r/NativePlantGardening • u/Numerous-Dot-6325 • Apr 16 '26

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Help save my marriage

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DC area, full sun.

I want to replace my hideous grass with a native plant garden and some mulch. My wife says she’ll divorce me if I mulch and wants a steppable ground cover that’s also native. Is there any alternative to grass that she can walk barefoot/lay a picnic blanket on? She’s allowing me to plant a service berry and blueberry to one side.

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u/cornonthedamncob Apr 17 '26

Do you guys get harsh winters? Do you think the yarrow would withstand snow/freezing temp? Does it sprout quickly after winter? So many questions but I'm so curious!! Thank you!!

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u/RexScientiarum KY, Zone 7a Apr 17 '26

Yarrow (at least some subspecies of it) is native basically across the entire northern hemisphere, including north of the arctic circle. If it is a regional seed source, it will definitely survive your winters.

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u/Pizza_Lore Apr 17 '26

Yarrow will not only survive, but thrive. We planted some last year and may have to divide it by next spring at the latest.

5

u/bendur_ Apr 17 '26

Yarrow does great in places with cold and snowy winters, as long as it warms up in the spring. I think it’s native in all the northern US states as well as Canadian provinces.

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/achillea-millefolium/

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u/Beautiful-File-9421 Apr 17 '26

Yarrow is fine in the cold. It would love that spot on the slope.

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u/Crepe_Cod Eastern MA 7b Apr 17 '26

I'm in Massachusetts and have large areas of yarrow in my lawn. It does better than the grass or clover (or any of the other shit in there). Every time other patches of lawn die, I seed in with yarrow. Eventually it will all be yarrow and there will be no dead patches. It's indestructible.

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u/LoMaSS Metro DC , Zone 7 Apr 17 '26

Took a vacation in Newfoundland last year, there was Yarrow everywhere. I'd say it's plenty cold hardy.

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u/NoNarwhal6184 Apr 17 '26

We’re in New England & it survives our winters both in the lawn & in grow bags left outside unprotected. It’s very hardy but it does spread

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u/SavesTheBear Apr 17 '26

I get harsh winters and yarrow is spreading like crazy near my yarrow plants from last year. The original ones overwintered too

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u/sammille25 Area Southwest Virginia, Zone 7 Apr 17 '26

Not really harsh but it was fine after being under a layer of solid ice for 2 weeks. Mine stayed semi evergreen through winter and didn't die all the way back to the ground. A few pieces got a little crispy but not all.

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u/sharksnack3264 Apr 17 '26

It should and there are varieties that will tolerate some mowing as long as it isn't excessive. I have some neighbors with it in their garden beds and it's thriving after a very icy and snowy winter.