Lawn Alternatives

Our backyard has no lawn whatsoever. Thanks to our giant oaks and a medley of smaller trees, there isn’t enough sunlight to support grass. I like it that way. Recently I’ve embarked on a project to create a woodland environment of ferns, brunnera, lily of the valley, astilbe, rhododendron, etc. 

We do have a lawn in the front, but it suffers. Tannic acid from fallen oak leaves and acorns make the ground acidic, and lawns prefer a basic environment. Our large maple, with its abundant surface roots, steals water and nutrients from the surrounding grass. I’ve been threatening to take out the front lawn too. This article presents a convincing argument and beautiful alternatives to grassy yards.