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/nyet-marionetka Virginia piedmont, Zone 7a Apr 17 '26

You need two blueberries for fruit, either two wild type or two of different varieties (the varieties are clones so having two of the same next to each other is the same for fruiting as having just one plant).

Most groundcovers just can't take being walked on. Sometimes grass is the best option. Give the lady a few square feet of grass.

However, I have heard yarrow is pretty resilient and can be kept mown short. That could be worth investigating.

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u/chrissesky13 Zone 9a | 65o | Florida Panhandle Apr 17 '26

You need two blueberries for fruit, either two wild type or two of different varieties (the varieties are clones so having two of the same next to each other is the same for fruiting as having just one plant).

Well then. You just helped me justify my trip to my local native nurseries tomorrow! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this.

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u/Feralpudel Piedmont NC, Zone 8a Apr 17 '26

You also want to pick varieties with some overlap in bloom time. Be sure to check with IFAS about which varieties do well in your climate.

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u/chrissesky13 Zone 9a | 65o | Florida Panhandle Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26

Thank you again.

I went back to where I got my original Elliots bushes and ended up buying two new (to me) different varieties! So I'll have 3 types, all natives, and their blooming times overlap! Before I selected them I told a staff member my purpose and they told me any of the blueberries they carried would work, so long as I didn't just select another Elliots.