By Matt James TZ. Looking for alternatives to grass? Perhaps you find the maintenance too much? Or the shade from trees or a trampoline make it hard to Small Garden Ideas Without Grass Ltd grow? Or maybe you simply have a small plot and nowhere to store a lawnmower? Whatever, you can go without a lawn in your garden � either completely or in part.
And if so, what will you replace it with: gravel, decking, paving or even fake grass? Doing so will cut down on maintenance and can create pace in and help zone your garden. Like the sound of it? Don't miss these turf-free options if you want an alternative to laying � and caring for � a lawn.
Then, find more garden ideas in our fabulous feature. There is, however, a number of alternatives. Some are wildlife-friendly substitutes; others can cut maintenance time in half. All offer exciting garden design opportunities. An increasingly popular option, a meadow can be created by simply allowing existing lawn grass to grow longer than usual, and cutting it only once or twice in summer. On a large scale, this is the most sensible option, since replacing the lawn with anything else will be prohibitively expensive � or back-breaking work.
Leaving existing grass to grow also means you can revert to a close-cropped sward again relatively easily, by trimming the length low enough to take the lawnmower we have the best lawnmowers in our buyer's guide. Of course, not all the lawn has to be left to grow long. If you want something akin to an idyllic country meadow, there are two options: the easiest is to plant wildflower plug-plants throughout the long grass, chosen with your soil type in mind. The alternative is to sow a special meadow mix instead try MAS Seeds.
Traditionally this meant stripping off the rich topsoil beforehand wildflowers love poorer soils , but there are now lots of blends available for all soil types and situations. Some come pre-germinated and supplied on mats that you simply lay like normal turf try MeadowMat or Wild Flower Turf � use these for an instant effect, but expect to pay a lot more. Most meadow mixes fall into two categories.
Annual mixes are quick to flower, but need re-sowing each spring for best results. To keep perennial meadows looking good, cut them once or twice a year. The timing of the cut is important: spring meadows are left uncut until mid-summer, whereas summer meadows are mown to 10cm in spring then left to flower and seed before cutting again in the autumn. Use our guide to create your own luscious wildlife garden. Gravel is an ideal lawn alternative, being easy to use and suitable for both traditional and contemporary garden designs.
However, replacing a large lawn in the garden of a suburban semi with a sea of gravel is rather boring, and impractical for families with children. Where gravel really proves useful is in the front garden, where a tiny lawn can be a pain to mow.
Plants are essential for interest, though, so always aim for a healthy ratio of two-thirds plants to one-third gravel. Water-worn weathered flint and cockleshells are favourites, but your choice should be guided by local stone, other hardscape materials in the garden, and the house. Bradstone and CED have a large range, and Stone Warehouse has a handy online calculator to work out how much you need.
First, lay sheets of heavy-duty, semi-permeable landscape fabric from DIY stores , to stop Small Backyard Landscape Ideas Without Grass Days weeds coming through. Overlap each edge by 30cm and fix down securely using cm U-shaped wire staples. Use our guide to choose the best gravel for your garden to find out more. Ideal for dark corners under trees where even shade-tolerant types of grass struggle to grow well, bark feels more at home, although simple water-worn gravels work too. Choose natural stripped pine bark or similar and, for colour and texture, add plants in areas not used for seating.
Easy-care woodlanders such as wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides var. With bark, you can simply spread an cm layer over the soil, but it will need topping up every other year. Alternatively, use landscape fabric to keep weeds down, make slits with a Stanley knife and plant through. If the soil is prepared properly, thyme grows fast, too. A spring planting of small coffee cup-sized plants spaced cm apart will see a pleasing effect the following year, and in 18 months, the carpet should be at its best.
But if you want to keep the plants bushy, trim after flowering with shears, or if you have a lawn mower with a height setting, use this carefully. For a thyme tapestry effect, plant each variety in large teardrop-shaped drifts and mix them up throughout the design. White clover is a possible option, too, and useful to feed both the bees and your soil. Sedum mats, commonly used on green or living roofs, are good ground cover, if given enough sun.
Use our guide to choosing plants for more guidance. If you love the look of a lawn, but hate the hard work, or want to create a child-friendly garden , consider artificial turf. Use all year round, whatever the weather, and it needs nothing more than occasional hosing.
The foundations, especially large areas, also need specialist fitters, as preparing the ground is more like laying paving, and a level surface is vital. Suppliers such as Easigrass can recommend local fitters. In many cases, simplifying the shape of a real grass lawn to minimise maintenance, sowing a mini-meadow or making a gravel garden instead is a more natural, wildlife-friendly , not to mention cheaper, alternative.
The Derwent Artificial Grass from Carpetright below subtly combines different shades of green and brown for a realistic look, and is fabulously soft underfoot. Want to create a patio or outdoor living area in a small courtyard garden?
Opt for paving for a smart finish that's durable, too. Choose a paving material that flatters the style, period and materials of your property, but also one that complements that of the flooring indoors if you want to create an indoor outdoor link.
A small, traditional patio will benefit from stone paving blocks in sandstone or limestone in honey or brown shades; more modern properties can experiment with quartz, versatile porcelain or even concrete. Avoid using multiple materials in a small space, such as a courtyard garden, to prevent it from looking too busy.
If yours is a small garden, perhaps an awkward shape or on a sloping site, and your budget is low, installing decking is a cost-effective, speedy way to create a usable surface, perfect for outdoor lounging and dining. Check out our decking ideas for inspiration, and don't forget, there are tons of decking materials to choose from, from beautiful hardwoods to no-maintenance composite wood lookalikes. Find out how to install decking to cut down on cost, too. Millboard composite decking, Garden House Design.
Mother's Day gifts suited for the Queen of your heart. Garden plant ideas: Identify soil types, garden aspects and more in our guide to know which plants to put in your garden. Shade gardens can feel bright with the right advice. Our design ideas will see yours full of lush foliage, beautiful flowers, even veg and more.
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Plus, how to decorate yours on a budget. Real Homes is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.
Visit our corporate site. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number Real Homes Making your dream home a reality. Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Garden plant ideas � 10 easy steps to know what plants to put in your garden Garden plant ideas: Identify soil types, garden aspects and more in our guide to know which plants to put in your garden.
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