam or sandy soil, though it will fail to thrive in heavy and waterlogged soils. It prefers full sun, although I've seen it growing under a tree on a south-facing spot. Also known as Lithodora diffusa 'Heavenly Blue, this evergreen plant forms a mat across the ground, reaching up to 50cms (19.6in) spread and only 15cm (6in) high. It has dark green leaves and intense blue flowers during spring and summer. If your soil is heavy and water-retentive, try growing in a raised bed."

Additionally, Liz also singled out Rhododendron Bloombux and Bergenia purpurascens as other possible options to help stop weed growth.