STOP Buying MULCH (Plant These Instead!)

Gone are the days of hauling in mulch every single year to cover the ground in between plants. Sedges are the heroes of the garden! If you are a native plant gardener or not, these low growing grass-like plants will fill your garden with beauty and nature. Wildlife like bees, butterflies, birds, and frogs will benefit from the natural covering of the ground, as the sedges act like a mulch layer. Your garden will be so much healthier adding sedges (carex) to your native or ornamental designs.
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[@lisalikesplants]

As you can see, there's still mulch in these photos- I will update this year when my tiny sedges are bigger and covering much more of the ground! Thanks for watching! We are a small community but your comments have been so supportive! 🌱🌱🌱

[@SouthCarolinaTransPlant]

Mm-kay, mm-kay... I'm feeling this. The back of our home faces northeast. There is a tree line along that border. Nothing grows there. How drought-tolerant are Sedges? How do they perform when competing with trees for nutrients and water? I can soak that area, and yet an hour later, it will be bone dry.

[@lisalikesplants]

You can check if carex pensilvanica is native to your area and try some of those. They usually grow well under trees, but it depends on why the area is dry. Is it dry because of a structure or because they are pine trees, etc. I would try the penn sedge and see how it goes, also maybe you can look for sedges specific to your local ecosystem that tolerate dry sites. Good luck! 🌱🌱🌱

[@danny___928]

I really love your videos... do you think you'll make one on Asters? I live in NYC, i've seen there are aster woods, but I saw purple dome because they have bigger blooms.. however there are hardly any videos on YT that talk about different asters and the native cultivars they have in stores now

[@-OBELUS-]

No shade on sedges (ha ha) but you can get free mulch from an arborist. Instead of throwing their chips away at a dump you can ask them to give them to you. It's a win win. They're charged a lot of money to waste all that lovely organic material. Chips take nitrogen from the soil as they decompose thus killing weeds. But after decomposition they add it back!

[@stephy1771]

Does mulch inhibit their spread? I'm setting up my native gardening projects to be taken back over by our landlord and want to make them easy to manage & prevent tons of weeds, but I also want the Penn. sedge plugs I added to fill in the space at the same time.

[@chumpzilla30]

"Sedges have edges, rushes are round and grasses have knees that bend to the ground." In the middle ages, rushes were dried and filled with tallow to make a cheap candle.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@Katydidit]

Interesting!

[@lis819]

Wow…thanks!

[@AmeriMutt76]

"..grasses have nodes, Wherever they're found" I love alternate endings 😅

[@TimeSurfer206]

I have a rather spectacular patch of Path Rush growing on my lawn. That should tell you all you need to know about the "Quality of my soil."

[@parkpatt]

Awesome! I have some wild sedges growing in the shady parts of my yard here in MN and I'm trying to encourage them. I see them thriving in the shady, sandy soils in the woods nearby where they seem to provide year-round food for deer as well as preventing erosion!

[@lisalikesplants]

Nice! Yes they are multi taskers! Thanks for watching. 🌱🌱🌱

[@snsnplpl]

Perfect timing. I have a couple of sedges cooling their heels in a side plot because I am not sure where their final home will be. This is great, thank you

[@lisalikesplants]

Awesome! Thanks for watching! 🌱

[@kristopherfante9646]

I’ve been testing sedges (pensylvanica, radiata, albicans and cherokeensis) for a few years and love them. I just ordered 350 more plugs. I’m with you on eliminating the wood mulch. I put down three large dump truck loads each year and I’m trying to at least eliminate 2/3 of that.

[@lisalikesplants]

That is amazing! Would love to see photos if you post on social media. Sadly KZbin isn't really set up for sharing. Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@TheLexingtonTimes]

This is a really good channel. Not sure how long you've been around, but I feel like I got on the ground floor of something by subscribing when I did. Keep up the high quality content!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot. ☺️ Looking forward to learning even more about doing this. 🌱🌱🌱

[@thistles]

Same! I love the feeling of finding a little channel, thinking “she’s going to take off” and then watching it happen!

[@Acts-1322]

Ground floor... Pun intended I'm sure lol

[@BBogue23]

Great video. Now i desperately need Sedges. I had no idea! My garden is missing an entire part! "Sedges have edges!"

[@lisalikesplants]

They are wonderful, I'm super addicted! 🌱🌱🌱

[@MrThumbsup1011]

Carex can be planted as plugs which often come in 32 count trays. For $100 you can get 32 plants that will slowly spread!

