There are many attractive lawn alternatives, such as a patio for entertaining, trees and shrubs for visual interest, and a vegetable garden to grow healthy food for your family.
How much lawn do you really want or need? Keeping a lawn healthy is an increasing challenge. Maybe it’s time to think about ripping out all or part of your lawn and replacing it with other landscapes. There are many options for lawn alternatives.
Challenges to lawn health
European chafer beetle
Chafer beetle infestations can result in severe lawn damage as crows, raccoons and other animals rip up the lawn seeking beetle grubs.
The European chafer beetle is an invasive pest that has become established in Washington state, especially in the Seattle area. The beetles are spreading across the area, causing damage to lawns in homes, parks and golf courses. Much of the harm comes not from the beetle itself but from crows, raccoons and other wildlife that find the grubs very tasty. These animals rip up the lawn looking for grubs to eat, leaving large areas of devastation.
“It’s just been exploding since we first found it,” Todd Murray, director of Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center, told The Seattle Times in 2021. The chafer “could pose the biggest threat in nearly half a century to turf grass lawns and athletic fields in the Pacific Northwest,” The Seattle Times said that year. The beetle has continued to spread in subsequent years.
Chafer beetles are more likely to invade lawns that are unhealthy and don’t get enough water, but we are also seeing chafer beetle damage on lawns that are well maintained and well irrigated. A healthy lawn is the best defense against chafer beetles, but these pests are insidious and may invade despite our best efforts.
Given the problems we are seeing with chafer beetles on our clients’ lawns, we have written several blog posts on managing chafer beetles.
Changing climate
As the climate changes, our summers are becoming hotter and drier, making it more of a challenge to keep lawns from drying out. Some years we have even seen drought conditions in May. Without enough water, the lawn gets thinner and weaker, making it more susceptible to the invasion of weeds, moss and insect pests, such as chafer beetles, when rains return in the fall.
Some people who want to be environmentally friendly stop watering their lawn in the summer. They think conserving water is a good thing. We are not suggesting that you waste water. Drought conditions are more common than in the past. Currently, most of western Washington is classified as either “abnormally dry” or “moderate drought.” So we all need to be aware of our water usage.
However, using water in the summer is more environmentally friendly than using chemicals to kill weeds, moss and insects in the fall. Some of our lawn care clients turn to us in the fall to treat these problems. We will not use weed and moss killer on lawns that are not maintained properly. IPM (integrated pest management) guidelines say that pesticides should not be used without proper watering and mowing practices.
The most important step in preventing the need for pesticides is keeping the lawn healthy. Aeration and overseeding in the spring can help the lawn survive the summer, and regular use of organic fertilizers, along with proper mowing practices, will help the lawn grow thick and lush. Our natural lawn care services will help your lawn stay healthy.
But it can be tough for lawns to thrive through a long, hot, dry summer. Your lawn needs at least an inch of water a week in the summer. Deep watering is critical to encourage the lawn to grow deep roots that are less susceptible to drought. Read more summer lawn care tips.
If you don’t want to spend money on summer watering, don’t want the hassle of managing sprinklers and don’t like using weed killers and other pesticides, consider lawn alternatives.
Consider where to downsize
Shady areas. Lawns need a minimum of four hours of direct sun each day. Your lawn will grow poorly in shade, and it will be more prone to problems with weeds and moss as a result.
Steep slopes and areas that are difficult to mow. It is tough to mow, fertilize and water a lawn on steep slopes. Also consider removing the lawn in areas that are hardest to mow, such as the corners of the yard, next to fences and beneath trees with low branches.
Shorelines. A lawn doesn’t provide shade for fish, including threatened salmon, and the aquatic bugs they eat. And when you water the lawn, it will carry fertilizers, and pesticides if you use them, into the stream or lake.
Little-used areas. Lawns are great for high-traffic areas, playing games and lounging. But do you really want to spend time and money mowing, fertilizing and watering your lawn in areas that are rarely used? Perhaps you just need a modest green area for your kids or dog to play.
