10 Ground Cover Plants to Replace Your Lawn

[@pattysciortino3313]

We removed our lawns in front and back yard in 2013. The city was offering cash to replace with drought-tolerant landscaping, so we had rules to follow. We selected mostly plants native to our region for front and back yards, and in the back, we also have raised beds for growing food. The native plants are growing beautifully, A couple didn't survive, but the ones that did are fantastic. We now see a lot more wildlife in our yards: birds, bees, butterflies, lizards, and other critters. It is so much more interesting than the lawn. We no longer need a gardener to mow and blow, and our water bill is a lot less.

[@Insteading]

This is awesome!

[@communitygardener17]

We started replacing lawn with prairie plants and walking paths about 6 years ago. We had to add adirondack chairs to the front, though, because it is so relaxing and interesting to watch hummingbirds, finches, butterflies, bees, moths, etc.

[@malindaallen718]

What city?

[@mujtabaalam5907]

Which USDA zone are you in a which blend did you use?

[@mandycote5662]

♥️

[@megan1950]

I have an advantage in my state--in Maryland, it is now illegal for HOAs to mandate grass. Yes, you can turn in your own HOA if they try to penalize you for replacing your grass! But, no HOA was criteria 1 for me when house shopping. I've been experimenting on grass replacements for years: put in a veggie garden, let the wild violets take over, extended flower beds, sectioned off a wildflower area, etc. Experiment will continue next year.

[@Tea_and_Crafts]

I couldn't live someplace that demands grass or has a HOA in general. I like wild gardens and vegetable patches and drying laundry outside on the line to get a bit of all natural UV sanitation action happening. It's nice to know at least one place has literally culled the demand for grass.

[@TahtahmesDiary]

This is honestly the best solution. Stop allowing people to be forced into wasteful and destructive lawns! People should be encouraged to use local plants and the seeds of these should be readily available by state!

[@tiffariff]

Man. Seems like I need to research my states HOA laws

[@stefaniemiles8855]

Really? Good to know. #MD

[@gabrielmorales9908]

Lets go MD 😎

[@cray2362]

Having lawns in arid deserts seems like such an impractical thing to do

[@MP-db9sw]

should be against the law. Will be eventually, as water shortages become more and more common.

[@NoiseDay]

As a kid, I was insanely jealous of other people who had lawns instead of rocks and dirt. Now that we have a lawn, I'm trying to find a happy medium between that feels soft and looks pretty, but doesn't waste water or put fumes into the air and wake up the neighbors

[@matiassu5604]

Actually having the soil covered prevent erosion and further desertification, so it is a good idea to plant one in a in-between zone. Of course specific plants adapted to the climate and preferably native, is necessary.

[@cray2362]

@@matiassu5604 you're thinking of trees, not grass

[@matiassu5604]

@@cray2362 no, anything that covers the topsoil from the elements will do, trees do that by spreading debris, crawling plants by growing directly on it, heck, even a gravel top layer will do as long as young seedlings can burrow their roots.

[@beesknees4003]

My childhood home had a beautiful lawn (that the neighbors complained about non-stop) that was a mix of regular lawn grass, creeping charlies, white clover, red clover, violets, and moss. The bees absolutely loved it and I have fond memories of trying to find four leaved clovers in the summer when I was little. I'm not quite old enough to have a lawn of my own yet but I'm so excited to be able to create a lush, biodiverse ecosystem around my dream house :)

[@suziperret468]

Me too! That’s what I did…First I planted a lot of mini clovers… My grass loved it and so did the bees.

[@marianwhit]

I would suggest that you and everyone here look for and learn the plants in native habitats before trying to make up something that won't work in the long run. The safest and smartest thing is to repatriate as many native plant species as you can, and not overlook the importance of the native ground covers to the survival of the insects that feed the birds and so-on.

[@Stratiis]

Kinda sad all but two of the things you listed are not invasive

[@xxxpandaxxxae]

Creeping Charlie smells so bad and it’s also invasive and could kill off native plants species by choking them out

[@sarahrose1665]

Ground covers were just on my mind... I'm 74...and I do not want to go out there anymore mowing... My front lawn has been removed... NOW THE FUN BEGINS... YOUR INPUT WAS INVALUABLE TO GET MY IMAGINATION PRIMED...Thanks...indeed! 🙋🌹GA USA 👍 7-29-22

[@StephanieJoRountree]

When we built out in the country, we simply left our "lawn" wild, as it was. That was 15 years ago and it's fascinating to see it change over the years.

[@chrinamint]

But then don't you have snakes hiding in there? I try to keep my lawn mowed because I'm afraid of snakes and I have walked upon a giant snake in my yard one time and I was completely traumatized! But I don't know anything about this kind of stuff and this is the first time I've had a house and had to deal with a lawn. Seems to me letting it grow wild would be an issue in one way or another. It could be pretty though as long as you don't have the ugly kind of weeds like I have! I have dang thorns and Holly stickers everywhere. I hate them so much!

[@StephanieJoRountree]

@@chrinamint I haven't had any snake issues. Could be because I have 2 cats.

[@druidriley3163]

I live in a near prairie area that used to be covered by C3 and C4 mix of grasses. One year, our local natural history museum pulled up its turf and planted native grasses in the spring to try to return its lawn to the "natural" prairie that used to cover our area. I went back in the fall to check on it. The grasses were over 6 feet tall.

