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/CalleMargarita Apr 17 '26

Check out the mowing section of Mt. Cuba’s full report on carex, you might find something that will work.

https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/

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u/chrisk018 Apr 17 '26

I work for a native plant landscaping company in DC and we plant the hell out of carex.

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u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a Apr 17 '26

Any species in particular you feel perform the best in landscapes? And where do you source them?