Alternatives To Time Wasting Lawns

22 Nov Alternatives To Time Wasting Lawns

Are the days of the natural lawn numbered?

Maintaining a lawn takes a lot of time and effort. These lawn alternatives will save you time and really help you make the most of your garden.

A grass lawn has long been the default option for many garden owners in the UK. However, the days of the traditional lawn could be numbered as people increasingly look at alternative options to help them make the most of their gardens

Time Intensive

One of the biggest drawbacks of natural lawns is that they are incredibly time and labour intensive. To keep it looking at its best, a natural lawn needs frequent watering, mowing and weeding – valuable time that could be better spent enjoying your garden.

Lawns have also been criticised for not being very environmentally friendly, requiring copious amounts of water, as well as fertilisers and pesticides that could be potentially harmful to local wildlife.

With all this in mind it’s not surprising that a recent survey found that almost a quarter of respondents were reducing the size of their lawn, while 12% wanted to get rid of their lawn altogether.

So, if you don’t want a lawn in your garden, what are the alternatives?

Artificial lawn

If you like the appearance of a lawn but not the effort it entails, then artificial grass could be the perfect solution.

Made of durable plastic polymers, today’s artificial grass products give a soft, green, natural finish that is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. What’s more, it requires very little effort to keep it looking at its best. Once it has been installed, all it really needs is an occasional brushing with a stiff brush and the removal of any debris or leaves. Artificial grass also has the advantage of being weatherproof; unlike a natural lawn it won’t get muddy or dry out in hot weather, so you can enjoy your garden all year round.

Artificial lawns come in a huge variety of shades, styles and heights, so you can be sure to find something that fits your budget requirements. We fit high quality artificial grass products, so if you’d like to find out more about how an artificial lawn could benefit your garden, please give us a call.

Wildflower meadow

A mini wildflower meadow is a great way of adding colour and interest, and they also have the added advantage of increasing biodiversity and attracting more wildlife to your garden.

Unlike a lawn which needs regular mowing, a meadow simply requires a couple of cuts a year. However, while a wildflower patch looks great during spring and summer it may be less appealing during the winter months. And of course, you won’t be able to walk, sit or play games on the meadow, so you would miss out on one of the key benefits that lawns offer.

Decking or patio

A lot of us use our gardens for dining and socialising, and decking or paved areas are perfect for this. Unlike a lawn, they don’t get soggy or muddy during a bout of rain and so lend themselves well to entertaining during the unpredictable British summer.  If you’re craving some greenery try adding some colourful potted plants, trees or flower beds around the border.

Tapestry lawn

An unusual yet effective alternative to a natural grass lawn is a so-called ‘tapestry lawn’. Instead of grass, tapestry lawns are made up of mowing-tolerant flowering ground cover plants such as chamomile, white clover, buttercups and daisies.

A tapestry lawn is fairly low maintenance, requiring mowing just two to five times a year and very occasional weeding. Its biodiversity will also help to attract new insects and birds to your garden.

While occasional walking doesn’t harm a tapestry lawn (and can even help it), this kind of lawn is not suitable for frequent sports or games.

We have discussed before how grass lawns are a really a relatively new phenomena – it was only in the 1950s that lawnmowers became affordable for the average homeowner – so it should not be a huge shock that this time consuming and expensive trend may finally be coming to an end. We believe that artificial grass provides the best combinations of aesthetics and practicality – it looks great all year round and you, children and pets can all enjoy it too.