[@d34dR0d3n7]

@@chrinamint Depends on where you live. Here in Southeast TX, we can keep our yard mowed and still get big timber-rattlers come out of the woods and camp out. Hell, I mowed a week ago and found a baby one on the porch when went out to smoke last night. Luckily the cat came out with me and that was that, lol. Do agree with you about various 'sticker' plants, those things can go extinct as far as I care. Personally considering a few of the options on this list to replace our grass. Kill the whole yard with a good high-power herbicide we use on the ditch, then replant this spring. A whole yard of just colver sounds wonderful...

[@leighannapeck1308]

Be careful with “wildflower” seed mixes if that’s your desired aesthetic. Lots of these contain invasive plants that shouldn’t be in the U.S. like Dame’s Rocket, Baby’s Breath, Cow Vetch, White and Yellow Sweet Clover, and Garlic Mustard

[@MizzMaree7]

If you live in California, Renee's Garden may have a good native wildflower mix for you

[@CLXCL]

Why do you think white and yellow clover are invasive??? It is natural weed and was labelled "invasive" only cause chemical manufactures(DDT, roundup) wanted to sell their toxins to homeowners to target clover. Don't let sales people to fool you. Any clover is better than GMO grass in lawns which even animals don't enjoy eating.

[@OfficialMyxomatosis]

Dames Rocket *is not* invasive. It is a traditional English Victorian Garden flower and is still used by Landscape Architecture today. It is *EXTREMELY HARD TO ESTABLISH* so make sure you are planting DAME'S ROCKET. *THE TRUE DAME'S ROCKET!!!*

[@Wingydingy01]

@@OfficialMyxomatosis Dame's Rocket is absolutely one of the worst invasive species in the U.S.

[@baladonian]

@@OfficialMyxomatosis Last I checked, England is not in North America...

[@jacobjerny7502]

Do NOT plant lilyturf. It is extremely invasive, due to its berries that attract birds to spread them. A nice alternative would be any native grasses in your area, such as longleaf woodoats for the southeastern US. Also a nice groundcover you missed is Woodsorrel!! It’s incredibly similar looking to clover, with a nice lemony taste. Woodsorrel is also exclusively native to the Americas.

[@bellpebber63]

Plus it comes in a few different colors (I've seen yellow and pink) also its medical!

[@mrazik131]

Sorrel is toxic you can die eating it. !

[@cpebud]

Woodsorrel is awesome! It’s what most people think of as clover. We let are gardener go to save some money, and it has completely covered the yard. Looks amazing. Even found some 4 and 5 leafers on St Paddy’s day. Pretty invasive, but I don’t mind

[@AnonYmous-bv3cn]

Wood sorrel is toxic to dogs.

[@brucecarter8296]

several invasives were promoted here. sad.

[@arraine]

My "lawn" is all-volunteer. It was bare dirt when we bought the house, now it's full of clover, oxalis, mosses, and grasses depending on the amount of sun in the exact spot. We did absolutely nothing to the space and it's so pretty :)

[@RichWoods23]

The perfect balance of effort and result!

[@sharonlove2lindy]

In Florida, I dug up my postage stamp sized patch of turf and planted a native ground cover called Sunshine Mimosa. It was a little work getting it established, but once it takes hold it's probably there to stay. It has touch-me-not leaves and the prettiest pink puffball flowers, right out of Horton Hears a Who. Lovely!

[@jdmichal]

Could you post a picture? I've been thinking of doing the same!

[@nunyabiznes33]

Mimosas are common (even a weed) in my country but I sure bet your "lawn" would be popular with kids, like these plants are here.

[@donnawoodford6641]

You can drink in the sunshine and drink up the mimosas!🍹☀️🍹

[@theresagomez2605]

I am planning to do the same but am deciding between Sunshine Mimosa and Purslane.

[@daniel_sterling]

@@theresagomez2605 I'm sure you know purslane is edible and nutritious. The sunshine mimosa is new to me, so idk how it compares.

[@Tea_and_Crafts]

About 10ish years ago I convinced my dad to stop "mowing" the barely 6foot square of grass infront of our house. we live in a city; the rest of our house front is a car port; the concept of a lawn is ludicrous. So he dug out all the grass and we planted a plethora of random flowers, succulents, and small bushes around a couple big rocks. Within a few years, many people in the neighborhood followed suit either inspired or because they reached the same conclusion. Now I just need to find a solution to the neighborhood dog potty on the curb and I'd be set.

[@mujtabaalam5907]

Which flowers/succulents/bushes did you use?

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

There's two main options for the dog urine. Either get plants that resist it or find a way to discourage the dogs from marking your property. Dogs have sensitive noses, so planting something garlicky or citrusy should make them uncomfortable. Be sure to use a special pet-mess cleaner that breaks down the enzymes first; if there's any enzymes left, a dog will smell it and mark the same spot again. Dogs always mark right where other dogs have marked.

[@blackhawk7r221]

Sprinkle cheap red pepper.

[@phantomspaceman]

My favorite type of cover for areas like walkways is actually mint. It's edible and smells great when you walk through it. If you put a few plants together in partial shade they will spread rapidly.

[@josejaimes-ramos1546]

And it scares a few types of pests.

[@inyxblackstone4756]

I actually really want to have a mint lawn. There was a low-growing, almost moss-like variety being sold at my local farmer's market a few years ago. Corsican mint, I think the lady called it. But as I have an apartment right now, any landscaping will have to remain a dream...

