The Hardy Ground Cover That Doubles As A Stunning Grass Lawn Alternative

If you're tired of trying to keep your lawn looking lush, or your weekends are filled with family activities, and you just don't have time to give your turf the care that it needs, you might be looking for an easy-care ground cover that can double as a stunning grass lawn alternative. Of course, one that's hardy and drought-tolerant would be a dream come true, especially if it can handle a bit of foot traffic as well. While there are numerous ground cover plants you could grow instead of grass in your yard, one species stands out, thanks to its low growth, hardiness, and drought tolerance. It's commonly known as dwarf carpet of stars (Ruschia lineolata 'Nana').

Dwarf carpet of stars is a low-growing succulent, native to southern Africa, that forms a nice dense mat of small, green fleshy leaves. As a bonus, this hybrid also has tiny star-shaped flowers in summer and fall, which are a delicate pink color. This plant only grows to a minimal height of 3 inches. You'll find it available in plugs or flats, and these should give you an idea of the coverage you'll get. As an example, a tray containing 72 plugs should cover an area of 40 square feet, making this a relatively economical way to replace that turf that's just become too thirsty and hard to maintain. All of this makes dwarf carpet of stars an eco-friendly grass alternative for your lawn. 

If you live anywhere in USDA hardiness zones 9 and above, you can easily replace your lawn with dwarf carpet of stars. It grows and flowers best in full sun, but can also handle some shade. Prepare the soil well by adding a little organic matter, while loosening up the top 4 inches. You can plant this hybrid year round, but spring through to fall is best. If you want fast coverage in around three to five months, space your plugs 6 inches apart. Spacing them further apart means that they'll just take a few months longer to fill in the entire area.

Once you've put in the effort to prepare the soil and plant all the plugs, all you'll need to do is keep the little plants watered for the first two months, after which they'll take care of themselves. As dwarf carpet of stars is a succulent, it should survive on rainwater alone. You might notice that the small leaves will show some orange coloring during dry spells. Giving your substitute lawn some irrigation every seven to 10 days during these times may be a good idea to help it thrive. This versatile ground cover plant also looks fantastic if you plant it in between paving stones to add vibrancy to your walkways. Plus, you'll find it's a good choice to fill in patchy areas where grass won't grow.