[@TheSuburbanGardenista]

Fantastic video in every way! We should be friends. So happy to find another native plant enthusiast sharing this important info! And you're doing it so well! Looking forward to learning more from you! 💚

[@lisalikesplants]

What a sweet compliment, thank you so much! 🌱🌱🌱

[@DovidM]

Carex albicans is called white tinge sedge or oak sedge.

[@trashbuilds8351]

This is great! Vinca Major and Minor have become a replacement for mulch for me; they trap moisture (my dogwoods & Hydrangeas appreciate) and block out most weeds once filled out, so they are a godsend around trees/shrubs (but they are like vines so work best behind a border and an occasional edge trim so they don't drape over into lawn. I live in Michigan so my soil is really clay and dries out easily and so instead of fighting against what grows easily/naturally around here (other than damaging/invasive ones), I'm trying to find ways to incorporate plants like this video. I also don't have a ton of money to keep the pristine lawns/gardens that other people do and so videos like this are encouraging and help me feel less crazy for not going with the cookie-cutter approach so many suburban Americans have with landscaping lol.

[@MrThumbsup1011]

Carex pennsylvanica, appalachica, cherokeensis flaccosperma, go in just about every design I do.

[@lisalikesplants]

That's awesome! They are so valuable. 🌱🌱🌱

[@hollybritton7255]

So interesting. Would love to try these under fruit trees.

[@RoyDiblik]

Great video Lisa...if you're ever inclined to visit Northwind, pls reach out!

[@lisalikesplants]

Wow! Thank you so much for saying hi! I would love to visit and spread the love of sedges. 🌱🌱🌱

[@sciencenerd101]

Loving the weekly uploads!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@lauripedersen3150]

Omg the footage of you cutting back in the snow could be me today in Iowa! It's been so warm and Mother Nature wants to remind us who's boss. 😂 We've got big fat lilac buds and rhubarb coming thru, irises and all the bulbs actively growing. I did have to cover my winter sowing containers that have sprouted. I have a few Fox sedge planted on a little hill between my house and my neighbor that had seemed like it was eroding - we've had little rain and both our lawns disintegrated. Probably going to add more this year.

[@lisalikesplants]

Yeah the weather has been something lately! Fox sedge is a great idea! Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@pattipants]

Yes! I have this all over and I have a big shade garden that needs help! Thank you❤

[@lisalikesplants]

You're welcome! Make sure you know which species you have. A lot of people have said they have invasive nutsedge so use caution with the sedges that are growing around, and find ones that are native to your area. ❤️

[@Woodgal91]

Excellent video! Great info, great B-roll and great presentation skills! You’re awesome, so I hope you keep making videos!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thank you so much! 🌱🌱🌱

[@rayspencer5025]

I have long promoted Path Rush (not a sedge but similar) on compacted soils that experience heavy traffic. You have likely seen Path Rush if you go hiking and seen a grass-like plant that is growing on a trail.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for this comment! I have definitely seen this on the trail and wondered what it was! It seems to struggle but anything that can tolerate the bikes and still be alive is really tough. 🌱🌱🌱

[@rayspencer5025]

@@lisalikesplants Path Rush is very tough, but it doesn't grow lush. It thrives in compacted soils, but as soon as it encounters the path edges it gives way to other vegetation. So it will not over-run everything else.

[@notoots]

I like the way sedges look!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks notoots! 🌱

[@j.c.linden]

Here in Indiana, nut sedge is an AWFUL AWFUL WEED.

[@PeterGMcDermott]

Looking for this--I've spent HOURS (if not days) pulling nutsedge from my lawns in Texas and Tennessee. Horrible stuff.

[@lisalikesplants]

I agree with you, we have yellow nutsege where wet do not want it and it's impossible. Some sedges are invasive and some of them are a PIA and way too aggressive to use in the garden. Thanks for watching!

[@utubemouse]

@@PeterGMcDermottIt is endemic in our community garden, but we found that feeding our plants with diluted agricultural molasses and epsom salts alternating with fish fertilizer and weeding selectively around our plants, weed whacking and mulching we could co-exist with the nutgrass and it does seem to keep some other weeds at bay, and is an almost instant cover crop/living mulch when you can’t get to a bare area. It makes great compost and is an almost inedible, hard to peel, but not bad tasting emergency food source. ❤

[@KG-iy6nc]

Enjoyed the video! I planted 50 carex shortii plugs this year, but I looked into several of the species you mentioned.