[@mitchconnerandsometimesjlotoo]

Don't try mint at home. It should be In a pot

[@TheRosieBoy]

My parents used to have their whole backyard as mint. No grass, just mint- yes it was lush, and every friday, everyone in the neighborhood knew my parents mowed the backyard because it would smell up the entire area, so much so- for me 20 years later, i can not handle the smell mint, too much, it'll make me puke. It was almost intoxicating. I learned mint grows like a weed and is hell to get rid of. The house I used to live at 5 years ago, had a big patch that would get at least 6 ft tall and 10 ft across because it was in a shaded area and was starting to leech into the lawn and into other plants. It was nice and pretty till winter and then it was just a bunch of sticks lol. It was the easiest way to get my dog to smell kinda nice though. I'd throw her ball into the mint and she'd would run into it and have the smell of mint on her, which was better than the rat shit she'd roll in.

[@MissTrixie29]

I let mint go wild in my garden plot and it couldn't handle heavy walking. It was fine with some walking but I had some right by the entrance of 2 tomato rows and I would walk on it daily. It didn't look pretty and it never bloomed. The mint that wasn't walked on got huge, flowered twice and handled the occasional stepping (about once every week). If you have kids I wouldn't recommend it, or keep it off of the main pathway if possible. Mint is a commitment, once you decide on it, there's no going back! I didn't plant it in my garden, someone else did, I just didn't fight it. ;) The pollinators loved it though.

[@Cheezitnator]

Sunshine mimosa is also a good native groundcover (native in FL at least) and perennial peanut (a nitrogen fixer that isn't as invasive as clover) is also. Certain cities have conservation laws where you can replace your lawn with native groundcovers and the HOA can't do anything about it (they might still try to so be sure to check your local laws.)

[@Notanothercrayon]

I've always thought I'd do clover when I finally own some property, but these are also great options that I will consider!

[@mitchconnerandsometimesjlotoo]

Clover takes in Nitrogen form air it also does well in dry weather mixed with grass.

[@paxorra5528]

Our backyard is mostly clover, even in dry spells, our 'lawn' is green, even tho we never water it. Our neighbors work real hard for their picture-perfect lawns.

[@mitchconnerandsometimesjlotoo]

@@paxorra5528 the clover helps the grass too, win win.

[@lorrainewilliams8232]

I love my "ice-cream" grass, it's lush an very green.

[@Evil_Tuxedo_Steve]

I hope I can do something like this to a house of my own in the future as someone who has a grass allergy. this has really opened my eyes to all the possibilities!

[@SilverFlint247]

Creeping Charlie, moss and wild strawberry grow by their own on my grass. Can't complain 😀

[@Gamerkat10]

Ah... we have a patch of wild strawberry too. I just leave it; it's very pretty! The actual berries taste like nothing, though, which was a bit of a disappointment. I suppose that's what makes them "wild", though XD

[@feliciavanbork4204]

@@Gamerkat10 I think your wild strawberries are probably Potentilla indica

[@malindaallen718]

Native Bees LOVE Creeping Charlie.

[@barbarabird3827]

In a cool zone - next to Maine- with lots of shade, nature has given me purple violets - in the shade of a "dwarf"willow, glorious flowers now (May), and a carpet of leaves surrounding some hosta for all of summer. My wild strawberries are very flavourful, but unfortunately, few. I'm a bit surprised that Vinca wasn't mentioned- a neighbour has used it under two shade trees on his front lawn, where grass was spotty- looks great. Wonderful that there are so many options!

[@sarahrose1665]

Megan commented on letting the WILD VIOLETS take over... I have systematically left the violets and removed vegetation from around them season to season... And the expanded low growing Green carpet they make is fantastic!! NO MUSS /NO FUSS...🙋From steamy Georgia USA. 👍 7-19-22

[@stephiegetsit]

4:20 if you ground cover your yard area with clover be sure you or anyone living in the home isn't allergic to be stings and that you wear shoes when outside. Bees love clover and they love it all season long. Bees stings to the feet are highly possible with clover ground cover

[@simonederobert1612]

Been there. Done that. Love clover honey. Didn't love the stings in Grandma's front yard.

[@mirjam3553]

I was literally at the cottage yesterday and had to walk carefully to not cross any larger clover patches. They were all abuzz, just like apple trees when blooming. It's ok for adults and off the most walked pathways, but if there's kids frolicking, better don't encourage clover. (And I'm in Europe, so it's not invasive, just somewhat problematic in some cases.)

[@Rozdlc]

Had a neighbor who studied bees. One day he replaced half his lawn with clover. My mom freaked out because its invasiveness, but he was able to mostly contain it in his yard. (Which I'm sure the bees were happy about)

[@teri03]

The only place I’ve seen bees out past dark is in this giant clover patch near my house. They can’t get enough of it 😂

[@christal2641]

White clover blooms well only for a short period in late spring. Micro clover is even shorter and has fewer blooms. With any clover plan to overseed on alternate years.

[@rakisk8r]

Five years ago i replace the lawn with creeping thyme. Bees love it!! i also have seeds for red clover to sow wherever bare patches. All my perennials are pollinator attractors. All the vegetables & fruit trees, if we have an abundance we bring downtown to a couple of shelters

[@rakisk8r]

@Grace Asher i bought both seeds & already started. Some areas grew faster than other areas, i guess depending on sun/shade, etc. And some grew mounded and some grew flat, mostly mounded though which is my preference.

[@rakisk8r]

@Grace Asher yaay! Go for it!! After i finished tearing out the lawn, our neighbour gave us their left over pieces of slate from re-doing their patio. i broke the squared edges of it the placed them on ground in a spiral, then i planted the thyme thru-out the spiral. it's not a really large area but it's cool. the neighbourhood kids. love dancing / twirling from stone to stone. And only watered a couple of times just when i first planted.

