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Are you one of those people who does their best thinking when riding around on your lawnmower every week of the growing season? If so, you’re in the minority. Most people spend that time trying to think of ways to get out of that weekly chore.
Few of us would argue with the statement that the lawn is the most expensive, highest maintenance piece of your landscape. But most don’t do anything about it. Some because they like a lush, green, weed-free lawn. Others because they want their yards to fit in with the others in the neighborhood. And then there are those who just don’t know what alternatives are available.
The idea of going grassless hasn’t caught on in our area of the country, perhaps because we don’t have the number one problem that exists in many parts of the country – lack of sufficient water. We seldom have to irrigate established lawns.
In many parts of the country, property owners are replacing all or portions of their labor intensive lawns with alternatives that are attractive while requiring far less work. Those who want the look of a lawn without the work may plant groundcover or even evergreen moss. The more adventurous may opt for wildflowers or even annual or perennial beds. Front yards in desert communities often consist of stones with cactus and succulents, and possibly a few rocks for accents.
Depending on the species you select, ground cover or evergreen moss may never need mowing. Some species may need mowing once a year. Wildflower gardens need mowing once or twice a year. Annual or perennial bed maintenance varies with what plants are in them.
If you have children, planning your landscape without any lawn becomes a bit more complex. Natural lawns are good, safe playing surfaces for children. The soil usually has some “give” and the grass is soft. This doesn’t mean you have to have to give up on your idea of no lawns. Modify your plans. Only remove and replace the grass in areas where the kids don’t play. They usually play in the back yard, so why not keep that in grass and replace the front lawn?
Removing sod isn’t a particularly hard job but designing and selecting the best replacement for your situation can be intimidating. If this is a project you’d like to undertake but are a bit overwhelmed by the challenge, we have professional designers experienced in developing just what you’re looking for. They would be happy to work with you to create the perfect design, and our landscape professionals can handle the installation. Then all you have to do is enjoy your low maintenance, environment-friendly landscape.