[@danny___928]

ETSY has a great selection too !!

[@lisalikesplants]

Nice! 🌱🌱🌱

[@Encephalitisify]

The grasses here in the PNW don’t need sun. lol. But it sucks trying to keep them alive in the summer.

[@keithherron6355]

Because sedges use rhizomes to propagate, they can spread from your ornamental areas into the lawn. Nutsedge is particularly pernicious. Since nutsedges tend to grow faster and taller than turf grass, I have found them to be a nuisance, forcing me to mow more frequently to avoid having them make my lawn look unkempt with uneven tall areas scattered across my lawn. Pulling them out of the lawn does not help, but instead stimulates the nutsedge to grow more abundantly. With my most recent move to a new home, I was so happy to find there were no sedges anywhere near my lawn!

[@lisalikesplants]

I don't recommend allowing non-native, invasive nutsedge to run rampant through the landscape. Sorry for the confusion, I recommend species native to your area. In the eastern US, I recommend checking out the 5 species I discuss in the video if you live in eastern North America. Luckily, invasive nutsedge isn't sold in stores, so there isn't a danger of purchasing it by mistake.

[@mr-vet]

I definitely need to minimize the amount of mulch I use. I’ve put down 175 yards of mulch on my property in the past few weeks.

[@lisalikesplants]

Wow! Yeah you can definitely find some ways to fill in that empty space. Not just sedges but other plants too. If we have some patience in the spring while the garden doesn't look its best, the plants leaf out by june and you can't even tell the difference. Veggie beds are a little different, but for perennial beds I think this is a good way to go. 🌱🌱🌱

[@LindasFlowersandVegetablesGard]

Good ideas!

[@linho6366]

If these stood a bit more upright and could tolerate a baking summer sun (7/VA) I would totally plant these but alas I have zero shade

[@lisalikesplants]

For sure. Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolis heterolepis) or side oats gramma might work for baking sun. Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱

[@hakdov6496]

I'm still struggling trying to identify them in the wild.

[@lisalikesplants]

Yeah, if they aren't flowering? It's really hard 😂

[@beatpirate8]

my soil is like clay. thx good to know!

[@backspace12399]

I don’t know much about sedges but I’m definitely for plants and cover crops. But in my vegetable garden we have yellow nutsedge and it’s the most difficult weed to get rid of. Keep it away from your no till veggies xD

[@lisalikesplants]

The yellow nutsedge is a pain! I have it too 🙄 Sedges are perennial so they aren't good cover crops for veggie gardens- but the right species is wonderful in the perennial garden. Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@backspace12399]

@@lisalikesplants thanks for the upload 🙏🏼

[@CarlsGarden]

Question, will any sedges grow under white pines? I have a roughly 14ft tall pine tree in my garden and have a few natives that I’m going to plant but I can not find any sedges or grasses besides Carex Pennsylvanica. Thanks in advance!

[@lisalikesplants]

Yes, sedges will grow under white pine, especially a younger tree. The pine might not be big enough to give the penn sedge enough shade. In Illinois I also recommend prairie dropseed and side oats gramma for a similar effect in mostly sun. Good luck! 🌱🌱🌱

[@CarlsGarden]

Thanks! I will give the prairie dropseed a try!

[@DovidM]

Sedges are very useful but I’ve found them incompatible with some plants like lantana and Vinca major.

[@lisalikesplants]

True, thanks for the tip!

[@mysticmeadow9116]

How do you find Sedges? Wait until April and look at any Georgia yard that hasn't been mowed yet, like mine. LOL Never really thought of putting them in my garden because they are weeds here. If I used them I'd have to label them or they may get pulled with next year's garden clean up. Happy Gardening 🌱

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for your comment. Sedges are a group with hundreds of different species. The weeds you have are probably invasive nutsedge or nutgrass. I definitely wouldn't suggest letting them take over! There are species of sedge that are very easy to control and look great in the flower bed in shade. This can help us reduce the amount of mulch we need while not causing a problem. The species mentioned in the video are not aggressive- except maybe the palm sedge.

[@jasonb2089]

Never! But great video. Love Carex. ☺

[@lisalikesplants]

Fair!

[@chaseakins3440]

I tried to use Carex pennsylvanica as a ground cover, but it's slow growing and difficult to start from seed. If you want to use sedges as a mulch, be prepared to spend big money and plant densely.

