It feels great to walk through soft grass in the yard, or spread out a blanket on the grass for a backyard picnic. Turf lawns offer many benefits, but they also come at a price – costing both time and money. While traditional grass can look beautiful in your landscaping, some homeowners don’t want the care and maintenance required to take care of grass.
Are you tired of watering, fertilizing, and mowing every week? Then you might be considering a grass alternative in your yard. Not only can this change be an environmentally friendly upgrade, but there are ways that you can minimize maintenance and improve beauty at the same time.
Popular lawn alternatives include:
Artificial Turf
If you want the beauty of a green yard without the maintenance of having a lawn, then artificial turf can be a good choice. It’s like carpeting in your home, but with durable materials that hold up well in outdoor conditions. These fibers are made of synthetic materials and can even be designed for sports or dogs.
You can choose from different styles and pile heights to achieve the ideal results that you prefer. The fibers come in various shapes and formations. There are small holes in the bottom of the turf, allowing water drainage. Turf is a great investment: when quality materials are installed correctly, it can last for decades.
Xeriscaping
This landscaping method uses plants that are native to the area, making it easier to keep everything alive with the natural rainfall. A xeriscape garden is lower maintenance compared to a traditional lawn, especially when proper soil grading, mulching, and planting design are used. The goal is to maximize rainfall retention and minimize the amount of time you need to use a sprinkler system.
Flower Beds
Do you want to replace a portion of your lawn and beautify the landscaping at the same time? Building a flower bed is an excellent option to consider. The right flower bed design can save water and even bring birds into the yard.
If you are looking for a practical way to grow plants instead of grass, consider making a bed of edible plants. Growing your own food can be enjoyable, especially when it’s time to harvest and you have fresh ingredients for the dinner table.
Gravel and Rocks
Decorative gravel looks great, and you don’t have to worry about keeping any plants alive. Choose different sizes and colors to create the design that you prefer. You can find gravel in various colors and washes. Gravel is an affordable solution compared to traditional lawns, especially when you consider that gravel requires no water and minimal maintenance.
Groundcover
Groundcover plants, such as Creeping Charlie, can add a green touch to your yard without the maintenance that comes with a lawn. Keep in mind that these groundcover plants can spread like crazy, So, you should be strategic in where you choose to plant it.
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Written by Becki Andrus
