what is an alternative to grass in sandy soil

Looking for some alternatives to grass for your lawn? And then take hold of a coffee, get comfy and read on. We've chatted to leading garden industry experts to discover out their favorite ideas and to notice the latest products set to transform your plot.

But why supplant the lawn? Later on all, isn't information technology meant to be a garden'south crowning glory? Well yeah, but there'southward a chance that your patch of green is anything merely. Full of moss, weeds and constantly enervating attention, many grassy areas simply lie neglected – a mud bath in winter and scalped bare and rock hard in summer. The reality is that lush and healthy lawns crave enough of love and regular care and not all of united states of america have the fourth dimension.

Ofttimes covering a large area, opting for something different for your backyard ideas can be an exciting opportunity to completely transform your exterior space. Maybe you demand a durable surface where the children tin can play, a dig-gratis zone for the canis familiaris or an all-weather surface for entertaining. Or perhaps the size or position of your garden means that any attempt at growing grass ends up a costly disaster, in which example a dominicus-loving gravel garden or tapestry of shade favoring beauties could provide a more than attractive answer.

Don't worry that birds and wildlife volition object either as many of these alternatives to grass will increment the food and habitat on offering, providing plenty of rubber hiding spots too. So go along, accept the plunge and replace that tired lawn.

The best alternatives to grass

ane. Grow a wildflower meadow

Alternatives to grass: wildflower meadow — *Turf mixes, like this one from* *Wildflower Turf* *, are an easy mode to create a wildflower area in your garden*

Fancy a wild, grassy area that bursts into colour every summer? And so discover how to institute a wildflower meadow the easy way, with a mat of established immature plants that are ready to root and thrive.

Available from specialist growers such every bit Turf Online, advisedly selected varieties are sown and nurtured to create a dumbo turf with a strong, developed root system. These are then supplied cut and rolled to customers for a speedy installation.

Varying flower and grass combinations are on offer and so you can choose from native and heritage blends featuring favorites such as Cornflowers, Ox-Eye Daisies and buttercups; cottage garden, shade loving and pollinator mixes.

two. Consider basis cover plants

Alternatives to grass: use ground cover plants — *This Japanese-style garden past* *Maitanne Hunt Gardens* *uses the moss-similar Soleirolia soleirolii equally a lawn alternative*

Love the lush carpet grass creates, but not the upkeep? Don't worry, there are enough of other plants that are up to the job when it comes to alternatives to grass. Mat forming plants such as Rupturewort (Herniaria glabra) and Bugle (Ajuga Reptans) are quick to establish and will form a tight mass of leaves in next to no time.

Corsican Thyme (Mentha requienii) releases a fresh, zesty fragrance when trodden on while Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) has clouds of tiny imperial and white blooms during summer and is a magnet for pollinators.

Although many don't cope with the clothing and tear of constant footfall, these ground hugging beauties will instantly bandbox up an open area with color, texture and interest.

The team at Maitanne Chase Gardens share their knowledge of a recent projection. 'We used Mind-your-ain-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) as an culling to moss used in Japanese gardens, taking advantage of its naturally mounding, creeping habit to create the impression of the Japanese hills. Vigorous and depression growing, this largely evergreen little precious stone chop-chop creeps over the soil surface, filling gaps between paving or bricks and cloaking imperfections, creating a seamless sea of lush tiny brilliant greenish leaves.'

Yous'll observe more of the all-time ground encompass plants in our guide.

3. Lay pollinator-friendly sedum

Alternatives to grass: sedum — *Drought tolerant sedums, thyme and other depression growing plants tin can make a great alternative to a lawn. Blueprint by* *Alexa Ryan-Mills Garden Design*

Swap a sun-scorched, complimentary draining backyard for a mass of sedum, and you'll soon have an everchanging carpet that'due south alive with pollinators. These tough drought-tolerant and frost hardy plants hold their waxy leaves all twelvemonth round and produce tiny nectar-rich blooms throughout the warmer months.

No need to mow or trim back (you lot can pack your best lawn mower away for now then), these tight knitting plants actually grow so close they assist cut down on weeding too, making them a perfect, no fuss option for big or small garden ideas.

Pattern your own roofing by planting plugs of stonecrop and meadow Saxifrage close together or opt for a pre-sown matting that has been grown on for twelve months prior to purchase. Keep well-watered until the roots are established.

4. Nurture a Chamomile lawn

Imagine relaxing on a springy, green patch of chamomile inhaling in the sweet, fruity fragrance. A blissful experience much loved by the Elizabethans, information technology tin nevertheless please and revitalise garden lovers today.

