Landscaping Filler Plants: The Secret to a Beautiful and Balanced Garden
Introduction
Every garden tells a story, and the way you design your outdoor space reflects your personal style. But sometimes, after planting your main shrubs, trees, or flowers, you may notice awkward gaps and empty patches. This is where landscaping filler plants come to the rescue. They are the unsung heroes of gardening, providing texture, coverage, and balance while keeping your landscape vibrant and polished.
Unlike main feature plants that grab attention, filler plants quietly support the design by tying everything together. From soft ground covers to airy ornamental grasses, these plants make a huge difference in turning a plain yard into a lush paradise. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of landscaping filler plants, exploring the best types, benefits, planting tips, and creative ideas to help you achieve a breathtaking garden.
What Are Landscaping Filler Plants?
Landscaping filler plants are versatile, low-maintenance plants used to fill empty spaces in gardens and landscapes. They don’t dominate the design but instead complement and highlight your main plants. Filler plants can be flowering or non-flowering, evergreen or seasonal, and they add harmony by creating smooth transitions between bold features.
Think of them as the background music in a movie: not the star of the show, but essential to the overall mood. Whether you want ground covers to control weeds, ornamental grasses for movement, or compact shrubs to soften edges, filler plants play an essential role.
Benefits of Using Landscaping Filler Plants
1. Adds Texture and Depth
Filler plants introduce layers and dimension to your garden, making it look fuller and more natural.
2. Covers Bare Soil
They prevent unsightly empty patches, reduce soil erosion, and improve water retention.
3. Weed Control
Dense filler plants help suppress weeds by covering open soil, saving you hours of maintenance.
4. Low Maintenance Beauty
Most filler plants are hardy and adaptable, requiring little care while enhancing your garden year-round.
5. Complements Feature Plants
They provide a soft backdrop that highlights the colors and shapes of focal plants like roses, hydrangeas, or tall shrubs.
Best Types of Landscaping Filler Plants
Here’s a list of top-performing landscaping filler plants you can use to enhance your garden.
H2: Ground Covers
Ground covers are perfect for filling space and reducing weeds.
- Creeping Thyme – A fragrant, drought-tolerant option with purple blooms.
- Sedum (Stonecrop) – Succulent leaves that thrive in poor soil.
- Ajuga (Bugleweed) – Adds purple-green foliage and spreads quickly.
H2: Ornamental Grasses
Grasses add movement and softness to landscapes.
- Blue Fescue – Compact and evergreen with silver-blue blades.
- Pampas Grass (Dwarf Varieties) – Great for airy texture without taking over.
- Japanese Forest Grass – Golden-green cascading leaves perfect for shade.
H2: Flowering Filler Plants
Small flowers bring seasonal color to balance bigger plants.
- Coreopsis – Long-blooming yellow flowers.
- Geraniums (Hardy types) – Great for borders and layering.
- Salvia – Adds vertical color spikes and attracts pollinators.
H2: Shrubby Fillers
Compact shrubs provide structure and greenery.
- Boxwood (Dwarf varieties) – Classic for neat borders.
- Spirea – Small flowering shrub with colorful foliage.
- Lavender – Adds fragrance and soft purple hues.
How to Use Landscaping Filler Plants Effectively
H3: Balance Proportion
Place taller filler plants behind or beside main plants, and use shorter ones in the front to create depth.
H3: Layering for Harmony
Mix textures—like pairing spiky grasses with soft ground covers—for a natural look.
H3: Seasonal Planning
Choose fillers that provide year-round interest: evergreen for winter, flowering for summer.
H3: Color Coordination
Select foliage and blooms that complement your main plants without overpowering them.
Pro Tips for Choosing Landscaping Filler Plants
- Match the plant to your soil type (clay, sandy, or loamy).
- Consider the sunlight: shade-loving vs. sun-loving fillers.
- Go for drought-resistant varieties if you live in a hot climate.
- Choose native plants for easier maintenance and eco-friendliness.
- Mix perennial fillers with annuals for continuous coverage.
Landscaping Ideas with Filler Plants
- Pathway Edging – Use creeping thyme or lavender along walkways.
- Under Trees – Plant shade-tolerant fillers like hostas or ferns.
- Rock Gardens – Add succulents like sedum for low-maintenance beauty.
- Borders and Beds – Use ornamental grasses and flowering fillers for layered interest.
FAQs on Landscaping Filler Plants
Q1: What are the easiest filler plants to grow?
Some of the easiest include creeping thyme, sedum, lavender, and boxwood. They thrive with little care.
Q2: Can filler plants survive in full shade?
Yes! Plants like hostas, ajuga, and Japanese forest grass do well in shade.
Q3: How do filler plants help with weed control?
By covering bare soil, dense fillers block sunlight, preventing weeds from sprouting.
Q4: Do filler plants attract pollinators?
Yes, many fillers like salvia, lavender, and coreopsis attract bees and butterflies.
Q5: Should I plant annual or perennial fillers?
Both are great! Annuals provide seasonal color, while perennials give long-lasting structure.
Conclusion
A stunning garden isn’t just about bold, statement plants—it’s also about the small details that tie everything together. Landscaping filler plants are the secret ingredient to achieving a polished, vibrant, and balanced outdoor space. From ground covers to flowering fillers, these plants work behind the scenes to cover gaps, enhance textures, and complement your garden’s stars.
By choosing the right fillers and using them strategically, you’ll transform empty patches into lush green carpets, create harmony between your plants, and enjoy a healthier, more beautiful landscape. So, the next time you design or refresh your garden, don’t forget the quiet charm of landscaping filler plants—they might just become your favorite garden companions.
