Succulent Garden
If you replace your turf grass with succulents, you don’t have to mow and you’ll do very little watering. Succulents arenot fussy about soilas long as it drains well, and they add all kinds of color to your space. They're an especially good option in arid climates, or in parts of the country where water for irrigation is an issue.
Creeping Perennials
Ground-hugging perennials like vinca, thyme, and creeping Jenny make an excellent no-mow lawn cover. If you plant a mixture ofspring and summer bloomers, you’ll have changing color throughout the season—a feast for the eyes.Available atEtsy; $2.99.
Related:7 Popular Ground Covers to Enhance Any Yard
Hardscapes
Many small and urban lawns can bereplaced with hardscapesthat provide relaxation and entertainment spaces just as enjoyable as a traditional grass yard. This patio is surrounded by container gardens and a flagstone walkway lined with lush plantings that serve up plenty of green garden pleasure.
Edible Forest Garden
Instead of spending your yard maintenance time mowing, spend it cultivating plants and trees that willput food on your dinner table. Planting a woodland filled with edible trees, shrubs, plants, and vines is very rewarding. Using permaculture design, you can create a self-maintaining space that waters, fertilizes, and mulches itself.
Artificial Grass
你可能会激怒人造草皮的思想as a replacement for turf grass, but artificial grass has come a long, long way. Today’s technology providesartificial turf that looks natural, but requires little to no maintenance other than periodic brushing and hosing down. And you can still grow live plants in your yard to balance the look.Available atHome Depot; $13.59.
Thyme
Establishing a creeping thyme lawn takes a few years but is well worth it when you reap the rewards. Thyme likes hot, dry temperatures, so it never needs watering. Go ahead andsell your mower, because thyme grows only about two inches tall. This hardy herb will be a carpet of blooms in early summer and green the rest of the season. Plus, it smells wonderful when you walk on it.Available atBurpee.com; $3.95.
Rock Garden
A rock garden can be an attractive alternative to a grass lawn. This one has a rock streambed as the centerpiece, with low-water perennials flanking and overflowing its sides. The garden'snatural lookoffers a lot of color and visual interest.
Related:On the Edge – 16 Garden Borders You Can Make
No-Mow Grass Mix
If you want less maintenance but still can’t give up on grass, there arereal grass alternativesavailable. This low- to no-mow grass seed mix is a blend of red fescue, tall fescue, sheep fescue, and other grasses that produces a deep green, hardy ground cover that is still soft to the touch. It requires just one-quarter the water of regular turf grass and grows very slowly.Available atHome Depot; $34.98.
Wildflowers
If you have a large property, planting a field of wildflowers is a great no-mow option. Theyadapt to their environment, tolerating both harsh winters and summer droughts, and need little to no irrigation. It may take a few years to get established, but a yard filled with wildflowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer can be quite beautiful.Available atHome Depot; $7.50.
Moss
For a shady property, moss is an excellentno-mow grass substitute. It grows in almost any soil and requires minimal weeding, watering, and fertilizing. Mixing together several varieties will provide a changing collage of color throughout the season.Available atBurpee.com; $10.95.
Related:How To Grow Moss
For More...
For more lawn and garden ideas, try:
12 Steps to a Prize-Winning Yard
Flowering Climbers: 8 Cures for the Common Garden
Garden Paths: 16 Easy-to-Imitate Stone Walkways
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