16 Grass Lawn Alternatives For Eco-Friendly Landscaping

The standard lawn has always been associated with grass. It’s soft, family friendly and when cared for, a great way to maintain curb appeal. But a grass lawn can only do so much, especially when it comes to the environment, and one of the main reasons people consider an alternative ground cover is to do their part in making their property more eco-friendly.

Let’s look into what the difference is, your options and if an alternative to grass landscaping is right for you.

Why You Should Consider Lawn Alternatives

A grass lawn does its job in creating a beautiful view of your home, but did you know that there are ways of achieving this while also considering the local environment? Eco-friendly alternatives to grass lawns provide a way for your property to preserve and grow the environment around you while still being able to use your backyard comfortably.

Here are some other reasons why you should consider a lawn alternative.

• Cuts down maintenance: If you think caring for your lawn is a laborious and long task you’d rather be without, an alternative might be right for you. Almost all of the options have little to no maintenance in comparison to a grass lawn.
• Changes with the seasons: While alternatives to grass will still die out in colder months, some have the ability to change with the seasons and provide different appearances throughout the year.
• Welcomes more wildlife: The alternatives to grass range in height, texture and purpose, while also bringing in nature that is more familiar for the surrounding wildlife. It creates a great environment that helps support wildlife rather than drive it away.

11 Top Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Grass Lawns

Here are 11 alternative options to grass lawns that are sustainable, including some that are no-mow options.

1. Moss

Moss is a great full cover option for shady properties and acidic soil. This is a low laying plant, spongy and can grow on stone and hilly areas. It’s easier for moss to thrive in these types of conditions but can be considered low-maintenance and cost-efficient in general.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of installing moss landscaping:

Pros

• Easy to install: You can actually transfer moss that has already grown to your yard, and it won’t affect your plants’ health.
• Low maintenance.
• No-mow.

Cons

• Less durability: The plant is good for light travel but might get roughened up by pets or kids if you’re using your yard frequently.
• Watering: Moss is going to thrive in wetter areas, so people located in places more susceptible to drought will have to remember to water these plants.

2. Native Wildflowers

If you’re looking for a more colorful full coverage option that is low-maintenance and easily adaptable, try planting native wildflowers. This is also known as xeriscaping, which is landscaping with only native plants and grasses. This method has a plethora of benefits for your yard and the environment, as wildflowers are great for pollination and give wildlife a source of shelter and food.

This type of lawn will resemble whatever is native to your area, so flowers will range in height, color and shape depending on where you live. Here are some other pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Reduces water usage: Because the flowers are native to the area, they’ll need less water to thrive in the environment, cutting down your water bill while also reducing maintenance.
• Low maintenance.
• No-mow.
• Flowering or ornamental.

Cons

• Self-replicating: Wildflowers will replicate and grow on their own in the right conditions; this might mean keeping an eye on the spread of the flowers in case they start to creep.

3. Ornamental Grass

While it may not be the right choice to function as full ground cover, ornamental grass is a great option if you want to take up space, add visual interest to your lawn, as well as another eco-friendly plant to your yard.

These plants typically grow longer than your average grass and are a good water-saving option. Growing needs vary, but these typically do best with full sun and well-draining soil. Here are some other pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Visual impact: These come in all shapes, heights and textures, so if curb appeal is important to you or your neighborhood, these are great to incorporate.
• Low maintenance.
• Water-wise.

Cons

• Research: Some of these ornamental grasses grow in clumps, while others are easier to spread. You’ll also need to do research to make sure the grass is native to your area if you want to keep things low-maintenance and cost-efficient.

4. Clover

Clover is going to be a great option for those who are looking for an eco-friendly alternative that looks and feels similar to standard grass. It’s a low-laying plant, typically a dark green color and comfortable to walk on. Clover is also very durable and can grow in poor soil conditions since it functions as a sort of soil conditioner.

Some other pros of planting clover:

Pros

• Pollinator friendly.
• Low maintenance.
• No-mow.
  

Cons

• Clover is a great pollinator, but planting it also means an increase of bees hanging around. If you like to use your lawn without the extra risk of being stung, try using clover in a smaller area of your landscaping instead of full yard cover.

5. Corsican Mint

The first of the fragrant options on the list, Corsican mint is similar in height, size and shape to clover. Except this time if you step on it, you’ll release a minty smell from the plant. Corsican mint is going to be a better in low traffic areas as its durability is not very high. Some options are around steppingstones or gardens, as it can be used for medicinal purposes.

Here are some other pros and cons:

Pros

• Growth: Corsican mint grows at a less aggressive rate in comparison to other varieties where overgrowth is a common issue.
• Repels rodents and pests.
• No-mow.

