While a perfect green lawn might look like something out of a magazine, keeping it that way can feel like a part-time job. Between the endless mowing, the constant battle with fertilizer schedules, and those water bills that make you cringe, traditional lawns can be more hassle than they’re worth.
The good news? More and more homeowners are discovering that there’s life beyond the traditional grass lawn. Today’s alternatives aren’t just easier to maintain – they’re stylish, eco-friendly, and can actually add more character to your yard. Imagine spending your weekends enjoying your outdoor space instead of pushing a lawnmower! With options that naturally prevent weeds and thrive without constant watering or fertilizing, you can have a beautiful yard that practically takes care of itself.
Carex
Carex is similar to grass but fluffier and grows taller. Also known as sedges, carex makes perfect ground cover and does well around trees and shrubs. It is low-maintenance and only requires mowing once or twice a year.
Choose varieties native to your region and plant carex in moist but moderately dry soil. Once established, carex is drought tolerant and is known to suppress weed growth.
Tapestry Lawn
A tapestry lawn is a low-maintenance lawn alternative. It is created by growing different low-growing ground cover plants and grasses. It is stunning but also functional and attracts pollinators to your garden.
Tapestry lawns are eco-friendly, providing shelter and food for insects, birds, and wildlife. There are no strict rules for creating the perfect tapestry lawn. You can start with a small patch to test it out and see if this type of lawn works for you.
Moss
Moss creates a lush green carpet and stays green all year long. When planted in a shady location, it doesn’t even require frequent watering. One of the advantages of planting moss instead of traditional grass is that it stays low to the ground and does not require mowing.
There are many types of moss, each with its own texture, thickness, and appearance. It’s a good idea to choose a variety that is native to your region.
Bugleweed
A member of the mint family, bugleweed spreads rapidly and can get out of control when not maintained. However, it is an excellent ground cover and a fantastic lawn alternative.
It’s easy to maintain and propagate, with beautiful foliage and flowers that will transform your lawn into a colorful mat. Also known as ajuga, this stunning perennial attracts pollinators like butterflies to your garden. It will grow in both sun and shade.
Sweet Woodruff
This edible herb is characterized by bright green star-shaped leaves and white flowers in Bloom. Sweet woodruff spreads quickly by forming a dense canopy of foliage and flowers, which is why it’s known to block weeds.
This plant is a good lawn alternative because it is extremely low maintenance. It doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizer and doesn’t require frequent watering. It is shade-loving and does well under trees or shrubs.
Creeping Jenny
This low-growing perennial is fast-growing and easy to maintain, making it a fantastic lawn alternative. However, it can become invasive when left unmaintained; a little pruning and edging is all it requires.
Also known as moneywort, Creeping Jenny is versatile and can be grown in rock gardens and pots. Before planting, be sure to find out if it is allowed in your region.
Corsican Mint
Fragrant and fast-growing, Corsican mint is a low-growing evergreen groundcover that releases a beautiful scent when stepped on. This lawn alternative plant is disease-hardy, easy to grow and maintain, and repels rodents. It takes moderate foot traffic and is mow-free.
Corsican mint is self-sowing and fast-spreading. Snipping off unruly stems to keep them in check keeps them out of unwanted areas. It makes a stunning lawn and even attracts pollinators to your garden.
Clover
Clover is a natural soil conditioner with nitrogen-fixing properties. It requires no fertilizers and only minimal watering. Clover is the perfect grass alternative because it is low-maintenance and suitable for large areas.
It tolerates moderate foot traffic, attracts pollinators, is hardy, and is inexpensive. Dutch white and micro clover are low-lying varieties that make suitable grass replacements.
Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme blooms in early summer. It is beautiful and adds color to your landscape. It is no-mow, drought-tolerant, and attracts pollinators. This evergreen perennial will tolerate moderate foot traffic and is a great lawn alternative.
It forms a dense mat of colorful flowers on the ground. Once established, it thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
Lance Selfheal
Although some consider selfheal a weed because of its rapid spreading habit, it is a beneficial plant that attracts bees and butterflies. It’s a good, low-maintenance lawn replacement plant that tolerates foot traffic well.
It must be maintained to prevent it from spreading to parts of the garden where you do not want it.
Green-and-Gold
Green-and-gold is a low-maintenance native ground cover that spreads quickly. It spreads via rhizomes and may self-seed. When you choose a variety that works well as a lawn alternative, you’ll be rewarded with a mat of deep green foliage and bright yellow star-shaped flowers.
This plant grows best in the shade under trees and shrubs and will grow in areas where most grass won’t survive. Once established, green-and-gold is known to suppress weed growth.
Creeping Mazus
This durable groundcover plant is low-maintenance. Creeping mazus grow fast and spread rapidly, forming a dense carpet on the ground. It doesn’t require constant mowing and tolerates foot traffic. It thrives in full sun to part shade and likes moist, well-draining soil.
Creeping mazus love a sunny location but are adaptable and will grow in partial shade. They bloom in spring through summer, gracing your landscape with gorgeous purple-blue flowers.
Sedum
Sedum is a carpet-forming ground cover, also known as a stone crop. It’s a succulent and stores water, making it drought-tolerant. Sedum is hardy and a favorite in rock gardens, hilly landscapes, and pathways. It is easy to care for and can tolerate light foot traffic.
The best part is that you can easily propagate sedum, and it will grow in areas where most grass varieties don’t thrive.
Yarrow
Closely related to chamomile, yarrow is a hardy flowering perennial herb. Yarrow is fast spreading via rhizomes and is a good lawn alternative. It tolerates foot traffic, is low maintenance, and attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees.
You can mow yarrow once a month or let it grow into a wildflower meadow. It is pest and drought-resistant and thrives in partial sun or shade.