Now that winter is here, you’re probably thankful you don’t have lawn care for a few months. At this time of the year, some homeowners around the Minneapolis area are thinking about changes they might make to their residential landscaping to cut down on yard chores.
One of the biggest time commitments to keeping a yard looking good is caring for the grass – watering, fertilizing, mowing, weeding. If your yard takes up more time than you’d like, there are many low-maintenance alternatives to grass that can be planted in your yard. Not only will they look nice, but they can smell nice and provide you with less work than the grass would give you. By considering these alternatives, you’re able to get much more out of your landscaping and your time since they do not have to be maintained as much as grass would.
Consider These Low-Maintenance Alternatives to Grass For Your Yard
If you’d like a green look to your yard without grass care, here are some plants you could replace your turf with:
Clovers: Clovers are technically a weed. However, they are useful weeds when deliberately placed around your property. They are fast to grow and they can provide the soil with nutrients that once was not there.
Moss: If you’re already in the running and have moss growing in your yard, add some more and let it grow over. Not only does it provide a thick, soft bed across the entire lawn but it is almost impossible to kill and it will not become too high and thick, much like grass would if it was not cared for. Moss is a terrific ground cover for shaded, somewhat damp spots where other things won’t grow.
Stonecrop: Named because it does well with thick, dry and clay-types of soil, this is one plant that can stand up to anything. Placed in with many different rocks and given only the minimum care, it still flourishes. It doesn’t need much to thrive, and this is a good thing since you want it to grow fast and then stay where it is.
Frogfruit: This plant is able to grow anywhere that it is placed – with or without sun, little to a lot of water. It is hearty and robust. Those who have planted it are pleasantly surprised to find it comes back every year, no matter what it has been through in the past.
In addition to these four, there are other low-maintenance alternatives such as prairie grass and native Minnesota wildflowers. Hardscapes also provide a way to get rid of the grass but can be custom designed so your yard will have a look all your own.
If you’re looking for an alternative to grass that will not cost you a lot of time, then consider one of these or many other options. When the time is right, and you want to expand on the landscape design around your home, speak with us here at Architectural Landscape Design. We offer free initial design consultations, and this winter is the perfect time to get the planning done for spring installation. Why not let us draw something up now so that we can get it in before your grass needs its first mowing?