Lawn Alternatives

There is no question that a lawn can be an important component of a residential landscape. A lush green vista both rests the eye and conjures relaxation. The expectation that a sweeping swath of lawn is essential to a beautiful yard is changing, however.  Evolving lifestyles and growing awareness of the environmental impacts of water consumption, herbicide and pesticide use, fertilizer runoff, and the time and expense of lawn upkeep have more homeowners seeking alternatives. Carefully considering the amount of lawn that you actually need and use invites more natural choices that do not require sacrificing beauty or serenity.

Grass is still an obvious choice for children's play, pet exercise and foot traffic areas, but many plants other than traditional turfgrasses allow mowing and feel good to walk on. White clover (Trifolium repens), once a common component of grass seed mixes, is making a come-back.  Like black medic (Medicago lupulina) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), it acts as a built-in fertilizer by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, enhancing and extending a lawn's green color. Instead of battling these and other 'weeds' such as thyme-leaf speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.) and deer-resistant common blue violet (Viola soraria) that determinedly work their way into the best lawns, why not accept and mow them? The collateral benefits of tolerating a less-than-perfect turf carpet include attracting pollinators, reducing the need for fertilizers and herbicides, and pleasing fragrance.

Where recreational activity is not a priority, sedges and no-mow grasses are alternatives that mimic the uniform green of a lawn. No-mow grass varieties are fine fescue blends that once established require little supplemental water or fertilizer. Uncut fescue lawns generally grow 12 to 15 inches and fall over in undulating wave-like mounds about 6 inches high. Mowing two to four times a year is sufficient to maintain a 4-inch height. Local blends developed from the original Prairie Nursery, Wisconsin "No-Mow" grass are now available under various names for specific sun, shade, and soil conditions.

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) has grassy leaves, suppresses weeds and is drought tolerant. It forms soft, 10-inch-tall clumps in creeping colonies. Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea) sports leaves of similar bright color that are puckered and wavy. Spreading sedge (Carex laxiculmis) has foliage of a silvery blue color. Sedges prefer shade, so sun and heat tolerant liriope is a better choice for sunny areas. Liriope spicata has a running habit and fills in quickly with violet summer flower spikes that complement its grass-green leaves. Liriope muscari has a less aggressive clumping habit. A single early-spring mowing at the highest setting removes yearly dead foliage from sedges and liriope.  More traditional groundcovers and sedums such as recently introduced Sedum takesimense 'Atlantis', 2019's Chelsea Flower Show plant of the year, are versatile choices that never need mowing.

A meadow garden may be the perfect alternative for an open, sunny lawn area. The key to success is carefully selecting an appropriate mix of grasses and perennial wildflowers native to Pennsylvania. Perennial meadows usually require two or three years to establish properly. Though not as tidy in appearance as a lawn, meadows can be stunningly beautiful. They teem with life, attracting threatened pollinators and providing critical habitat, food and refuge for countless other species of wildlife.

One of the easiest and lowest maintenance ways to reduce lawn acreage is by converting more of your lawn space to shrub and tree beds. In addition to providing visual privacy, trees and large bushes clean and cool the air, provide oxygen and combat water pollution and erosion.  Shorter woody groundcovers are perfect for steep hillsides. Interesting and underused native examples include fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low') and yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima).

While there is no solution for a managed landscape that is entirely maintenance or expense free, informed choices that require less time, labor and resources will continue accruing savings and benefits in countless ways.