If you’ve ever considered getting rid of your lawn, these 5 reasons might be the encouragement you need. Rethink your lawn with these 5 tips.
I’ll bet that if you have a lawn, there are moments that you wish you didn’t. Perhaps, with your busy lifestyle, the lawn always gets overgrown before you get to giving it a trim. Then, every single time you’re out there putting in the extra effort to mow the lawn you wonder why you bother. Many communities, even those with homeowners’ associations, are now supporting homeowners to get rid of their grass. If you’ve ever considered it, the following reasons may be the motivation that you need.
We’ve decided on a two-phase approach for our property in the suburbs. The front yard (which is quite small) will still have lawn and flower beds, so it’s not too bad keeping up with the lawn maintenance. We’ve decided to keep the traditional look for now and to put an herb garden between the two front trees. This still allows the space to be useful, but easily maintained.
The backyard, however, is getting a transformation. We were inspired by the idea while we were looking at houses to purchase earlier this year. One house that we really liked had replaced their grass with a large, three-tier deck right off the back patio space. This gave them a place for the hot tub, a grilling area, and a cozy seating area with a canopy cover. I could imagine using this area to relax every day.
Why would you consider getting rid of your lawn?
More Free Time
It’s about the best use of the space you have. If you get rid of your lawn and replace it with an area that is ‘user-friendly’ you’ll never have to mow the grass again and you’ll have a place to relax and connect with friends and family. Chances are, you’re anxious to give up mowing the back lawn on the weekends. We know there are better ways to spend your Saturday than mowing the grass.
Less Water Consumption
If you are one to consider green lawn a necessity, then in addition to more free time, when you get rid of your lawn, you’ll see your water consumption substantially decrease. We personally don’t water our lawn during the very hottest part of the summer, but in the inevitable times of drought, having less lawn will help you do a little bit more to conserve water.
Take these ideas from Tenth Acre Farm and use a combination of landscaping and water to wisely create a beautiful lawn free yard on the contours of your land. You’ll even be able to grow food.
It’s Budget Friendly
Keeping a lawn requires sprinkler systems, fertilizer, weed killer, lawnmowers, and water to keep them looking in tip-top shape. When there’s no grass to tend to, you’re going to save a bundle. Sit down and take a look at how much you spend on lawn care products, services, and water. It adds up. Get rid of your lawn and spend that money on something more important to you.
Beautify Your Yard
A lush green lawn can be a beautiful thing. However, a series of decks and raised garden beds can be pretty too. A yard that’s carefully landscaped with mulch, shrubs, and flowers can be beautiful as well. You have an abundance of options to create a beautiful yard without having to plant and tend to a lawn.
Greener Carbon Footprint
Gas lawn mowers create emissions, so much so that many communities ban mowing on certain ozone days. You could get a push mower and get exercise while mowing, but that’s not for everyone. Additionally, lawns aren’t so great at cleaning the air. Trees and shrubs, however, are exceptional air cleaners. You can change your landscaping to get rid of grass and instead plant bushes, shrubs, flowers, and trees – all of which do improve air quality.
Less lawn means fewer pesticides. We have fire ants in the South. These horrendous ants colonize their nests underground and are impossible to eradicate without using pesticides. That’s not something I want to have in my yard. Replacing the lawn with ow maintenance alternative will ultimately keep our yard more people, and animal, friendly.
There are many other reasons to get rid of your lawn. Start exploring your options today. Consider meeting with a landscape designer to get ideas or create your own plan from books at the library. Look for upscale houses that are for sale and find designs that you like. Getting the old grass out is a simple thing when you have the inspiration to replace it.
Heather says
August 6, 2019 at 12:25 pmI do not have a lawn. However, that is not all a good thing. From my experience, every spot must be planned out in advance and have something proactively growing there or else weeds will take over. They may be mostly native, edible, and medicinal but a whole yard full of them is no fun at all and is pretty ugly and overwhelming. It is easier to mow than to fight back invasive weeds. My property had almost bare dirt when I got here, and I did not have time or money to plan and plant the whole 3/4 acre or so before the weeds came. It would have been quicker to lay down grass seed, though we live in the woods and it is shady. Starting where there is already grass and switching over to non-grass is much easier.
Shelle says
August 12, 2019 at 12:50 pmThat is a good point, Heather! You certainly don’t want weeds to take over and become unsightly. That makes for a yard that no one wants to visit.