[@AlexaLake1]

I've had success planting Vinca Minor (Periwinkle Plant). It makes a thick mat, with dark green leaves, which grows only 3" tall (no need to mow). It spreads quickly. In the spring it produces pretty lavender flowers. It can grow in partial sun, partial shade, or full shade. I have it planted on the East side of the house, where it receives the morning sun and is shaded the rest of the day and it loves it there. Also, it is deer resistant. The only warning I am aware of is that it can be toxic to pets. Although, I don't know how much they would need to eat to become ill. I have both a dog and a cat and neither have been attracted to this plant.

[@scpatl4now]

Be careful with Vinca varieties. They can be highly invasive and hard to control. Only plant it if it is in an area where you want it to run wild...it will most certainly do that.

[@valdobie2797]

Periwinkle is an invasive species in BC. Sad that it is sold in garden centres.

[@AlexaLake1]

@@valdobie2797 There are many species of plants that can become invasive, but if planted properly can be both attractive and useful. The key is to plant them in a bordered area so they cannot spread beyond the boundary you created. Mint, which we use in cooking, is a perfect example.

[@scpatl4now]

Due to health reasons, I had to just let my lawn go (it is very small), and it is amazing how when you let the native plants and "weeds" take over, how much more wildlife you see, even in a small yard.

[@nance1111]

Pratia or for me Blue Star Creeper is awesome. I planted it in a perennial bed and it quickly jumped the stone edging and has been "creeping" through my lawn ever since, and we love it! Even my lawn loving husband loves the little blue flowers. He sets the mower a little higher to keep from mowing them. We decided to let it take over what ever it likes since it's so pretty and obviously a great choice instead of a lawn.

[@danbolton3180]

We planted a flat of Blue Star Creeper at our previous property, and within two years is spread through the garden area. We were an oasis to every native bee, moth and butterfly in the area.

[@rainsticklandguitartalk9483]

Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is something we had in Ontario, Canada throughout my childhood, and I plan to use it if I ever have land to plant a 'lawn' again. They only grow to be about 3 inches tall, and they spread easily. The flowers are white, purple, or red, usually. And if they grow up here, I'm pretty sure some of your growing zones will be good for them. According to Wikipedia, it's native to the eastern US, so there should be no issues regarding invasiveness.

[@myconfusedmerriment]

Phlox is on my list to put somewhere in my yard. We had a huge patch of it growing up, and I've also seen it on native plant lists, so that's definitely a bonus. Not sure if it would hold up to heavy foot traffic, but I have a dead tree I need to pull out of my front lawn, and I was thinking I would plant a ring of phlox in the bare spot.

[@scpatl4now]

Phlox is one of my favorite plants. It is great next to walkways and between rocks on a slope. It is like a carpet of flowers in the spring, so pretty.

[@rae8961]

Definitely using clover. I remember clover being mixed in the grass at my home. I always loved the white buds and they smelled so nice. I didn't know you could have an entire lawn of it.

[@paleoanonymous9026]

I use "Ground-Ivy" as an ingredient in one of my Wild Crafted Beer recipes.

[@rabbitgregory9289]

Please don’t plant invasive ground covers. Your neighbors may resort to using Roundup when the Creeping Charlie spreads to their property. Many beautiful, noninvasive ground covers are available. I have zero grass and many types of thyme and sedum. Wild Strawberry “volunteered” on my yard last year; I love it, but I’ll do some research to make sure it isn’t a problem plant for my area.

[@susangrande8142]

In my area, a medium-sized city in the Great Plains, there’s an invasive groundcover plant called Indian strawberry. It looks very much like the food strawberry plants, but the fruit is small, seedy, and tasteless. I’m pretty sure it’s not native. My hubby and I have been gradually replacing our “lawn” in the front yard with native prairie and woodland plants. The back yard is whatever will grow there, and it gets mowed every couple of weeks. (Grass of different species, dandelions, creeping Charlie, Virginia creeper, etc.)

[@rabbitgregory9289]

Yes, mine turned out to be Indian strawberry. I removed every bit of it. Too bad. It was pretty.

[@noahrafter-lanigan2409]

I live in Alberta, and Creeping Charlie isn't considered invasive, just annoying to some. An interesting dynamic has arisen in the Red Deer area where the primary ground cover in some manitoba maple thickets(primarily creek/streamside) is Creeping Charlie and red clover, and these groves are some of the only places you can find hopvines growing wild in the red deer area. My dad has a property out in the foothills, and the Creeping Charlie there has taken to the field like nothing. It doesn't overgrow the native plants and Alsike Alovers seem to grow more vigorously when CC is present. Nature always finds a balance, and generally if you restrict excessive colonization, after a few years nature will do it's thing. Always be careful though

[@jamesofallthings3684]

They use roundup for natives too. Reeeeeee

[@sergiorivera723]

So what. Your own property.

[@dawert2667]

I have always dreamed of a moss lawn. To me it’s one of the prettiest plants

[@samlindsey8978]

One thing we did with our yard was let the back lawn go to a mix of grass, clover (white) and violets (they are everywhere in our neiborehood and mom aways loved them, so she would collect them from other peoples yards who thought of them as weeds and replant them in our backyard). We've ended up with a lovely carpet of varied greens and little purple flowers and its great.

