This week we cover a lot of ground on the subject of groundcovers with Kathy Jentz. Kathy is the editor and publisher of Washington Gardener, the host of the Garden DC podcast, and the author of Groundcover Revolution, a book written to give inspiration and examples for turf grass substitutes that gardeners everywhere can use to find the best plants for their region. They can also use its attractive and accessible photographs to get their spouses and their HOA on board.We start our conversation by establishing some ground rules: what is a groundcover? Kathy says it’s any plant that covers the ground thickly enough to suppress weeds, which kicks off a conversation about turf substitutes, plant height, maintenance, and moss lawns. We reflect on the history of lawns, the aggressive nature of many groundcovers, and how to manage them through plant choice or through physical intervention. What about avoiding invasive species of groundcovers altogether? Kathy shares some favourites and some species she would never recommend in her region, Washington DC. Erin and Sean offer their own top and bottom choices for Central Ontario and discover, in spite of distance and very different growing seasons, some common ground.For more of Kathy, you can find her in the following places:Upcoming speaking engagementsThe 2025 Northwest Flower Garden Festival in Seattle The 2025 Philadelphia Flower ShowKathy’s Online Platforms• Washington Gardener Plant Store: https://shop.kathyjentz.com/• Washington Gardener Blog:www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com• Washington Gardener Archives:http://issuu.com/washingtongardener• Washington Gardener Discussion Group: https://groups.google.com/g/washingtongardener/To join, send an email to - washingtongardener+subscribe@googlegroups.com• Washington Gardener Twitter Feed:www.twitter.com/WDCGardener• Washington Gardener Bluesky Feed:https://bsky.app/profile/wdcgardener.bsky.social• Washington Gardener Instagram Account:https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/• Washington Gardener Pinterest Account:https://www.pinterest.com/wdcgardener/boards/• Washington Gardener TikTok Account:https://www.tiktok.com/@wdcgardener• Washington Gardener Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine/• Washington Gardener Youtube: www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine• Washington Gardener Amazon Affiliate Store: www.amazon.com/shop/wdcgardener• Washington Gardener Podcast: GardenDChttps://anchor.fm/gardendc/Kathy’s BooksGroundcover Revolution: How to use sustainable, low-maintenance, low-water groundcovers to replace your turfThe Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the CityBooks and Experts Referenced in this Episode:The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin, a.k.a. Mossin’ AnnieComments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHTimestamps00:45 Intro01:10 Welcoming Kathy Jentz1:53 What is a Groundcover, Anyway?03:39 Moss Lawn Appreciation06:03 Mossin' Annie, Moss Lawn Expert08:07 Kathy’s New Book, Groundcover Revolution09:25 Writing Gardening Books for an International Audience11:52 Lawns, Landowners, and Historic Showing Off14:55 Managing Aggressive and Invasive Groundcovers20:39 A Native Lily of the Valley24:45 Growing Conditions in Washington, DC28:49 Growing Conditions in Central Ontario31:50 Very Different Growing Seasons34:50 Kathy’s Favourite Groundcovers40:35 Erin’s Favourite Groundcovers43:40 Sean’s Favourite Groundcovers48:28 Gardening with Deer50:47 Groundcovers Kathy Never Recommends53:22 Groundcovers that Sean Never Recommends 54:54 Managing the Mint Family57:47 Don’t Shame Your Neighbours1:02:30 Erin’s Least Favourite Groundcover1:04 Where to Find Kathy1:05:53 Contact Us and Outro