[@lisalikesplants]

I agree it is difficult to start carex from seed. Planting densely is the way to go, one per 12-18". I recommend using plugs. There are some places where you can buy them in flats for a reasonable price. After that, dividing them should be much easier in subsequent years, since they spread really well by rhizome if they like the spot they're in.

[@oldporkchops]

Hi Lisa, is there a way to differentiate sedges from crab grass? For some reason, I've tons of what I believe are clumps of a type of carex growing all over my lawn. Thinking they are crab grass, I've uprooted some but after watching your video, I am having doubts as to whether I should leave them to grow. They have grown much faster and more vigorous than the native bermuda grass. The grass is still brown from winter, but they are lush and green and huge, but somehow do not have the sideshooting crab leg-like runners like traditional crab grass. Is there a way to tell whether they are sedges or crab grass? Thank you in advance for your help.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for your question. Crabgrass is an annual weed that pops up when the weather gets warm and it gets really big and gnarly by mid to late summer. It doesn't sound like crabgrass, but maybe some other kind of lawn weed, a rough looking fescue or maybe an unwelcome weedy sedge. I'm not an expert in lawn weeds and won't be able to identify but I would let some of it grow and when it goes to seed, you can remove some and take it to your extension office or send them good photos to see if they can tell you what it is and you can decide how to handle it once you have identification. Good luck! 🌱🌱🌱

[@oldporkchops]

@@lisalikesplants This is a wise plan of action. Thank you for being so detailed in your recommendations.

[@nanasloves]

What if I just let the grass grow instead of pulling it?

[@trinsit]

I love your hair.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thank you!

[@Thought_it_up]

Ooh gurl no affiliate link is a huge missed opportunity. That scarf tho 👌 werk

[@calyodelphi124]

Congratulations, I just created an entirely new playlist for gardening videos after the few drops down the rabbit hole that the Almighty Algorithm™ has seen fit to drag me down after watching this video, because this looks like incredibly handy info to be able to reference back to later for when my found family and I have space to start up our own gardens. :)

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@GoingGreenMom]

Now if only I wouldnt get taggedfor weeds if I planted this.

[@lisalikesplants]

If you do it right, you can make it look super nice! Maybe try a small area first! 🌱🌱🌱

[@GoingGreenMom]

@@lisalikesplants Nope, we get tagged if grass is more than 3" tall. This looks like grass. Which is the weed I want to get rid of. Lol.

[@msds1502]

What are the names of the sedge/grass that has medium width leaves that appear very soft/droopy (3:56) ? What kind of sedges could potentially be used to replace traditional grass in low-to-no traffic areas?

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for watching! That is Japanese forest grass, hakonechloa. Very popular ornamental grass, @TheImpatientGardener has a couple of videos about theirs. In no traffic areas there's a lot of options, depending on your location and what the soil conditions are. Sedges don't bounce back much after being stepped on, so you would have to have a path through them. In eastern North America a lot of us start with pensilvania Sedge, Carex pensilvanica.

[@drmasroberts]

I have been fighting nut sedges in my garden for decades. Those and other weedy sedges also make unsightly patches in wetter areas of my lawn. This is the first time I have heard of someone who likes sedges.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for saying this. Invasive nutsedge is terrible! I will make another video about them. These are good sedges. They look good in the garden and don't spread everywhere. 🌱🌱🌱

[@bradmckinney1997]

what are Moar Plants?

[@feeesh4324]

I always get so annoyed with my father when he has a truck collect our leaves that we rack up…it’s literally free mulch that breaks downs easily

[@lisalikesplants]

For real!

[@AntonKoba]

I think where I live sedges are just weeds :) How to tell one from another?

[@lisalikesplants]

If they are already growing in your garden where you don't want them, it's probably a weed. Invasive nutsedge and yellow nutsedge are the common pests. They are pretty easily identified by the leaf, the "nut" underground, and the flower. The sedges I recommend for eastern North America in the video will probably not be growing wild in the neighborhood and will have to be purchased.

[@extraincomesuz]

Your bangs look like sedges!❤

[@MeanOldLady]

I wish I had the problem of part shade... Everything's on full blast here in the summer. So hard on young trees! I mulch them when young so they don't have competition & then put other companion plants around them when they get older after the mulch pile's worn down. I also grow NOTHING near the house because who wants foundation repairs down the line?

[@theotherme4120]

What is your lip color please?! I want to buy it!

[@fuzzy3440]

carex texensis, the best part is the name.

