Plants add curb appeal, but some will overgrow your home or uproot your foundation. These vines, trees, and shrubs shouldn't be planted too close to your house.

Fortunately, grass is not your only recourse for incorporating greenery around the tree roots. The many ground cover plants you should grow instead of grass in your yard will do the job.

When choosing ground cover plants, there are a few factors to consider. How much sunlight do they need? Do they flower?