[@GermanSausagesAreTheWurst]

I collected a bunch of different kinds of Violet seeds and mixed them all up. Now I have quite a variety of colors coming up. I have pastel shades, sky blue, and bright purple, and some yellows. I love it.

[@daviddavid9837]

My mother always wanted a meadow. I want to put in a meadow "block," what I see as a huge flowerbed that thrives on its own. I know I'd like to start the spring with crocus and daffodils and those "naturalizing" spring flowers. And there are so many summer "meadow" flowers I love.

[@Betty-qd8st]

I love having clover in my lawn. I mixed grass , clover and a pound of wildflower seeds. It’s so pretty in bloom

[@t7957r]

I took out my lawn and replaced it with dwarf liriopi this is a fine leave version that grows to about 3-4 inches it is evergreen and looks like a deep green lawn it requires no watering little weepings and no mowing. Best thing I ever did saves money time and looks great and its soft to walk on.

[@learngrowlove]

I just love the idea of having common herbs as a ground cover on my property. Brought our home in the country last year and let about 1/2 to 3/4 an acre as a natural meadow. Loved it. This year I have yet to mow a single square inch of our 5 acres. I’m looking forward to experimenting with some of these ground covers. Thanks for the informative video

[@poece]

Another thing to consider if you don't care about having a large lawn/any lawn at all is just sheet mulching and planting a garden. I did that to most of my back yard a couple years ago because I realized I just didnt need that much lawn. My front lawn was already mostly garden when I bought the house. Having gardens is so nice. Looks better than grass, is less maintenence when its mature (plants need to be big enough to block out weeds although a thick layer of mulch prevents most) and is pollinator friendly.

[@gogr2409]

Did you have to kill the grass before you mulched? And if so, how did you do it?

[@poece]

@Go Gr Nope. Sheet mulching kills the grass. I put down a layer of cardboard and put some mulch on top. If I remember correctly, there are a couple kinds of grass that will survive this but most die. It's best to wait a year before planting so the grass dies and the cardboard breaks down.

[@waltermelyon4300]

I've collected acorns and roasted them for lots of different things thanks to your video. In Florida we have what people call pin oak because of thin leaf but the acorns are less bitter. So far the best use has been in oatmeal and chi tea.

[@tylerk.7947]

Hey Walter that’s awesome you are eating acorns! Around here in North Carolina I have found white oaks to be the best tasting a corn. I don’t believe I have had a pin Oak acorn though. Thanks for the tip

[@loriki8766]

Hello Insteading! Just found your channel. Thank you!!! I've been wanting to do this but we have an HOA and my husband is conventional. We've been discussing a new lawn and haven't agreed on anything yet. But the bees helped me. Hubby was out doing yardwork and noticed a bunch of bees in a clover patch he planned to eradicate. He watched the bees, they became friends, and then he decided that the clover patch was OK after all. So now we have a clover patch and a bunch of insect friends. Also educated some family members on how bees are our friends and if you don't swat them or stomp on them, they'll leave you alone too. And they are adorable! If anyone reads this and has more good ideas for ground cover for zone 7 or dealing with HOAs, please comment. Thanks!

[@mjo326]

Thank you for making this video. It was very informative. My quest is to establish two meadows on my property for birds, bees, and wildlife.

[@IllIlllI]

Replaced all my yard with garlic, thanks buzzfed!!!💯

[@gerrimilner9448]

so i moved in to my house 11yrs ago. the front green space had a wide range of native flowers in with it already. i planted loads of daffodil bulbs in it and added more native flower seeds. people have complained, but i need to keep the back garden shortish because of my dogs needs, so its the front that can be beautifull. i have so much wildlife out there now it is awsome!!

[@airtale.p]

Love it! Free the meadow!

[@richardsokolis7314]

Loved my yard in Tucson AZ. I'd rake the painted green gravel once a year.never owned a snow shovel either!

[@mothbelly333]

jeaolous! Do you have cacti on your property?

[@WulfgarOpenthroat]

The last year at my last place I was able to let the lawn grow wild; beautiful mix of wild plants and flowers that evolved throughout the year. Watching the dog hunt crickets was amusing.

[@mollypike9887]

We had a clover lawn until too many kids got bee stings. I loved it because it's so fluffy under foot!

[@tinkthestrange]

I heard a story out of Texas where someone made their entire front yard bluebonnets and other protected flowers. when the hoa complained he had his yard made a preserve. So legally no1 can cut his yard

[@danbolton3180]

4 years ago we bought an acre on the Olympic Peninsula with views of The Olympic mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and an abundance of wildlife. From what I can gather the property has been a native prairie with a few trees in pre- settler time, a tulip field after the turn of the 20th century and a hayfield by the end of the 20th century. Now the property is our experiment. I've yet to plant trees, but have spread clovers, and wildflower seeds for the deer, birds, and pollinators to augment what time and nature have provided. I'm happiest that I don't need anyone else's approval to try what I want, as if I ever needed to..

[@kirkNJ]

This is the most useful comment section I have ever seen on a youtube video! Thanks everyone.

[@kells-1234]

No longer a homeowner but my tiny yard was creeping ivy, moss, and violets interspersed with grass. Loved it so much!

[@druidriley3163]

My creeping ivy got out of control. it's ripping out siding and crawling across the lawn and u the bushes. It's almost impossible to kill.

[@Barakon]

So the best lawn is my kind of lawn… Nice.

[@thegooddoctor8479]

I have compacted soil that is also in full shade. I've allowed and actually encouraged mock strawberry to grow as a lawn. There's grass that still grows in certain areas but it can be mowed occasionally as needed. It's a nice ground cover, and it stays just a few inches tall. If you can't beat em - join em.

