Should you ditch the lawn?

Many home owners I know have gone anti-lawn in recent years. Some to save water, some to save time, and others to allow for more actual garden space. Some in fact went anti-lawn because a lawn just wouldn’t grow (I lived in new Mexico for a long while – almost no one has a decent grass lawn.)

Landscaping design by Zorock – rocks instead of all grass.

Personally I think grassy lawns are overrated. I’d rather have more garden space and less to water. That said, if you decide to go anti-grass what could you have instead?

Ground covers: Ground covers are pretty cool. Not only are there many native ground covers per most areas to choose from, but ground covering plants are good for even problematic yards. Slopes for example, or small strips of yard, or around hard ground accents, usually called hardscapes (like flat rocks or paved areas in your yard). Ground cover choices should be made by area, but some interesting ideas are periwinkle, snow-in-summer, bungleweed, creeping mint, and ground morning glory.

More gardening space: Plant even more flowers and food! Yay.

Consider recycled rocks: Use recycled rocks (or not recycled rocks) to create cool designs in your landscape. Bonus, you never have to water rocks. Well, you can, but they just won’t appreciate it.

Try going wild: I think wild yards look great. Not everyone does, but it’s pretty sweet to see a yard full of poppies, Oregon iris, or other wild flowers. Allowing a native wild flower garden to grow is a low-care option too (after considering weeding and some watering time).

Create people spaces: Add a deck, patio, or other people friendly space that doesn’t require grass.

What else can you think of?