[@Myenyme]

would sedges be good for a hell strip (between sidewalk and street)?

[@lisalikesplants]

Yes if they are drought tolerant- you might look into sporobolis and side oats gramma which are also grassy plants not in the Sedge family but they are similar plants. Good luck!

[@Katydidit]

Serious? I have been yanking sedge from flower beds, veg beds and lawn for almost 25 years now. Please do a video about which ones are beneficial and which are invasive!!! I am in zone 8b/9a. They all seem like weeds here. Please tell me I am wrong and save me some hours of labor!!

[@lisalikesplants]

Haha I definitely can do a video on invasives, and yes I have experience with yellow nutsedge which is a serious pain. I don't recommend sedges for the vegetable garden, this is really for the perennial garden but I should have specified. The 5 species I listed in the video are native to Illinois but many of them have wide ranges. None of them are aggressive, except for the palm sedge. If you are interested in sedges for your perennial garden I would google "natuve sedges" and "my city" and see what comes up, if you're interested. Otherwise that nutsedge is a pain and usually can only be removed by digging up the entire bed or using the hard stuff.

[@gleelee2008]

gorgeous sedges yes! but all i see is tick habitat. ticks love grasses.

[@lisalikesplants]

They love lawn grass too!

[@Dangeresque_2]

Lol no one ever comes to Peoria 😢

[@lisalikesplants]

We are missing out! ❤️

[@RionPhotography]

It seems like instead of giving your beds something that nourishes and revitalizes the soil (mulch) you are planting something that’s going to compete with your plants instead? Anything that spreads is going to have all that competition now.

[@lisalikesplants]

If I was looking to get a harvest of vegetables or fruits I wouldn't recommend planting sedges. This is mostly for the perennial bed.

[@StayAtHomeMeme]

What grow zones do these work in?

[@lisalikesplants]

In general these are North American sedges found in the eastern half of the continent. To find out if a sedge is native to where you are you can do a google search for the native species for example "carex pensilvanica + BONAP" and it will give you a map. Any plant you can search for the name + "Native Range" and it should give you the map. With native plants we don't use zones, since Florida and Arizona are in a similar zone but obviously have different plants growing in their ecosystem.

[@StayAtHomeMeme]

@@lisalikesplants thank you! This is really helpful. Just moved to a farm in New England and want to set up some gardens around the house.

[@largo8013]

Layers

[@jasont80]

I'm against purchasing mulch, but it's free at a lot of local landfills.

[@lisalikesplants]

It's such a great service for the city to provide it for free! I don't have a truck and I'm not super strong so the cost of the material isn't always the biggest cost for me.

[@jasont80]

@@lisalikesplants I've seen people at the landfill line their trunk with a tarp and load up! Not something I would do because that mulch can get really hot from bacterial decomposition.

[@catsinq5726]

Maybe my N. FL sedge is different from these varieties. It spreads out from the center creating a flat circle, crushes everything under it, and certainly doesn't grow tall enough to be attractive.

[@lisalikesplants]

There are hundreds of different species of sedges, and if you have some growing where you don't want them they might be an invasive species. We have the problem too, yellow nursedge grows out of control on a property I work on.

[@catsinq5726]

@@lisalikesplants What do you do to get rid of it?

[@nancygilliland4002]

These are invasive & harsh with sharp frones😮

[@lisalikesplants]

You might be thinking of some invasive sedge species. The ones in the video are good guys I promise! 🌱🌱🌱

[@siggy16]

Ticks?

[@lisalikesplants]

Nah 🌱🌱🌱

[@silverbackag9790]

Yeah.

[@alanerpington5698]

The purpose of mulch is not to look pretty. It is not to keep weeds down. The purpose of mulch is to feed and your plants and soil, period.

[@melvin_0bviously]

@alanerpinton5698 Mulch can do that. Especially shredded leaves. That quickly and efficiently brings the Chief decomposers: earthworms- the unsung heroes of the garden. They process the leaves and other organic matter into magical worm poop. They aerate the soil. It’s wonderful. That’s not what modern mulch is though. This is an industry set up to reuse literally every piece of ground-up wood material. Some of it is fine! Some isn’t. But to the point where we have altered what our aesthetic for what a planting bed should look like. Trees don’t naturally exist with a volcano of mulch around them. Yet, modern landscaping looks incomplete somewhat without mounds of it, where teams of workers are incentivized to use up yards and yards of it. Which doesn’t help plants flourish. But does allow them to perpetuate the need to plant more plants. Sounds good. Helps the economy. I’d rather pay someone to help me remove invasives and set up systems that cooperate with natural cycles and native species. I understand that isn’t everyone. And I get your point about the purpose of mulch. It’s that it just doesn’t work that way anymore.

