Grass lawn substitutes

Q. Is there any alternative to grass lawns? I am getting tired of mowing and watering the lawn all the time. Is there anything that is less maintenance and maybe better for the environment?

Keith from Canfield

A. A green, well-maintained grass lawn has been a status symbol in America for a long time. But grass lawns do come with a cost – in dollars spent, in time spent and the impact on the environment.

There are alternatives to turf-grass lawns. For example, low-growing clover provides a similar lawn appearance yet offers unique advantages over traditional grasses.

Clover does not require herbicides to kill weeds because it out-competes typical lawn weeds. Clover is nitrogen fixing; meaning it creates its own fertilizer which not only benefits itself but surrounding plants as well. On the down side, however, clover is not as durable as grass, and its blossoms attract bees – frequently.

Another option is to convert all or part of your grass lawn to gardens for native plants. Native plants are among the very best choices for turf-grass alternatives.

Native-plant gardens, whether they are of flowers, shrubs, trees, vines or ground covers, will reflect our area’s unique beauty and create a portal to nature right in your yard.

Native plants are adapted to our soils, climate and rain patterns, which reduces costs and maintenance.

For trees, consider Red Bud (Cercis condensis), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea).

For shrubs and perennials Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Butterfly Weed (Asclepia tuberosa), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) are among many good choices.

If you have a low or damp spot in your yard, consider creating a rain garden.

Rain gardens slow down rainwater runoff and increase water infiltration into the ground. A rain garden planted with deep-rooted native perennials adapted to wet and dry soils require little maintenance.

Some plants for a shaded rain garden are Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) and Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis).

There is nothing wrong with a turf-grass lawn. But, there are other choices which come with lower cost in dollars and maintenance and are also easier on the environment.

For information on native plants see: http://go.osu.edu/replacements. For information on rain gardens see: http://go.osu.edu/rainplants

Today’s answer is provided by David Sprague, OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.