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Beautiful Alternatives to Lawns

posted by Annie B. Bond Jan 26, 1999 3:04 pm
1 comment

Sometimes a lawn doesn’t make any sense. Steep slopes, rocky stretches with
inadequate topsoil, and sandy soil, are all examples of difficult terrain
that don’t lend themselves to uniform grass covers . Forcing a lawn in such
places forces most people to search for chemical fixes that harm the ecosystem at large.
Choose instead maintenance-free groundcovers!


  • Look in your Yellow Pages for your county’s cooperative extension for
    native grasses, groundcovers, and wildflower meadow recommendations. Learn more about
    wildflower native species.
  • A general rule of thumb is to make sure to match the plant to the
    conditions in which it is going to be planted. Determine if the area is
    shaded, partially shaded, or in full sun; how much water the ground receives;
    how tall you want the groundcover to be; and if you want the plants to bloom.
  • Consider mixing different groundcovers for a more interesting “lawn.”

    More on Lawns & Gardens (104 articles available)
    More from Annie B. Bond (3214 articles available)

1 comment

Go to the Source

The Wild Lawn Handbook : Alternatives to the Traditional Front Lawn by Stevie Daniels

The Wild Lawn Handbook is the definitive guide to transforming the traditional grass lawn into a beautiful alternative lawn using native grasses, ferns, mosses, wildflowers, low-growing shrubs, and perennials. In the last few years, there has been a media outcry to raise the publics awareness of the toxicity and water-wasting nature of the American lawn, making wild lawns one of todays hottest gardening topics.buy now

Building a Healthy Lawn : A Safe and Natural Approach by Stuart Franklin, Jeff Silva (Designer), Deb

Comprehensive, easy-to-read lawn care book for people concerned about the environment. Learn all about mowing, watering, fertilizing, soil building, thatch, equipment selection, seeding, weed control, diseases, and insects. buy now
1 Comments       add a comment »
Kip Mapes

Green lawns are green deserts. More flowers less lawns is the way to grow.

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