These 11 Eco-Friendly Grass Alternatives Are A Friendly Option For Your Lawn

A good lawn can make or break a home, but it can also break the bank, and most importantly, the environment. According to the EPA, thirty percent of water usage in the US is devoted to outdoor use, amounting to almost nine billion gallons a day, and almost half of that water is wasted. No one wants an unsightly brown yard, and nixing the lawn entirely is out of the question. So how does one keep the lawn green while staying environmentally conscious? And is there a way to save money on water bills while doing so? 

Social media sites such as TikTok have recently seen an influx of environmentally friendly lawn alternatives to the usual spread of grass. Not only are some of these options better for the planet and budget, but many of them offer an even more aesthetically pleasing bit of landscaping that will give your home a boost of curb appeal. Many of these options require significantly less upkeep than grass, and many offer much-needed elements for local fauna such as birds, butterflies, and bees. Get ready to say goodbye to the time, effort, and money that goes into mowing; there are options to explore no matter your climate and yard size to transform your lawn from grass to greatness. 

Choosing to landscape your lawn with a host of native plants is the catch-all solution no matter your area and weather. If it grows naturally in your area, it's highly likely to thrive with little management on your end, since conditions will already be ideal for the foliage you select. Audubon provides an impressive list of reasons to go native with your landscaping such as low maintenance, combating climate change, water conservation, supporting local wildlife, and cutting back on pesticides that are harmful to humans and animals alike. Giving your lawn diversity with a host of different local plants also makes for an eye-catching and beautiful lawn that will stand out from the boring flat green of an all-grass lawn.

Most nurseries and home improvement stores unfortunately tend to offer up mostly non-native plants to the area. While it might seem like a chore to track down local plants, the temporary inconvenience is far outweighed by the pros of a native lawn. The National Wildlife Federation has a handy database of local host plants, specific down to your zip code. You can also seek out local plant nurseries, which has the added benefit of supporting local small businesses, or find books and online lists that can outline what local plants will work best in your area. 

If you're having a tough time getting anything to grow on your lawn, either due to a harsh climate or rocky soil, Hens and Chicks have you covered. In fact, they work best in sandy or gravely dirt that drains well, and also says that they don't need any fertilizer. While you probably wouldn't want to do a full lawn of succulents, as they can't really be walked on, this is a great alternative to fighting with a few patches of grass in an attempt to keep your lawn lively. Creating a rock garden dotted with these colorful and hardy plants is the perfect way to set your home apart from the rest without agonizing over hours of lawn care and a high water bill.

Hens and Chicks is a common name that is applied to many types of Sempervivums, so there are different types to suit different climates. In general, Hens and Chicks have a hardiness score of 5-10, which is very hardy. They love a lot of light and full sun, but there are some types that grow well in partial shade, too. Once they are mature, they require very little water, thriving on neglect. Even though they're great for hot weather, they are also incredibly cold-resistant as well, if you pick the right type. You can peruse each kind's tolerances against the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.  

If getting your lawn enough water isn't your problem, you may instead struggle with finding ways to keep it from drowning. This is where the moss lawn comes into play. Moss can tolerate a lot of water, but also thrives in most climates, with the exclusion of arid environments. It's also a great ground cover if you don't have the perfect flat lawn, as it will sprout up on hilly rises that tend to repel grass. You can walk on moss, though it doesn't stand up to heavy foot traffic, and it's a low-growing plant, so you don't have to worry about mowing it. 

Moss doesn't need fertilizer or pesticides, and is generally left alone by animals, so you don't have to worry about wildlife munching on it. Once moss is established, it doesn't need constant watering and can bounce back from dry spells. However, moss doesn't do well with high sunlight exposure, and tends to work best in shade. It's also more delicate than grass. Moss can be a little tricky to get started, too, since it grows from spores instead of seeds. You will most likely have to buy flats of live moss and go from there. This vibrant green ground cover is worth the drawbacks, though, and if your lawn is rocky, uneven, or full of poor soil, it may just be the right choice for you. 

In 2020, "Save The Bees" was established to, as they so aptly put it, save the bees. A huge part of this non-profit organization and movement is planting bee-friendly flowers to support this incredibly important insect. With that in mind, one of the most environmentally-friendly lawns you can have is one with plenty of flower beds. You can purchase budget-friendly flower mixes to help sustain the species of bees in your location, and your lawn will look incredible for it. 

Flower beds can be used to fill up a lot of space that once belonged to grass. Or, you can take out grass entirely and add footpaths between your flower beds for a full enchanted garden feeling that will make everyone fall in love with your home. You can even sneak some fruit, vegetable, or herbs into your flower beds for an added touch of home-grown food so long as you are not using any pesticides or herbicides in your garden. If your home is new to you, you will want to find out if any chemicals have been used in the soil previously and research their lifetime and effect. It is possible you may want to avoid the soil already in place and turn to raised garden beds with new soil if chemicals have been used on your lawn previously; be thorough in your investigation, as some people may forget about previous pest control when thinking only of lawn treatments. 

Commonly known as bugleweed, Ajuga makes a great ground cover and eco-friendly alternative to grass. This plant goes by many different names, such as St. Lawrence plant, a few variations of "bugle," and a couple of "carpet" and "carpenter" names. While the "weed" part of the name may make you apprehensive at first, this plant isn't a weed in the way we think of; it is merely one which spreads and covers the area it's planted in. While this makes planting them over your lawn relatively easy, you must also take care to be sure the plant doesn't invade neighboring lawns. Bugleweed is similar to mint in that regard, and any experienced gardener can tell you that once mint is there, you'll have to fight to get it out. This makes bugleweed a great lawn, as it seems to thrive in any circumstances, but be certain there are borders to your lawn to keep it contained. If that's not enough to convince you of its stubborn desire to stay around, bugleweed does well in USDA hardiness zones 3-10.

When summer rolls around and the Ajuga plant blooms, it makes for an unforgettably beautiful lawn that stands out from the green ground cover that will remain the rest of the year. These flowers attract butterflies, which will make for an even more beautiful lawn, and support your local butterfly population.