[@MegaBanane9]

Bonus with Sweet Woodruff: you can harvest it in spring (before it really starts to bloom), dry it (important) and then use it just for its sweet smell or to make a tea-like infusion with it that can be drank warm or cold

[@elizabethgumbert]

I thought it was poisonous.

[@jeepwran]

Was surprised by the zone map for thyme. I have lemon thyme in a raised bed that has spread and migrated from place to place over the years but still survived many Minnesota winters. Creeping Charlie too. There is plenty of that here as well.

[@Insteading]

Yeah we’re listing the “official” zones, but between microclimates and different varietals it’s hard to give perfect guidance. Succulents “aren’t supposed to survive wet conditions” but we have two hens and chicks varieties that thrive here in Seattle and make great ground covers, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I’ll spare you the rant about USDA zones in general, as you’ve seen they’re hit or miss.

[@jeepwran]

@@Insteading Yeah, as a gardener I'm obviously open to experimentation and seeing what survives any given winter.

[@grubert3535]

Need more videos like this around. So glad to see it.

[@CCoburn3]

It would be very nice if the species mentioned in the video were included in the video description, That would make it much easier to search for them.

[@iofs3338]

A bonus for my fellow south Texans, we have a wonderful native ground cover that stays low and has little small yellow flowers and it grows like a weed 🤣 Horseherb. You probably already have some growing in your lawn. It won't overtake your grass lawn but it will gladly fill in bald spots.

[@metzli_moon]

Your comment is a huge help! In Texas too and I've gone down this rabbit hole of research of trying to find suitable groundcovers preferably native lol

[@earthwobbles3534]

Frogfruit is a favorite alongside horseherb. It grows in full sun along the sidewalk. Soft foliage, low growth & spreading and small flowers all summer. I don't know if it'll hold up to traffic though. Somewhat unique plant!

[@primeoaktoast6596]

A majority of these already grow in my backyard, the diversity in just a few dozen square feet is fascinating

[@cherylcarlson3315]

My yard has morphed from grass with false strawberry and something like creeping charley to white clover and grass with mint, strawberries, mosses and now and then lots of lambquarter and plantain which I eat. Love to plant squash, basils in pots so tendrils and scent is everywhere. Next year want to ramp up mint varieties.

[@tybrady4598]

I’m surprised no sedum species were mentioned. I do like the ones mentioned.

[@LadyOcon]

Spinach is an amazing ground cover too. It is invasive... and thats how irealized i have now a spinach groung cover xD even has flowers

[@withheldformyprotection5518]

In the arid SW U.S., buffalo grass is a good alternative to the traditional lawn. It is drought tolerant once established and low growing. I planted it with wildflowers and it happily lives in the shade of these plants. I mow the whole thing once in the late autumn to chop up the wildflower remnants and spread the annual wildflower seeds in the grass bed for germination the next year. I have alkaline clay soil, in which typical turf grass struggles to grow.

[@moonlightdragonrider]

Thank you! This is the advice I was looking for

[@Unusual_Farmer]

I LOVE your tone of voice here. My feelings about grass lawns EXACTLY. Why am I trying so hard to keep something alive that doesn't even want to be there? So much energy and money goes into watering and fertilizing grass, and even then the "weeds" still take over eventually. Why am I not supporting the plants that actually want to be here??

[@thefrub]

Lawns make sense on the east coast, where you don't have to water it because it's just so wet over there. It's psychotic to have a lawn out in the desert scabland where I live though. My water company is actually paying people $500 to tear their lawns out and xeriscape

[@vlm5723]

I love my lawn. I love sitting in my backyard on the lawn and reading. I love the smell of freshly cut grass. I love the green aesthetic and how beautiful it is. I will NEVER give up my lawn.

[@radiationshepherd]

This is maybe the best video on lawn replacements I've found. Urgently time for all of us to say screw lawns, they're labor intensive, do little for pollinators, just stupid for a world with climate change

[@Bobrogers99]

Moss has now overtaken more than half of my lawn. It's largely shaded with acid soil, and I've encouraged its spread. Twice during the summer I'll zip around with my string trimmer to lop off any little trees that dare to grow. The rest of my lawn is weeds, which I mow three or four times during the summer. I particularly like the large patches of bluets which bloom in May.

[@esthermarcen7587]

I am in zone 4a (Finland), I wroke a leg and my lawn was not looked after it as it should be, so an area was taken by "chickweed", omg it was so beautiful when in flower, when it was seeding attracted loads of birds that wanted to eat the seeds, they were like dancing around, I just left it, also is resistant to the first frost that we are heaving here, it just looks so nice it has a very bright green color, with tiny white flowers when in bloom, you can step on it lightly, I think is a cover more for an area that you do not need to go pass very often. I easily control the spread by pulling the new plants. Is quite short, shorter than oregano, and as of today I do have tiny flowers, not many bees were interested in it, though.

[@thegardenmuse2398]

My lawn turned into white clover and violets ALLL on it's own :'D

[@shadowbanned6280]

wheat grass is an awesome alternative that can take lots of foot traffic. its not like traditional grass, its more like wheat and its whispy and soft. Also, cats can eat it and its safe! Light green too and grew 5 inches in 2 months. I mix this with the natural fauna I have, but I'm realizing a lot of whats in my yard isnt native so I guess for next spring this will be my project lol

[@kaval1er]

Wheat grass is actually young wheat.

