Microclover is tough, green and is an attractive replacement for a traditional lawn. 

There's no room for a lawn in this cottage garden.

Lawn alternatives do exist

You don't have to have a lawn if you don't want to. This is especially true if the conditions are not conducive to happy grass such as wet soil, soil that's too dry, nutrient poor soil, soil that is rock hard (compacted) and a very common problem in British Columbia: too much shade. 

If conditions are not suitable to grow grass then don’t waste your time, money and patience. There are many plants that love conditions that impedes grass growth. There’s no need to rip up the existing lawn, just make a new foundation of soil on top the grass with the lasagna gardening method. To learn more the lasagna method click here.

It was too shady and dry for grass to grow.

The area under the tree was converted to a garden bed for shade loving plants.

Garden Beds: Where the grass doesn't grow, make a garden bed. Use the lasagna garden method so you don't have to dig up the lawn, and fill with suitable plants for the conditions. ​

A meadow garden is a fairly new trend that also attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects.

A flagstone path is interplanted with creeping thyme in a non-traditional front garden.

Meadows: A fairly new gardening trend are meadow gardens. Like clover they provide food for pollinating insects and when done well, they look marvelous.
Cottage gardens: Anything goes really as you combine shrubs, small trees, perennials and food plants: blueberries, strawberries, dwarf fruit trees, grapes, herbs and veggies together. Just add some paths as there’s no room for a lawn. ​

Japanese spurge is an evergreen and hardy groundcover for shade.

For hot sunny locations, stonecrop sedum is a fine looking lawn alternative. Pictured Sedum acre `Aureum'.

Groundcovers:  There are many plants that cover the ground. There are ones for sun, for shade and everything inbetween. Some bear pretty flowers, while others are grown for their attractive foliage. Japanese spurge, Pachysandra terminalis, is an evergreen with deep green leaves that thrives in shade. Sweet violets (Viola odorata) bear pretty purple flowers and are perfect for a woodland setting. Creeping sedum is perfect for hot and dry locations. Click here to learn more about some very handsome lawn alternatives and which ones to stay away from. ​

Oregon wood sorrel is a lush groundcover for shady locations.

Clover: If you’d rather have an expanse of green you can walk on, how about forgoing a turfgrass and opt for perennial clover. Not only is it easier to grow than grasses, it provides flowers for many types of pollinating insects, especially bees. It also captures nitrogen from the air and transfers it into the soil. White clover is commonly used as a lawn substitute, but there’s also the robust strawberry clover that bears pink flowers. There’s also a mini clover version called micro-clover. It’s often used in conjunction with turfgrass as they grow well together

White clover grew where a lawn failed due to terrible soil conditions. The bees love it!

Microclover can be used alone or mixed in with an existing lawn.

Hardscaping: Install a patio or deck where the grass fails to grow .Consider adding raised garden beds and fill them with plants suitable for the conditions.

Old bricks are a better alternative to a lawn in this shady area.

To learn more about ground covers, click here. 

There's no need for a lawn when attractive paving fits the bill.

Steep Slopes: Slopes are difficult to mow and dangerous. Terrace the slope to make it more user friendly, accessible and easier to maintain. Include paths and steps for safety and accessability. ​​