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Loading...Beautiful Alternatives to Lawns
- Annie B. Bond
- January 26, 1999
- 3:04 pm
- 8 comments
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.”
Read more: Nature, Lawns & Gardens
Annie B. Bond
Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).
Go to the Source
Going Native : Biodiversity in Our Own Backyards by Janet Marinelli (Editor)
Great book about native plants for your yard.buy now
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
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
The protective instinct is alive and well in animals. They will go to all lengths. They are a herd…
The world is a wonderful place, well worth saving! To bad we are doing such a poor job of it!
good luck in your adventure,I was upper management and had no time for me and left it all for a simp…
Thank you will try this
:)
8 comments
+ add your ownThanks for the article.
Good tips. Here in the Southwest maintaining lawns can be much more trouble than it's worth thanks to the scorching sun and oppressive summer heat, which incidentally lasts 6 months here. :( Thanks Annie.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the article!!!
thanks
Long live the flowery mead and the meadow.
Green lawns are green deserts. More flowers less lawns is the way to grow.
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