Sometimes, the grass isn’t always greener; in fact, alternatives to standard lawns are all the rage right now in Guelph, and many people have been reaching out with questions about the best lawn alternative options, how to take care of them, and so much more. If you’re curious about using an alternative to grass in your yard this year, let me break down a few of my favourite options, to hopefully make the decision a bit easier for you:
My short answer: almost anything you want! To me, a lawn is simply an all-natural outdoor area rug. Visually, a lawn helps define a space and offer a surface upon which to play, run, or lounge. It’s entirely up to do what kind of “area rug” you want to decorate your outdoor space with, but here are a few of my favourite options:
When it comes to tread-resistant lawn alternatives, clover is one of the very best. Dutch clover, also called White clover, in particular, has been especially popular, with micro clovers gaining popularity for their short stature and ease of care. Best of all, clover stands up to the same use our traditional lawns do, making it an ideal alternative for busy families—the flowers are excellent for pollinators, too! Your kids can run and play on it without the risk of damage, and it truly doesn’t feel any different underfoot than grass. Even in hot summers, when many of our lawns go dormant, clover will stay a beautiful emerald green.
If you’re not ready to fully commit to a clover-covered backyard, no problem! You can ease yourself into this alternative by adding clover seed to your existing lawn, just to fill in any gaps and bare patches. Over time, you can gradually overseed more, allowing it to gently replace your grass without having to tear out your entire lawn.
Creeping thyme is another of my favourite lawn alternatives. Much like its older brother, standard thyme, creeping thyme smells wonderful and produces lovely purple blooms that attract pollinators and wash your lawn in colour, making you the envy of the neighbourhood! What’s more, creeping time is an excellent alternative to grass, once established, due to its drought tolerance, meaning no more crazy water bills!
Want to go even lower maintenance without worrying about where the kids are going to run? Then creeping juniper is the no-mow lawn alternative for you! Using creeping juniper as a lawn alternative will instantly infuse your garden with year-round appeal. No more scraggly spring, fall, and winter lawns; your landscape will remain green (or blue) and lively all year long, with a delightfully unique texture in an otherwise flat and boring area!
Want to go ultra-simple for your lawn alternative? Look no further than good old-fashioned mulch! Like I said earlier, a lawn is just an area rug. A wide, flat, mulched space is perfect for a lovely seating area or home playground. Best of all, no weeding is required! It’s also incredibly easy to add in additional feature plants or a different no-mow lawn alternative if you have a change of heart. Simply plant your perennials or start your chosen lawn alternative, and your organic material-rich mulched soil will do the rest!
If you’re in favour of minimal weeding and mowing but aren’t sold on mulch or the other mentioned alternatives, rocks or pebbles are an excellent no-mow option. Not only do pebbles and rocks help define your space and suppress weeds while looking incredibly refined, but the soothing crunch of pebbles underfoot adds a magical sensory experience to your landscape. When installing your pebbles or pea stone, make sure you install landscape fabric under the stone to reduce weeds. For added fun with little ones, bury some toy dinosaurs in the pebbles to inspire their inner archaeologist!
At the end of the day, just remember, your lawn is whatever you choose to make of it, whether that be a rock garden, a mulched enclave, a sprawling field of clover, or a good old-fashioned plot of grass! Whatever you decide, We have everything you’ll need to make your lawn truly shine and are happy to guide you through our favourite lawn care practices. If you’re looking for ideas and materials to care for that classic grass lawn or lawn alternative of your dreams in your Guelph landscape, come on down to Royal City Nursery for all of your needs—our experts will be standing by to help!
