Ground cover ideas needed?

We just got done remodleing our pool area which involved hauling out a lot of river rock and getting rid of small palms around the pool to open it up. Now all we have is dirt.





My hubby doesn't want grass, too much maintenance. No fake grass, it's too expensive %26amp; the oleanders shedding would be messy. No gravel b/c it will hurt your feet barefoot.





He wants decomposed gravel - but I do not b/c it will still get muddy if it rains.





Any ideas out there?

Ground cover ideas needed?
Try about 4"- 6" of premium cypris mulch over a ground facric. Create a meandering pathway to the pool using cobblestones. The cobblestoned would actually be good for barefooting on because in many parts of the world, reflexology paths and “barefoot parks” are becoming very popular because they offer feet a chance to experience varieties of textured surfaces. In addition to biomechanical advantages of regular barefoot exercising, many holistic health practitioners believe the tactile stimulation underfoot while walking barefoot on natural surfaces has positive effects on body, mind and spirit.
Reply:Mexican heather is a great ground covering and grows hearty with very little care..spreads nice and are small plants with tons of little purple/pinkish flowers on it..alot of malls use these for thier landscaping..


http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/arans...





http://www.bonnieplants.com/Default.aspx...
Reply:carpet of snow ground cover


stays close to the ground like ivy and has thousand of flowers


comes in white,pink and red


chokes out weeds and grows fast [Ohio]
Reply:I love my bugelweed (ajuga reptans)...it's hardy....comes back each year...has great color....and grows without much maintenance!





This year I got Lamium Maculatum in Beacon Silver....ooooh, it's very pretty and needs little care also...





They both bloom in purple and are perenials...
Reply:If you were to put down some landscaping fabric around the pool than take some bags of leveling sand poured out over the fabric. The out come will be that the sand shouldn't wash away if you boarder it, you'll have no weeds and your feet won't hurt. Maintence free
Reply:These are the ground covers on my property. I live in Zone 7.





1. Vinca. I have periwinkle vinca. http://www.forde-nursery.com/images/pere... http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/vinc... varieties ike sun, some like shade.





2. Monkey grass, mondo grass, liriope (call it what you want!). Many different colors, sizes, sun/shade. http://www.hsv-life.com/house/landscape/... Can be planted thinly or thickly. I interperse mine with small boulders for more interest.





3. Ajuga. Shade plant, so may not be suitable. Spreads rapidly. http://www.evergreennurseryinc.net/plant... http://www.danielleblog.com/archives/aju...





In addition, the following website is an excellent source for ground covers: http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/...
Reply:I really like Mondo grass (Ophiopogon species). It can get expensive in large plantings, but you never have to cut it. You didn't say how much sun you have or how much foot traffic the area will take. Mondo is tolerant of foot traffic once it is established. Other ground covers are pachysandra, liriope, ajuga, and vinca minor. These aren't as good for traffic areas.
Reply:You can do a outdoor tile all around it.