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 engagements

• The 2025 Northwest Flower Garden Festival in Seattle 
• The 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show

Kathy’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: GardenDC

https://anchor.fm/gardendc/

Kathy’s Books

Groundcover Revolution: How to use sustainable, low-maintenance, low-water groundcovers to replace your turf

The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City

Books and Experts Referenced in this Episode:

The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin, a.k.a. Mossin’ Annie

Comments? 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: @plantsalwayswinpodcast

Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com 

Credits

Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays

License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH

Timestamps

00:45 Intro

01:10 Welcoming Kathy Jentz

1:53 What is a Groundcover, Anyway?

03:39 Moss Lawn Appreciation

06:03 Mossin' Annie, Moss Lawn Expert

08:07 Kathy’s New Book, Groundcover Revolution

09:25 Writing Gardening Books for an International Audience

11:52 Lawns, Landowners, and Historic Showing Off

14:55 Managing Aggressive and Invasive Groundcovers

20:39 A Native Lily of the Valley

24:45 Growing Conditions in Washington, DC

28:49 Growing Conditions in Central Ontario

31:50 Very Different Growing Seasons

34:50 Kathy’s Favourite Groundcovers

40:35 Erin’s Favourite Groundcovers

43:40 Sean’s Favourite Groundcovers

48:28 Gardening with Deer

50:47 Groundcovers Kathy Never Recommends

53:22 Groundcovers that Sean Never Recommends 

54:54 Managing the Mint Family

57:47 Don’t Shame Your Neighbours

1:02:30 Erin’s Least Favourite Groundcover

1:04 Where to Find Kathy

1:05:53 Contact Us and Outro