Cons

• Toxic to dogs: In large amounts, mint is toxic for dogs so any pet families should be cautious about where you’re planting mint, if at all.

6. Red Creeping Thyme

This plant can be used for full ground cover or smaller sections. Similar to clover and mint, although can grow slightly taller, creeping thyme is a great option for those looking to increase curb appeal as these plants’ red flowers like to bloom early.

Some other pros and cons of planting creeping thyme:

Pros

• Edible: This can be dried and used for cooking, also has a slight herbal fragrance when stepped on.
• Visual impact.
• Water-wise.
• No-mow.

Cons

• Slight maintenance: These plants will need trimming to make sure there isn’t overgrowth.
• Sun plants: Creeping thyme doesn’t do too well in shade, so make sure you’re placing it in sunny spots.

7. Chamomile

Another fragrant option, chamomile is great ground cover for anyone looking to add visual impact without high maintenance. The plant grows flowers similar in appearance to daisies and can be used for healing properties.

Some other pros and cons:

Pros

• Versatile: From tea to baking to gardening, chamomile has many great properties that could be good to invest in. The plant itself is also great at helping other plants thrive by enriching the soil with nitrogen.
• No-mow.

Cons

• Toxic: Keep away from pets and horses as this can be toxic if ingested.
• Light maintenance: This plant will need some trimming to make sure overgrowth is maintained, as well as any fertilization and watering.

8. Snow-In-Summer

A beautiful option for anyone looking for a low-laying plant and slight color, snow-in-summer is a dense ground cover that gets its name from the tiny white flowers that bloom all over. This is a slightly taller plant than turf grass or clover and is a darker shade of green in comparison.

Some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Low maintenance: Along with no mowing, this plant can tolerate sandy or partially dry soil, increasing your ability to finally fill in those stubborn patches of soil that can’t seem to grow anything.
• Visual impact.
• No-mow.

Cons

• No foot traffic: Unfortunately, this is not a good option for any foot traffic but can be used to cover large sections where you don’t need to walk.

9. Shrubs

You can place shrubs just about anywhere and they will serve its purpose. Not only will they add visual interest but can help shrink the size of your property to decrease mowing space. Depending on the shrub, these can range in size and shape. Here are some other pros and cons of placing shrubs:

Pros

• Water-wise: You can water shrubs but typically they can be left alone and still thrive.
• Visual impact.
• No-mow. 

Cons

• Slight maintenance: Shrubs will need some care, so you might have to break out your gardening shears whenever you feel they’re getting out of control.

10. Artificial Grass

If you like the look of grass, but want almost no maintenance, then look no further than artificial grass. This is a great option for not just those that don’t even want to think about their grass or don’t have a lot of property to cover. With this being the easiest of lawns to maintain, here are some pros and cons:

Pros

• Little to no maintenance.
• No-mow: While you wouldn’t have to mow, you would still need a way to clear any debris with a rake or leaf blower.

Cons

• While artificial grass has some eco-friendly perks, like reducing water waste and runoff, eliminating the need for pesticides and saving you gas for the mower, it’s usually made of plastic and doesn’t provide any ecological benefits to local flora and fauna.

11. Plant-Free Grass Alternatives

Maybe you want to skip the fuss of plants altogether. If so, consider a plant-free alternative. This can be done by simply replacing grass with stone, mulch, gravel or other elements to fill up the space. Here are some pros and cons:

Pros

• Little to no maintenance.
• No-mow.
• Water-wise.

Cons

• Less kid-safe: Hard rocks and concrete might not be the best option if you have kids or pets, since it takes away the nice cushion of grass for kids to play on and for pets to go to the bathroom.

Considerations With Grass Lawn Alternatives

Now that you know the different options for ground cover, let’s look into some common landscaping problems you might encounter if you choose an alternative to grass.

• Avoiding damage to your house foundation: If you’re trying to divert water away from home, you need to consider the slope of your landscape. You’ll want your plants and other landscaping set up in a way that water can drain away from the home.
• Attracting other insects and critters: While you would be helping insects and critters eat and find shelter, you should also consider that this will attract wildlife to your yard that some consider pests, like moles, snakes and other creatures.
• Verifying landscaping plans are permitted in your area: You could run into some roadblocks with alternative grass options, especially if you live in a regulated neighborhood with an HOA, where there could be restrictions on certain types of landscaping.

The Bottom Line: Alternatives To Grass Lawns Can Be Beautiful And Low-Maintenance

Depending on your needs and how you want your house to look, there are so many beautiful and low-maintenance options to choose from for ground cover. Take into account the environment around you and your personal preferences to help decide the next best steps for you and your lawn.

Apply for a loan today to help fund your eco-friendly landscaping transformation.