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

It seems nonsensical to pay for mulch.

[@a.Janine.pretty]

I hate mulch! It’s smelly and expensive so I want to have a NO MULCH garden and no lawn/grass yard

[@lisalikesplants]

Awesome! You're in the right place! 🌱🌱🌱

[@victoriawhite3662]

Sorry but I am in a WAR against sedges of many types They are taking over my horse pasture, are inedible for them and are unstoppable. Very invasive 😢

[@lisalikesplants]

Yes I definitely don't recommend invasive sedges.

[@Randalian]

The jump cuts were driving me crazy, I had to stop watching.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for the feedback. Believe me, you don't want to watch the uncut version! 🍅🍅🍅 Hopefully as I get more practice speaking on camera there will be fewer cuts.

[@DovidM]

Some of the sedges will after a few years have dead patches. You can get ahead of this problem by dividing the sedge plants, and replanting the offsets.

[@lisalikesplants]

Great advice! Thanks for watching. 🌱🌱🌱

[@McJiver]

Dead spots may be caused by grubs.

[@MagikalSeasons]

Prairie Moon Nursery and American Meadows are great online sources for natives and grasses. They have seeds, bareroot & plants. Both have sedges I have ordered from Prairie Moon Nursery they have great seeds and plants.

[@lisalikesplants]

Great recommendation. Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@KayClarke-i8y]

Thank you for sharing!

[@akraen1858]

Hi from the arctic circle in Norway! This useful video sent me down a research rabbit hole because not only do I care about a few flower beds in my garden, but I live on the western coast on an island just south of the Arctic Circle (near Tjøtta if you're curious). So I was researching what sort of sedges we might have here and they are much the same. It turns out you gave us the best advice we were looking for to stop some of our coastal erosion. Carex arenaria (Sand Sedge) - Sandsivaks (Norwegian name) is particularly beneficial to coastal areas with sandy soil. It can do all the great things you highlighted in your video but can also withstand cold, harsh winds and stop your garden from turning into sand dunes! Really happy I found your channel, it's useful even an ocean away

[@lisalikesplants]

I'm so happy it was useful to you! Erosion is a huge problem and if you can find some sedges native to your area, they can be so helpful. 🌱🌱🌱

[@laurenbarounis146]

I have never given sedges much thought. But now I will!

[@lisalikesplants]

I'm trying to get the word out! Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@Redbarngardens]

I have some native sedges on my property that i have started moving around into the landscaping, and mulch is exactly what I used them as! They saved me some money and looked great planted under a river birch! I've got my eye on some (possibly) rush as well. Thanks to the comment up above for the little rhyme!

[@lisalikesplants]

That sounds wonderful! Thanks for watching. 🌱🌱🌱

[@mx.olivia]

this was great! I did a few rounds of wood chip mulch that I inoculated with mushrooms, it totally worked, buy I never could beat the slugs to them 😂 and then the woodchips all decomposed and now I had big empty spots under my trees that the grass pushes in on. Will explore my local sedges for inspiration.

[@lisalikesplants]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Nothing wrong with starting out with mulch, but yeah plants are the way to go for me! 🌱🌱🌱

[@debbiey9452]

Off topic but I LOVE your hair. So beautiful!! It fits you perfectly.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks so much! 🌱🌱🌱

[@HYDROPONICS-INDOORS]

Awesome video and info, thanks for sharing. "Cultivating kindness one seed at a time" 🌻🌻🙏🙏🌻🌻

[@lisalikesplants]

🌱🌱🌱

[@threeriversforge1997]