[@KennDewh]

I'm just looking to reduce maintenance because I'm getting old and have a hard time keeping up. Good vid with good ideas to investigate. Thanks!

[@sinsitysinderella790]

Thanks so much, this video is Exactly what I need. Vegas is taking out a lot of grass and most people put in rock, which I'm Not a fan of. We already have some Australian Racer, which becomes a carpet of pretty white flowers in the spring. *BONUS*, if you get or have moss, you have TARDIGRADES, which is like the coolest thing ever!

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

When I lived in Whittier California in the last 1960s, we had a dichondra lawn. It didn’t need much watering, and was only mowed on occasion. From research, it is difficult to establish a complete yard with dichondra, but we bought a house with it already there.

[@bethsheeba1198]

I am doing that here in Australia. Very large backyard now all planted out with shrubs and ground covers. Front garden still a work in progress. I will however be left with a strip of grass next to the kerb. The front has heaps of clover coming up.

[@scooterman103]

Great video, love your presentation! Also would love to see more biodiverse lawns make a comeback. I heard somewhere that back in the day once people got wealthy enough that they didn't have to use their land for production they planted grass to show off.

[@meoff7602]

I'm starting to transform my grass lawn. Thanks for the plant ideas. I love the idea of not mowing and having a lawn that has beautiful flowers all over it. It helps the local bees. So it's an all around win in my book. Grass lawns are the old way of thinking.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

I love this video!

[@wiesejay]

Did the meadow thing a few years ago (Florida), hardest part is keeping up with invasives. Apparently, someone thought it was a good idea to introduce something called “skunk vine” 🙄

[@anyascelticcreations]

I wonder if any of these are snake resistant. 🤔 In my area the main reason to keep ground cover in check is to keep the snakes and ticks at bay. But if any of these could do that, that'd be absolutely awesome!

[@anyascelticcreations]

PS, I'd guess that even most HOAs in snake and tick country would be happy to allow something that looks nice and repells those critters.

[@kay6381]

This is the exact question I have...

[@anyascelticcreations]

@@kay6381 I would absolutely love a lawn full of biting critter repelling herbs! Maybe the oregano would work.

[@BecPlumbe]

I can suggest one, though if course whether it will work for you depends on where you’re living: dichondra, aka kidney weed. It’s very low growing; I’ve never seen it taller than below-ankle height here in Sydney AU. As such it doesn’t provide cover for snakes and the tick danger would be minimal compared to anything taller. It can grow in full sun but does best in a bit of shade. It does well here in Sydney’s Mediterranean-ish climate. I don’t know whether it would cope with snow and frost. Though come to think of it, the very tiny sorrel (sheep sorrel?) had a similar growth habit in the area of Victoria where I grew up where it snowed occasionally.

[@anyascelticcreations]

@@BecPlumbe Thank you! I'll have to look those up! I live in Arkansas, in the Southern US. Snow does happen here, but usually not heavily. I think frost is common here overnight in the winter. I've only been here one winter here so far and that one had a crazy fluke of a winter storm. I think it usually gets light snow and frost in the winter, though. The name, sheep sorrel is familiar to me. I'll have to check, but I think it does grow here. In fact, I think it's even edible! So, thank you for the suggestions! 🤗

[@glenagarrett4704]

Liriope (lily turf) and Creeping Charlie are also invasives in the US.

[@smurfiennes]

You are basically talking about my garden. 🥰

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I love every one of your puns!! 😂😂😂 I have recently discovered lawn alternatives and fallen in love with the idea. Enough people have called to inquire about them that I will be adding the practice to my company's scope of services! - Which means I need to know everything about them! I am currently doing an experiment in my own yard with 4 different lawn alternatives and 3 different sowing methods. Whichever I like best I'm doing my whole lawn in! Maybe - IDK I might do cool shapes or something fun and different just for kicks. But I'll be putting a video about the first phase on my channel in a few weeks, then a follow up next spring. This video was very informative - THANK YOU!

[@blorglord]

glad to see more companies taking up things like this to offer services for it, very helpful :D

[@bluelady214]

I am growing vinca minor, or periwinkle. It's not fast-growing but it spreads and covers the ground, is ever-green and has pretty little blue flowers. No more mowing, no complaints from neighbours either. I do have to edge it next to the sidewalk every few years but that doesn't take long and the clippings are easy to root and grow out for a few extra bucks in a yard sale.

[@bookmagicroe9553]

I have pachysandra in an area between the sidewalk and porch. It took a couple of years to get really thick, but no weeds or grass come through it. Quite by accident the type I planted was the blooming type, so in early spring it has little round, white flowers. It can take some sun and some shade - Michigan. I would not recommend clover for areas that you walk or play on. Lots of bees and bee stings on feet and ankles.

[@marketbazaar9162]

Perennial Peanut should be on this list, great stuff.

[@charleshash4919]

Should be fine for sub-tropical climates that are mostly frost-free

[@MiniMii550]

I live in zone 9b (Orlando, Florida to be more precise) and because of the characteristics of my lot I have a swale going around my lot (a swale is a deep trench designed to accumulate rainwater from the streets to help keep the city drainage system from being overwhelmed for those that don't cover with plants but would be difficult to mow if it overgrows. My question is what are come ground covers I can put in these areas that are evergreen or behave as evergreens in my area that I can put? I am trying to go for a landscape design that looks pretty year round with the least amount of plants going dormant in the winter but also helpful for wildlife.

