Lawn Replacement
Thinking About Lawn Replacement?
There are a couple of things to take into account regarding lawn replacement. The first is, what do you want to replace the lawn with? The second is, do you really want to replace the lawn, and why? There seems to be “green" movement afoot, telling us we should consider replacing our grass lawns with something more friendly to the environment. Most of us grew up thinking lawns were environmentally friendly, and basically they are. If there is a problem there, it's that maintaining a lawn is not always environmentally friendly.
A nice lawn requires water, usually lots of it. In some places this is no problem. In other places, where water is scarce, it is. Many homes in the Southwest have alternatives to lawns, many of them very attractive, though some aren't. Grass lawn also requires fertilizer, and often herbicides or weed killers, and insecticides as well, all chemicals that eventually leach into the ground water. It would admittedly be nice to be able to do without these chemicals. Then of course there is the energy involved in mowing the grass, and we're not taking about the old fashioned push mower.
There are some valid arguments for lawn replacement, and perhaps as time goes by, more and more people will see a need. Hopefully though, we'll for the most part be able to enjoy lawns through our lifetime and those of our great-grandchildren.
Ecology issues aside, for many lawn replacement is simply a convenience, where maintaining a lawn can become just a little too much in terms of time and effort. Lawn replacement can also be a challenge, and at the same time somewhat of an adventure, as different alternatives are explored.
Consider A Meadow - Using different grasses than regular lawn grass is one option. Low maintenance grasses often require less water besides less care, and if you have a large lawn, replacing it with an attractive meadow might be an alternative. You can mow a meadow once or twice a year, or not mow it at all, and children enjoy playing in a meadow every bit as much as playing on a lawn. In your meadow you can have clumps of ornamental grasses, which usually have deep tap roots and don't require constant watering, as well as sections of prairie grass, and wildflowers.
Rock Gardens - If you're considering a lawn replacement on a smaller scale, say a 15' by 30' front yard, a rock garden with a gravel surface can be an excellent choice. Through a judicious choice of plants you can have a rock garden than requires some attention, if you love gardening, or one that can thrive on neglect, and requires only an occasional watering.
Ground Covers - Then there is ground cover. This is where things can get interesting, as there are so many possibilities. There are ground covers that can stand an occasional mowing, and there are ground covers that never need the touch of the blade. There are evergreen ground covers, edible ground covers, and ground covers that periodically burst into brilliant colors. There are mix and match ground covers for those who like playing with patterns.
Asphalt - Then of course there's asphalt, which has its own pluses and minuses. Most of us like a little vegetation here and there, but for some, a few container plants will suffice. Many who read this will welcome a good lawn replacement idea. Others of us may get a little defensive when the topic arises, but there's no right or wrong here, just options. When you think about it, many people are quite satisfied with a few square feet of carefully tended lawn, and don't need great expanses of rolling green. Not too many are completely satisfied with just asphalt.