Good talk! I'm a huge fan of sedges and just planted about a bunch of C.pensylvanica under the Post Oak in the front yard. I bought 4" pots thinking that I could divide them in half or maybe even quarters, but that wasn't the best idea I've ever had. After the first few, I opted to just plant them whole and those ones look much nicer. They're all doing well, but the divided ones just have that spindly look that you know will take years to come into itself. One thing I haven't heard much about is how fast the C.pensylvanica takes to reach that full 12" diameter. I've heard 3 years for the prairie grasses, but there's never any mention of how long it takes for the carex to really start showing out. I love that segment from you 'rain garden'. The area under my oak gets standing water for a few hours, or days, when we have a good rain, but I never thought of it as a suitable site for plants that are listed as preferring wet feet. Seeing your cracked soil let me know that I can plant some of those under my oak, and I think I'll do just that. Native plants are the best, and I'm really enjoying doing my part to help restore the ecosystem. Sedges don't get nearly the love they deserve, so it's fun to stick them in the ground. As you say, anything to stop piling on gobs of mulch every year!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks so much! Penn sedge can take three years to reach this size from seed but from plugs, a whole growing season will do. I don't grow sedges from seed because I can't term them apart from grass weeds when they are small. 😅🌱🌱🌱

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@lisalikesplants Oh, it'll grow full size in just one season? That's fantastic news! I started with 4" pots from the nursery, and they all looked rather decent for that size. It'll be nice to see them really put some body on them!

[@jossgreen9318]

Literally just last week bought seed for pensylvanica, squarrosa, and rosea ! I bought them for a bed of dry shade on the north side of my house and a "rain" garden that's actually the AC drip pipe.

[@lisalikesplants]

That'a Awesome! Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@pansepot1490]

Watching from Europe it seems to me that Americans have a fixation for “ornamental” mulch, meaning that mulch remains visible even in full growing season and is part of the design. Imo it gives a “municipal” park vibe. Here it’s just functional to suppress weeds. Never bought any, just used fallen leaves, grass clippings, homemade compost etc. Spread in the fall or spring and it disappears from sight as soon as the plants start to grow. Can’t do the same with sedges, especially if all the situations you show in the video have mulch around sedges. Very misleading title and very misleading way to present the issue. If the aim is to reduce mulch there’s ton of ground cover plants for every situation, from shade to sun, from dry to bog. Nothing new about that.

[@lisalikesplants]

I don't think we disagree at all! Thanks for watching. 🌱🌱🌱

[@echognomecal6742]

Some are awesome. Some are invasive. Some are INVASIVE. Plz research for your area & hardiness zone so you don't replace one invasive with another. Side note: Besides speaking well, having great visuals, & giving lots of info, this person exudes personal style. Lovin the hair.

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks so much for the style compliment! You are right, always look for sedges native to your area. Luckily no one is selling invasive nutsedge but you never know! 🌱🌱🌱

[@echognomecal6742]

@@lisalikesplants Just my opinion, but you look modern elegant, it's fantastic. I'd never thought of it before last year or so, but I'm surprised @ how frequently invasive species are sold when there are native & safe options available! Now I do a quick search beforehand. Recently I found out how common periwinkle is near old homes...& I have some! It's going to be a pain & a 1/2 to eradicate

[@itsmekristy]

Ok I think you just convinced me stop pulling these little grassy clumps that keep popping up in my dry shade.

[@lisalikesplants]

Find out what it is, and if it's a good sedge, you struck gold! Unfortunately sometimes the volunteer sedges are invasive

[@freeforall825]

It's also considered ornimental grass if you are trying to find it locally .

[@Questinia1]

I am extremely lucky in that I live on a property that naturally came with a huge variety of native sedges. C. pennsylvanica is amazing as a huge carpet under trees especially when the wind blows. Thanks for your video. Subscribed.

[@lisalikesplants]

That is so wonderful! I'll bet it looks awesome right now. 🌱🌱🌱

[@GoldenPowergardens]

I really like this look, I have a big maple tree that has made it hard for much of the yard, grass, plants. Do I have to worry about ticks? The back yard is fenced but I have a dog. Maybe just some spots of sedge to try.

[@lisalikesplants]

They shouldn't increase the amount of ticks- where I am the dogs got more ticks on their walks than they did hanging out in the backyard.

[@janelltabora527]

Until this video, I didn’t know where these cute patches of grass came from.

[@mexicas6637]

Thank you for this video! I was looking at sedges online in the fall and forgot about it until this was in my feed. I need to replace english ivy in a huge area in my backyard under pine trees. This will work great! I already have jacob's ladder and hellebore in that area. Just need to fill in the space.

[@lisalikesplants]

Oh awesome! Yeah the penn sedge will look nice with those plants! Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@tripudium17]

Thanks for this, a book I read spoke about how living plants are best for soil health, followed by dead plant matter then mulch. In some ways though mulch is less overwhelming for a beginner because just set it and forget it. 😂 What about shade loving edible perennials instead of sedges?

