A small patch of grass

With proper edging and regular efforts to control the spread, moneywort can be an attractive grass alternative that will even grow in shade. Just keep in mind that this thug really will creep, so be aware of this before you plant it. Like Creeping Jenny, Creeping Charlie is an invasive, fast-spreading ground cover. However, unlike Creeping Jenny, Charlie is not a thug. So, while it will take over your lawn area and every flowerbed and border in sight, it actually can be used among other plants without killing them.

Generally considered a weed, Creeping Charlie has soft, attractive leaves and is often grown as a salad ingredient when not being used as a ground cover. Most gardeners know that all varieties of mint are best planted in containers so that they do not take over the entire garden. However, this invasive quality is precisely what makes mint such a great lawn substitute.

If you want an attractive, fragrant, grass-free lawn, mint might be the right choice for you. As an added bonus, you can harvest it for making tea, cooking or medicinal purposes.

If you do plan to harvest it, be sure to only take cuttings that are not close to parking areas, pet restroom areas or walking paths.

Some chamomile varieties can be used as lawn alternatives, such as English chamomile and Roman chamomile. While this grass replacement is fairly time consuming in the beginning, it becomes an attractive, low-maintenance option that can even withstand traffic once it is well established.

The small, white flowers on many creeping and low-growing varieties make chamomile lawns particularly appealing. Several varieties of yarrow can be used as a dense, traffic-tolerant lawn alternative.

Dwarf yarrows are often the best choice for those who want something that looks and acts more like a traditional lawn.

Flowering varieties are also a popular choice, since they add more color to your yard. While yarrow is not drought tolerant, it only requires about half of the water needed to keep a natural grass lawn healthy, so it is a water-saving lawn replacement.

To create a lawn that can withstand a lot of traffic, mow your yarrow regularly for a denser ground cover. Drought-tolerant ornamental grasses are a good choice for folks who know they need to give up their conventional grass lawn for the sake of the environment, to save money and to save time on yard care tasks but who are not quite ready to completely give up grass.

These attractive lawn alternatives require no mowing and little water once established, plus the clumping varieties will grow only where you plant them, so you do not have to worry about invasive spreading.

The biggest downside is that most ornamental grasses are only for looks, so this lawn alternative will not work in areas where you actually want to use your lawn. Check out mondo grass for low-growing varieties if you are looking for a shorter grass that will look a bit more like a conventional lawn but without the regular mowing requirements.

Lilyturf is an ornamental grass that is a popular lawn substitute but needs to be addressed separately, because its qualities differ from the ornamental grasses mentioned above. Creeping lilyturf, as the name implies, is a creeper, which means it send out runners and will continue to spread if not controlled. While it can withstand a little traffic, lilyturf makes for a pretty lumpy lawn, so it is not ideal for play areas or walkways.

California meadow sedge is one of several sedge varieties that can grow well in Southern California. In terms of living lawn alternatives, sedges are among the fastest growing in popularity and, once you have seen just how conventional-grass-like some of these sedges can be, you will know why. While they do require regular irrigation, sedges require little to no mowing, thrive in a variety of soils, and can withstand foot traffic.

For higher-traffic areas, California meadow sedge is a particularly good choice. Plus, this variety can grow well in the clay soils we see throughout San Diego, as well as the sandier soils near the coast. Ice plant is the type of plant folks either love or hate. It can be seen everywhere in coastal California, often taking over a large area, since it can be quite invasive.

This invasive tendency can be a problem, but it also makes it an easy-to-grow choice as a grass alternative that will quickly cover your lawn area with greenery and seasonal blooms.

The terms stonecrop and sedum refer to a large range of succulents that thrive in sunny spots and require little water once established. Creeping varieties are particularly good choices as grass alternatives and can be planted from clippings, which makes this an inexpensive option.

Seems like its time for a crafty inventor to come up with somthing. It seems to me that you are the perfect candidate for one of those robotic mowers. In a fenced in yard, you would be golden. Also you could mow as much as you wanted. Your back could look like your livingroom….

Thanks Cohiba! This is deffinately something I will be looking into. Thanks for the great help! This use of grass is very creative and builds visual interest. This small area has a patio that is a mix of stone slabs and grass sod. Grass can be cool and soft to the touch while the stone can soak up the sun and be warm on feet, making a great complimentary pair.

If you break up sections of your grass with divider lines, you can add some interesting design elements to your yard. If you have a nice garden with lovely flowers, you can spice it up with a patch of interesting tall grass in the center. This patch of grass really brings interest and depth to your garden. The grass here is covering a set of outdoor steps. Grass sod can cover almost any surface, including stairs. These soft grass steps will surely be pleasant to bare feet. This patio is constructed from a number of square stone slabs lined with patches of grass.

The grass then merges with the surrounding space. This is a lovely use of grass that demonstrates just how well it can accentuate other features.

Download thousands of custom coloring pages and puzzles for your kids. Welcome to our gallery featuring verdant backyard grass ideas!

What are the pros and cons of adding grasses into your space? Pros Great backdrop — Grass is the best backdrop for gardens and landscapes. The perfect lawn can be lively without drawing from the focus you may want directed elsewhere. But, just because grass can be great for a backdrop setting, interesting grass features can steal the show if you want them to also.

Versatile — When properly prepared, you can have grass coat most areas. You can cut and shape patches of grass into patterns and shapes. You can fit patches of grass into areas where nothing else will go. Grass can make these small or awkward spaces fit in with the rest of your landscape with just a touch of green. There are also unconventional styles of grass.

Tall grasses can be used in gardens or to accentuate features in your space. Classic appeal — Grass is the classic appeal of a lawn. It is great to lay down on and, after being freshly mowed, it gives off a scent that many people enjoy. Cons Widespread — If you are really looking to stand out and make an impression grass may not help in this matter. Some very interesting things can be done with grass and it can be quite beautiful, but it is nearly universal.

Almost every home you see has some style of grass lawn. Grass is such a popular option it is almost compulsory to owning a home. There are some varieties of grass that can be used in very out-of-the-box ways, though a lawn with simple laid sod is a very popular choice. Maintenance — Grass lawns can require a great deal of maintenance. They need to be cut regularly to prevent them from getting overly long and looking unkempt.

Use your imagination and you'll agree, when it comes to lawns, small is beautiful. Whether you are just starting out, maintaining or troubleshooting, you'll find advice and answers here for all your lawn care needs. When it comes to feeding your lawn, timing matters. This simple guide tells you all you need to know. Skip to main content. Customize by ZIP Code. Featured Articles.