Many folks would agree that a well-kept expanse of grass makes an attractive landscaping element.  In some neighborhoods a luxuriant, green lawn is a point of pride and no homeowner would even consider tearing up the grass and replacing it with other plants.  Nevertheless, regular turfgrass doesn’t belong in some places and may not be right for everyone.  Let’s examine a few situations where grass is not the most desirable landscaping option and discuss some of the alternatives to the traditional lawn.

The homeowner wants to save effort

Certain people would rather not spend hours caring for a large lawn.  For them, replacing the grass with low-maintenance plants is an easy decision.  Other homeowners want to keep some lawn on their property where children can play and dogs can run, but they would like to minimize the amount of upkeep involved.  There’s no reason why they can’t reduce the size of the grassed area and fill the extra space with durable ground cover plants.

The homeowner wants to save water

In moderate climates, a grass lawn needs one inch of water per week, on average, to keep it going.  If that amount is not supplied by natural rainfall, homeowners have to make up the difference by watering.  Some individuals don’t see that as the best use of a precious resource.  Others are worried about the lawn’s impact on their water bill.  Although watering grass correctly and refraining from over-watering can reduce consumption, ecological concerns may still influence the decision to get rid of the lawn.

Grass won’t grow in the yard

Many properties have isolated spots or even large areas where the lawn doesn’t grow well.  Grass needs sunshine and can’t tolerate almost constant shade.  Damp soil that never dries out is also bad for grass.  Very hot and dry climates can be hard on traditional lawns, too.  Rather than waste time and effort trying to keep grass growing where it doesn’t belong, homeowners should landscape with other types of plants that are a better match for the conditions.

The homeowner wants something different

Some folks think that a traditional lawn is ordinary and boring.  They want more drama and variety in their home landscape, seeing it as an opportunity to express their creative side.  This, too, is a perfectly good reason to look for an alternative to the grass lawn.

What are some of the options?  For gardeners who need a low-maintenance grass that is resistant to heat and survives on very little water, native species such as buffalo grass or blue grama grass may be the answer.  If the homeowner wants something a little different, the charming natural look of a meadow may be created by planting wildflowers and prairie grasses.

Gardeners who are trying to fill in a shady or damp spot or reduce the size of a lawn may find the perfect solution in hardy ground cover plants.  These are low-growing plants that spread out quickly to cover bare soil.  Many varieties are shade-tolerant and will thrive where other vegetation won’t.  Some good options include partridgeberry, wild ginger, Allegheny spurge, and creeping phlox.  Certain fast-growing ground covers such as ajuga, lily of the valley, pachysandra, and periwinkle are popular and easy to find but they can become invasive, taking over more than their fair share of the garden if not kept in check.

A healthy, groomed lawn has its own special appeal, no question about it.  But there are plenty of great options for people who can’t or don’t want to grow regular turfgrass in their yards.  Ground covers, hardy grasses, shrubs and many other types of plants can create an attractive and functional landscape where the typical grass lawn won’t even be missed.