Looking after a lawn can be hard work. Not everyone has the time or patience to be regularly out there mowing, watering, weeding and aerating. A simple solution is to say no to a lawn. However, many of us love the look of a lawn or enjoy having a grassy area for kids to run around on or pets to roam.
Is there a lazy lawn solution for people who want some green space but don’t want to deal with the upkeep? Yes. In fact, there are several solutions. Below are just 4 ways to create a low maintenance lawn.
Opt for synthetic grass
Synthetic grass is a popular option for those that don’t want the hassle of lawn care. This grass doesn’t need to be mowed, watered or fertilized. It stays green all year round and it is pretty resilient against damage from playful kids or pets.
It is more expensive to lay artificial grass than real turf. However, you’ll make up the costs in the long run by saving money on water, mower fuel and various lawn products. Artificial lawns may occasionally need to be hosed down and brushed to keep them looking good. But that’s nothing compared to the attention you need into a real lawn to keep it lush and green.
You can install synthetic grass yourself or hire a company like DDs Landscaping to carefully lay it for you.
Choose a native grass
There are many different types of grass that originate from various different places around the world. Some homeowners make the mistake of choosing a grass that is not suitable for their local climate and soil type. This results in more maintenance to keep the grass alive.
By choosing a native grass, it’s more likely that your lawn will naturally thrive on its own – because it’s already used to the local temperature, local average rainfall and type of soil commonly found in your area.
For example, those in northern states may want to consider an option like fescue that is native to New England. Meanwhile, those in southern states may want to consider a grass like Bermuda grass, which has been popular in the south since the 1700s.
Consider grass alternatives
A lawn does not necessarily have to be made up of grass. Other plant alternatives can be used like clover, creeping thyme and chamomile – and these can be lower maintenance.
Clover is popular because it is drought-tolerant and only needs infrequent mowing. It also produces pretty-shaped leaves and beautiful flowers. There are a few different types of clover that you can choose from.
A creeping thyme lawn requires a little more upkeep, but is still often easy to maintain compared to grass. Try to keep it moist in its first few weeks of growth – it won’t need so much watering once its fully grown. Creeping thyme lawns bloom into vibrant colorful carpets of flowers in the spring, which makes them unique compared to your average green lawn.
Chamomile lawns meanwhile require very little fuss. They don’t need watering unless it’s a dry period and only need to be mowed once per year. If left to grow out, they produce distinctive flowers (which can be harvested and used to make chamomile tea!).
Automate your lawn care
Another solution is to choose any grass, but invest in technology to automate much of the maintenance.
What aspects of lawn care can be automated? Watering your lawn is one task that can be automated by buying smart sprinklers. These can be programmed to water your lawn at certain times or even produce water based on soil moisture/rainfall forecasts. Such sprinklers can save you from having to stand outside and manually water your lawn with a hose. Modern smart options can be controlled using an app on your phone and may even provide useful information such as how much water you are using.
Mowing your lawn is also a talk that can be automated. How? By investing in a robot lawnmower. These lawnmowers are fitted with sensors and mapping tools that allow them to automatically navigate your lawn. This allows you to put your feet up while your lawn essentially mows itself. Make sure to read reviews of robotic lawn mowers – some are better quality than others and may be less likely to get stuck or break. It’s also worth comparing the battery life of different mowers. This guide at Gardener’s World compares a few robot lawn mower models.
You cannot automate every aspect of lawn care. But by automating watering and mowing, you can greatly reduce the manual work that typically goes into caring for a lawn.
