Grass lawns can be beautiful, but they take a lot of work — and a lot of water. By opting for alternatives for their yards, homeowners can create more environmentally friendly landscapes that require less maintenance, conserve water, and support local ecosystems.
Common alternatives to grass lawns include groundcovers, ornamental grasses, moss, perennial beds, and rock gardens. These options all require less watering and mowing than a traditional grass lawn, while still serving as a nice-looking focal point of your property.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through grass-free options for a front yard and what it takes to install them.
Choosing the Right Grass Alternatives
The point of a non-grass yard is to choose plants that work better in your local ecosystem. So before selecting a grass lawn alternative, consider your local climate, your yard’s soil type, and the maintenance tasks you’re willing to perform.
Consider factors such as average rainfall, temperature ranges, and soil composition. Some alternatives are better suited to dry, arid climates, while others thrive in moist, shaded areas. Consult with a master gardener, professional landscape artist, or your local Cooperative Extension Office to determine what grows well in your area.
Here are a few of the most common grass alternatives they’re likely to recommend.
Groundcovers
Groundcovers are low-growing plants that spread across the soil, forming a dense mat of foliage. Their dense root systems help stabilize soil and forms a thick layer that blocks sunlight from reaching the soil, effectively suppressing weed growth.
Groundcovers are well-suited to cover large areas, as well as embankments and narrow strips along driveways. Once established, groundcovers need minimal care and less water than grass lawns. These plants spread naturally and don’t grow tall enough to require mowing, making them a low-maintenance option.
Popular Groundcover Options
Several groundcover varieties work well as lawn alternatives:
- Creeping Jenny
- Creeping herbs like thyme and oregano
- Allegheny spurge
- Creeping phlox
- Canby’s mountain lover
When selecting groundcovers, avoid invasive species like periwinkle, Japanese spurge, and English ivy, which can grow aggressively beyond their intended area.
Ornamental Grasses
Where you want a little added height and a hint of color, consider ornamental grasses. Ornamental grasses are decorative plants known for their striking appearance and minimal maintenance needs. Unlike groundcovers, which are low-growing and spread horizontally to cover the ground, ornamental grasses grow vertically, adding height, texture, and movement to your landscape. They come in various heights, colors, and textures, making them versatile for different design applications.
They’re drought-resistant, grow in moist soil, require little maintenance, and don’t spread like groundcovers.
Mix different varieties to create variance. Since you can’t walk through ornamental grasses, they make the perfect border along a walkway or as the backdrop against a porch or outbuilding.
Ornamental Grass Varieties
Consider these ornamental grass options for your landscape:
- Native switchgrass
- Little bluestem
- Bottlebrush grass
- Yellow Indian grass
- Pennsylvania sedge
Moss
Moss is a simple, low-growing plant that thrives in shaded, moist environments. It offers a unique and attractive alternative to traditional grass lawns, particularly in areas where grass struggles to grow. Moss forms a dense, velvety carpet that provides a lush green appearance without the need for mowing, fertilizing, or frequent watering.
How to Establish and Care for a Moss Lawn
To create a moss lawn:
- Choose a shaded area with slightly acidic soil.
- Remove existing vegetation and loosen the top layer of soil.
- Transplant moss from another area of your yard or purchase moss from a nursery.
- Keep the area consistently moist until the moss is established.
- Remove any fallen leaves or debris to prevent smothering the moss.
Once established, moss requires little care beyond occasional watering during dry periods and gentle raking to remove debris.
Perennial Beds
Perennial beds are garden areas filled with flowers and other plants that live for more than two years. Unlike annuals that need to be replanted each year, perennials return season after season, providing a reliable and sustainable landscaping option.
Perennial beds can be designed to offer continuous blooms and foliage throughout the growing season, making them an attractive and eco-friendly alternative to traditional grass lawns.
Unlike grass, perennial beds provide food and habitat for pollinators. This alternative allows you to create a vibrant, ever-changing landscape that supports local ecosystems.
Low-Maintenance Perennials
Choose native perennials that are well-adapted to your local climate for the best results. Some low-maintenance options include:
- Ruffled velvet Siberian iris
- Old-fashioned bleeding heart
- Daylily
- Purple coneflower
- Black-eyed Susan
Designing a Perennial Bed
To create an attractive and functional perennial bed:
- Plan for a mix of plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season.
- Incorporate plants with varying heights, placing taller plants towards the back of the bed.
- Group plants with similar water and sunlight needs together.
- Include some evergreen perennials for winter interest.
- Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Start with a small area and gradually expand your perennial beds as you become more comfortable with their care and maintenance.
Rock Gardens
Rock gardens are a creative and low-maintenance alternative to traditional grass lawns, featuring a combination of rocks, stones, and drought-tolerant plants. They are especially suitable for areas with poor soil or challenging growing conditions. Rock gardens mimic natural rocky landscapes, creating a visually appealing and sustainable option for homeowners looking to reduce lawn maintenance and water usage.
When choosing rocks for your garden, use a variety of sizes and shapes for visual interest and select rocks that are native to your area for a natural look.
Incorporating Native Plants in Rock Gardens
To create a thriving rock garden ecosystem:
- Choose drought-tolerant plants adapted to your local climate.
- Plant succulents and alpine plants that naturally grow in rocky environments.
- Use small, slow-growing shrubs to add structure and year-round interest.
- Incorporate native wildflowers to attract pollinators.
- Add a layer of gravel or small stones as mulch to retain moisture and complete the look.
By combining carefully selected rocks with appropriate plants, you can create a low-maintenance landscape that mimics natural rock formations and provides habitat for local wildlife.
Our Conclusion
Opting for grass lawn alternatives like groundcovers, ornamental grasses, moss, perennial beds, and rock gardens can transform your yard into a beautiful, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly space. These options reduce the need for extensive watering and mowing while enhancing the aesthetic appeal and supporting local ecosystems.
By choosing the right plants and materials suited to your climate and soil type, you can create a sustainable and visually stunning landscape that requires less effort to maintain. Embrace these alternatives to enjoy a lush, vibrant yard that contributes positively to the environment.