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks for watching! Why not both? ☺️ The sedges will help support the other plants, especially trees. 🌱🌱🌱

[@tripudium17]

@@lisalikesplants Hmmmm😏

[@vlunceford]

When you say sedges, I think nutsedge, which is the bane of my existence in the garden. It’s a scourge and nearly impossible to eliminate totally. It’s horrid!

[@lisalikesplants]

I feel you! Nutsedge is a really annoying invasive weed in North America. The right native sedge can look great in a flowerbed, pollinator or ornamental garden.

[@JOHNCHENSJCA]

I was wondering what were the robust bunch grasses I picked up from the wind. Thank you, Lisa, for the nice informative video!

[@mintsaturn]

I'm in 5b/6a. Subscribed!

[@lisalikesplants]

Welcome!🌱🌱🌱

[@mintsaturn]

​@@lisalikesplants rewatching this vid because after seeing it the first time a few weeks ago, I realized how many sedges are growing in my garden. I opted not to mow over the patches that are on the edges of my lawn, and I even dug some up from the beds and relocated them to some bare spots. Normally I would pull them up and toss them in the compost pile! Also I noticed something about my neighbor's "lawn" that seems to never get more than 3 inches tall.... it's completely sedge. They didn't mow for a few years and that's what took over. It's really beautiful

[@awildapproach]

I love sedges! Wonderful video. Makes me want to add the Appalachian and Bur sedges to my garden!

[@lisalikesplants]

You won't regret it! The bur sedge is amazing in moist full sun. Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@roynessk07]

Great video! I have some Cherokee Sedge arriving in a few weeks for along my backyard fence/vine pergola. Full sun.... What are your thoughts on that sedge type?

[@lisalikesplants]

That's sounds awesome! I am not familiar with that sedge but as long as you put it in conditions it likes, (regarding sun and soil moisture) it should do great! Thanks for watching. 🌱🌱🌱

[@papillondogs4297]

I do have lots of wild grasses and sedges on my property. Some I left because they are pretty and others are growing in the wooded area off the main yards. I'd like to grow more, but my immediate worry is about ticks... Ticks love tall grass, which is why we mow low and often... Google said: "The one sedge best avoided in the Summer is the pendulous sedge (Carex pendula), found extensively in the woodland. They tend to be the home to the tick, which is becoming more common and may carry Lyme disease."

[@jacquelinea8224]

This is my first year planting at our new home. Deer resistance is key here, and I saw that sedge is a good choice for that!

[@lisalikesplants]

They are! I think the deer don't prefer the "edges."

[@sheilahenry7279]

I’m looking for something to go under my fence line. I hate weed eating but enjoy monitoring & weeding by hand. I want it to look natural yet overgrown w/ some order. The fence will have hardy kiwi on it & maybe honey berry in front. Would the sedge be good for actually under a chain link fence & behind the next layer of edible? I’d thought monkey grass but like this look better.

[@brendenrauch2631]

Thank you for this video! Midwest gardener here in Michigan. Which garden centers do order from? Sedges are the superheros!

[@lisalikesplants]

Since I have done garden installs I get them wholesale. But on my website lisalikesplants dot com I have a list of places that sell them.

[@peterellis4262]

My woodland is loaded with sedges ;) Almost anything is better than store bought mulch :(

[@NguyenVinhHang]

Sedges! Yes! Subscribed ❤😊

[@tawelwchgaming8957]

Generally i recommend checking out sedges that are native to your area. Just choosing willy nilly might not work the best, as it may not be suited for your region. Many regions will have multiple sedges native to your region, and you don't risk planting a potentially invasive sedge. For instance, where I live there are at least 100 different species of Carex that are native. With that said, typically invasive plants would originate from a region outside the country (South Africa and the Mediterranean most notably). I'm glad that Lisa is recommending to check in with Native Plant Nurseries. I also want to note that I just discovered this channel, so if Lisa regularly recommends planting native plants to your region, i wouldn't know. Finally, If you want to diversify, you could also look into ferns. Where I live, we also use Artemisia douglasiana (California mugwort) as a native under the tree plant, although it does extremely well in open sun too.

[@lisalikesplants]

Couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks for watching! 🌱🌱🌱

[@KayClarke-i8y]

So glad that this video popped up in my feed. Seriously, this is info. that I needed. Thank you so much.

[@lisalikesplants]

You are so welcome! 🌱🌱🌱

[@chrisnash584]

Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses have asses, all the way down 😅