[@Rusty571000]

I’m retired now and can’t afford these kids and their high prices so I’m really interested in this ground cover video. My question is, if you mix it with grass wouldn’t you have to mow it? Thanks and great job.

[@skipsterable]

We had to get rid of our front lawn. We had the driveway redone with permeable pavers and the extra dirt was put on the front lawn wiping it out. Got a Landscaper to come in and redo the front. Unfortunately, she just had her crew put the plants in without checking the soil which was now basically impacted clay with a couple of inches of mulch on top. So quite a few plants are not expected to make it through the winter. Once we got the driveway approved by the HOA they did not seem to have a problem with removing the front lawn.

[@yakk13]

I was considering paving my yard and painting it green when the landscaper who lives across the street suggested a garden center that sells local plants. They grew so much easier than the pretty flowers i was trying to force to stay alive. Just throwing around seed of stuff that belongs here and fertilizing at the right time with the right stuff has been easier and looks far better.

[@Big-Government-Is-The-Problem]

strawberries are my favorite ground covers in my wood chip mulch yard.

[@katyc.8663]

I lived in the country in ND as a kid. Most of the yard was legitimate prairie. My dad only mowed it once or twice a year. I have good memories of the way it looked.

[@ScottStevenErickson]

When my husband and I bought our house, we intentionally looked for one with no HOA so we could do whatever we wanted with our yard.

[@Makotako56]

In my town, you get fined if your lawn is too high/unkempt, couldn't imagine how they'd handle replacing the grass with something else lol Guess they hate bees.

[@qflower4982]

Love your humor. Great video

[@supermom7433]

I'm on the border of zone 4 and 3 and my thyme comes back beautifully year after year, it's very hardy. As a ground cover I prefer forest thyme since it grows very lush and low to the ground.

[@heathercarter9741]

After deciding we weren't going to win the fight against clover and creeping Charlie, myself and my neighbors on both sides of me instead embraced it. Last year I think was the first year we actually enjoyed our lawns. Between the massive patches of micro clover and charming patches of wild violets- we realized when we embraced the "weeds" not only did it give our places a charming cottage feel, but we had to mow far far less. So now I'm looking for additional alternatives to help completely transform my lawn into a pollinator friendly space that is low maintenance. Honestly, I regret not embracing this perspective sooner.

[@Diane56ful]

Great info. Thank you! I have a hill I want to put ground cover!

[@CheffBryan]

Creeping Charley DEFINITELY grows further north than that! I'm in zone 4b, my folks live another hour drive north and the distinction between zones is obvious, yet even they have it all over their lawn.

[@karenb1430]

I live in zone 3 and creeping Charlie is a noxious weed that spreads uncontrollably!!

[@MJorgy5]

I was thinking of a wildflower meadow for my back lot, but thyme and chamomile sounds pretty awesome.

[@susanfarley1332]

In my area growing a ground cover instead of grass gets you in trouble with code enforcement. Over a $1,000 fine. I love clover. Ajuga, also known as bugle weed, is pretty when it blooms in the spring.

[@RichWoods23]

This is why the best way to deal with any HOA is the pre-emptive employment of a Serbian hit squad. If one of the assassins happens to be a keen gardener they might give you a discount too.

[@susanfarley1332]

@@RichWoods23 lol Unfortunately it's the city that has taken on the role of HOA. I think they saw a money making opportunity with the fines.

[@RichWoods23]

@@susanfarley1332 Then your only option is to band together and bribe the politicians!

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

@@susanfarley1332 They'll fine you if you don't do the wrong thing. Isn't that lovely?

[@henryquenin6580]

I live in California in a semi-desert area. The local city absolutely orders a green ground cover because they want it to look like Ireland in the spring. I HATE grass lawns and I'm very appreciative for any info about lower maintenance alternatives that block weeds. The thing is, the city will not allow ground cover that grows more than a couple of inches tall. O if it's a tall ground cover, it must be one that, like a lawn, stands up to weekly mowing.

[@jennifergermain7131]

I have no grass at all but I do have ivy, let it vine across the ground. We don't walk on mine but the dog does his thing on it an 0 damage, easy to maintain, I just get clippers twice a year and clip what creeps onto my paving stones, so easy. My neighbor has it in front as it is a very steep front yard and mowing would be really difficult.

[@belle1256]

I very much want to do this to the majority of my lawn. 40% is full sun/part shade with some established pine trees (~45-50 ft), a large silver and sugar maple (~75 ft), a large crab apple tree (~35 ft) and a red pine (~35-40 ft)- also the neighbors have a two massive burr oak trees along the property line that shades one side of our property (also ~75+ ft), the other 60% is shade with some some sun. I am in IL almost WI, a stone's throw from the lake and have the beautiful sandy/loamy soil to go with it. I would like to make the majority of the lawn into native wildflowers. Our grass is sparse and is already loosing its battle to clover (mostly white with some pink/red) and a growing population of wild violets in white, light purple and purple. What would be a good way to 1) get a wild meadow started (i.e strip the current grass/clover, put down cardboard to suffocate, cut the grass/clover down real low in the fall and throw down wildflower seed to site over the winter), and 2) find the right plants?

[@kevinabbott3890]

On my 3rd year of wildflowers in my UK front (not) lawn. And it's the best yet. New arrivals are Knapweed, Self-heal, Buttercup & Ladies Bedstraw. I don't always go straight into the house when I get home now. I often stand and look at all the insects that aren't part of a grass lawn. Not sure if it's US native but if so start with yellow rattle as its parasitic on grass so gives space for all the other flowers to establish.