These less-traditional options create areas that have greater beauty and pollinator appeal
There is nothing quite like a lawn to really set off a planting bed . A frame is make with the supergrass below and the sky above . I have a dog-iron , and she love the lawn . Children and grandchildren also need a place to frolic and operate , while yard games like cornhole and croquet are play by all long time . Most of us , however , are now earn the grandness of practicing better resourcefulness management and using little to no chemicals in our landscape painting , which means it ’s sentence to rethink the lawn .
Lawn germ mixtures are now useable withlow - grow , no - mow seed . This type of lawn does n’t ask fertilizer or chemicals to keep it growing . It also is not a thirsty turf , like traditional yards . It will never look like a golf class , but that is rarely the look gardener care for anyway . The following are three ways that I have rethink the idea of lawn within my own property or the property of my garden design clients .
Stop mowing, and interplant perennials or bulbs
I inherited about 3 acres of lawn when I purchased my planetary house . Instead of rip up the survive turf ( and destroy the land structure ) I ’ve choose to stop mow many orbit , and intersperse the turf withbulbsandwildflowers . The amount of wildlife , pollinators , and birds that employ these country now is truly astonishing . In other areas I will still now and again mow , but I have deliberately planted an array of perennial primer coat covers ( see bulleted list below ) . These low - growing plants have continued to circularise over time , pack over more and more of the sward , which I do n’t mind . I have intercourse the flowers that spread out throughout the lawn , blooming at dissimilar times . I also do n’t water these areas of “ lawn , ” because the land handle help keep the expanse looking green in summer .
Reseed the turf areas with a wildflower mix
If you want to go one step further and remove all your turf , you could supercede it by reseeding the areas with limited smorgasbord of grass seed and wildflowers . These premixed bags often include many of the creeping perennial above and confound in some annuals like sweet alyssum ( Lobularia maritima * , one-year ) as well . These , along with a base of aboriginal grasses , make a toughened lawn that can tolerate foot dealings and mowing , with the added benefit of beauty . Read the packages carefully — some are genuine wildflower hayfield mixes and would get too big for a traditional lawn . Other mix moderate seeds of plants that can be problematical to sure areas of the res publica ( English daisy is on the noxious weed lean in Oregon , for example ) , so choose your mix cautiously .
Abandon the idea of a “lawn space” altogether
Creating a lawn - like space with no grass or grass - like plants at all is also becoming more democratic . ruby-red thyme ( Thymuspraecox‘Coccineus ’ , Zones 3–8 ) makes a bully “ lawn . ” highly drought tolerant , this plant forms a dense mat and flowers during early summertime . It is also evergreen . Elfin thyme ( Thymusserpyllum , Zones 3–8 ) has a endearing blue cast to the leave , and imperial peak . Both these plant are sun loving , can take light traffic , and require some pruning , but no mowing , to create a matted expression .
Any choice is better than the weed - free , extremely chemicalized , overwatered , manicured lawns of yesterday . Grow a greener earth in your own backyard .
QUESTION AND ANSWER
Why not try microclover as a lawn replacement?
One of adept lawn - alternative plants I ’ve tried is microclover , which are small form of clean clover ( Trifolium repensvar . ‘ Pirouette ’ and ‘ Pipolina ’ , Zones 3–10 ) . This is a great choice for gardeners who want to transition away from grass but still have a respectable lawn . Microclover is drought tolerant , has a dense growth habit , and matures to 4 to 6 inch grandiloquent . It can be mowed and does n’t blossom , which is important for barefoot musician . It can take sunshine or shade . An bestow welfare is because it is a leguminous plant , it fixes nitrogen from the air into the soil and provides its own green fertilizer .
To discuss these thought or postulate other gardening questions , shoot the breeze with the author on theGardening Answers meeting place .
To show more on Pacific Northwest horticulture , go here .
- This plant can be considered invasive in select regions of the United States .
— Susan Calhoun is the owner of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .
All photos except where noted : Susan Calhoun
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When the author purchased her home, it had nearly 3 acres of traditional turf. She has kept some of the turf in place (much to the delight of her dog Miren, photo left) but planted many ground cover perennials (like English daisies, photo right) into the existing turf as well, eliminating the monoculture almost entirely.
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An area that is left unmown allows spring bulbs and choice perennials to poke through.
Look for seed mixes that combine an array of native wildflowers and grasses for a truly colorful lawn alternative. Just be sure that the array doesn’t grow too tall, or you’ll end up with more of a field look than a lawn.Photo: Cara Hanstein
Red thyme, along with its cousin elfin thyme, are great lawn alternatives for spots with truly dry conditions. Although they don’t look like traditional turf, they are filled with flowers in midsummer that attract a plethora of pollinators.
Photo: Danielle Sherry