Ideas for lawn alternatives
Trees and shrubs
The most common method for reducing lawn size is to replace the turf with beds of perennial shrubs and trees, along with other foundation plantings such as perennial flowers and ornamental grasses.
Trees form the “bones” or structure of the landscape. They are critical for reducing heat effects in our cities and cooling your house. They provide shade on hot days, provide shelter and food for wildlife, reduce stormwater runoff, help keep the water clean, clean the air of toxins and more.
A mix of plant shapes and heights will be most attractive, and taller plants will shade shorter plants, helping to reduce weeds and watering needs. Consider choosing native varieties that will provide food and shelter for bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Once they are established, these plantings require less time and energy than lawn maintenance. And they provide more seasonal interest than a lawn, with colors, shapes and aromas throughout the year. If you choose evergreen shrubs and trees, they will shade out weeds all year long, reducing weed growth.
Hardscapes
You could enjoy your landscape more by adding spaces for outdoor living. Consider how you would like to use your outdoor space. Is it mostly for quiet relaxation or would you like to entertain family and friends?
You might want to install a patio, deck or outdoor room with chairs, tables and couches for lounging or dining. You could add an outdoor kitchen, fireplace or fire pit. Perhaps you would like a waterfall or pond, or a walkway for easy access. All of these can be great lawn alternatives.
Vegetable gardens and other edibles
You may enjoy growing your own organic food. Your homegrown lettuce, spinach, carrots, herbs and other crops will be a delicious and healthy addition to your dinner table. And it can be satisfying to grow your own food.
You could teach your kids about food gardening and help them understand where their food comes from. Here are some tips for successful vegetable gardening.
You might also choose to plant berries and fruit trees. They can be attractive and delicious additions to your landscape. Fruit trees blossom in the spring, and blueberry bushes often have vibrant fall colors.
Rain gardens or dry creek beds
A rain garden could be a great lawn alternative, adding beauty to your landscape and reducing runoff.
Rain gardens and dry creek beds are sunken areas that collect rain water, reduce runoff and slow soil erosion. They add texture, beauty and variety to the landscape, while they help keep nearby streams clean. In addition, they may attract birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife.
If you live in King County, you may be eligible for rebates that cover most or all of the cost of installing a rain garden through the RainWise program. Similar programs are available through the Snohomish Conservation District and City of Everett.
Read more about creating rain gardens and dry stream beds.
Groundcovers
Groundcovers spread across the ground but do not grow tall, so you won’t need to cut or mow. They provide a variety of textures and colors. You can create seasonal interest by choosing groundcovers that flower or change color. Most groundcovers are perennial, and some are evergreen.
Taller groundcovers shade out weeds much more effectively than short ones, so it’s best to choose plants that grow at least a few inches high. Groundcovers that grow densely will have fewer weeds. They enhance the soil by acting as a mulch, and some groundcovers, such as clover, fix nitrogen. Here are some options for wildflower-grass mixes and groundcovers that could be lawn alternatives and a few lawn-alternative design ideas.
Like all new plantings, you will need to mulch, weed and water groundcovers during the first couple of growing seasons. Once established, they are low-maintenance plants.
Mulch
You could use mulches that don’t break down quickly, such as bark chips, hazelnut shells or gravel, to replace the lawn under trees and areas where you don’t plan to add shrubs. Where you have added shrubs or other plantings, a thick layer of mulch will greatly reduce weeds, feed your plants and make it much easier to pull any weeds that grow. Wherever you use mulch, we recommend applying it at least three inches deep for weed control. Here are tips on using mulch.
We can help
Our expert landscape designers and installation crews can help you update your landscape. You will enjoy your new spaces and be happy you’re spending less time on lawn maintenance—while helping bees, birds, other pollinators and wildlife. This blog post can help you consider what you might like in your landscape: How to set landscape design goals.
More about downsizing your lawn
- Lawn Alternatives, Snohomish County.
- How to Reduce the Size of Your Lawn, Earth Easy Guides.
- 16 No-Grass Backyard Ideas for a Relaxing Lifestyle, Better Homes and Gardens.
- Reduce the size of your lawn—and your yard work, Consumer Reports.