The soft feathery leaves hug the ground and send out shoots in summer, creating a beautiful and closely woven roofing, making information technology one of our favorite alternatives to grass. Non to be dislocated with flowering Roman chamomile, the best variety for a lawn is low growing Chamomile 'Treneague'.

Platonic for areas that are used occasionally, these plants prefer a sunny position in a light, moist soil and take up to a twelvemonth to get growing. Once established the leaves practise shrink when walked or saturday upon simply don't worry, they'll soon spring dorsum up. This also encourages new roots to grade.

v. Give moss a go

The oldest institute on land, dating dorsum 450 1000000 years, moss is largely self-sufficient. With no root structure and happy to rely on pelting for nutrients, it is a magical plant that volition embrace practically any surface, given time. Ideal for combining with our small Japanese garden ideas, it is revered for its velvety texture, verdant colour and soft undulating mounds.

It makes a brilliant basis roofing for modest areas as the plant simply squashes flat underfoot, before springing back but information technology does dislike beingness scuffed and scraped, then not exactly football or dog friendly.

Largely shade loving, the easiest mode to constitute a moss rug is to pivot down sheets of live moss, available from online retailers such as All About Moss, go on it well watered and look. It will have time to establish and for gaps to embrace just the event is enchanting.

At that place's more than inspiration for the parts of your garden that don't go much sun in our shade garden ideas.

vi. Go coincidental with gravel

Ditch a tired backyard and replace with gravel for a smart, simply laid-back look. Bang-up for suppressing weeds, retaining moisture and encouraging plants to self-seed and spread it's perfect for easy, low maintenance garden ideas.

Use it to cover areas of whatever size and aim for a depth of around 5cm laid on elevation of landscaping textile. 'A gravel area will need a retaining edge in order to define information technology and foreclose the stones escaping into other areas,' explains Jo Fenton, Partner at Fenton Roberts Garden Design. 'In this garden we used granite setts simply we as well like flexible metal edging which is versatile and very easy to install.'

Go for a rock size of 20mm to deter cats from digging and retrieve carefully most the best colour for your infinite. Warm toned aggregates such as Cotswold or golden gravel create a sunny, welcoming vibe while limestone and white marble work well for a sharp, contemporary wait. For a lush, tropical experience highlight sleeky leaved shrubs and ferns with dark grey granite chippings.

Convinced gravel is one of the right alternatives to grass for yous? Observe suitable ways to keep it in place with our lawn edging ideas.

seven. Try bawl chippings

Not just for mulching borders or for adding to play areas to suit family garden ideas, bark chippings are attractive alternatives to grass. Dandy for smaller areas they are applied and relatively soft underfoot and will accentuate surrounding plants beautifully, requiring footling attention.

Go for a layer of fries effectually 5-10cm deep laid on top of landscape fabric. Apply timber sleepers, Corten steel edging or log curl to retain the bark and define areas such as borders or ponds. Alternatively proceed spreading chippings under trees and shrubs to the very edges of your plot for a natural and space-enhancing finish.

Bark chippings come in a range of different shades so y'all can tailor the look, but be sure to become for a FSC approved production to be sure it comes from a sustainable source, especially if yous're not bad to create an eco friendly garden. Superlative up every two or three years and avoid using freshly chipped bark around garden plants and trees too, as they can remove essential nitrogen from the soil.

8. Install faux grass

Ok, this is an idea yous'll either love or hate, but artificial grass is a applied option when it comes to alternatives to grass. Bachelor in various shades, fibre mixes and densities, you tin can opt for everything from pristine bowling green perfection to 'just mown' grass complete with realistic thatch to advisedly manicured stripes.

One to consider if you're thinking about how to design a kid friendly garden, it'southward pretty simple to install. These products are designed to suppress weeds while letting rain permeate through. A leaf blower or quick sweep will clear upwardly any fallen leaves or droppings leaving the surface looking good all yr round with minimal fuss.

Perfect for children and pets, you tin also relax knowing that grass cuttings and mud won't be traipsed back into the house. The downside is that this selection does lilliputian for the environment both in its production and by reducing pollinator and wildlife friendly habitats.

nine. Way it upwardly with slate chippings

Alternatives to grass: slate chippings — *Garden pattern by* *Katherine Roper*

Heavier and less cat-friendly than gravel, slate chippings are a perfect lawn substitute. Suited to areas of all shapes and sizes they add together texture and interest, are like shooting fish in a barrel to lay and come in a pick of different shades.

Blue slate tends to be the most popular merely plum, light-green and graphite are as well bachelor. The size of the chippings volition not but alter the look and mood created but the spread of the roofing.

Smaller 20mm stones practice take the power to 'walk' onto nearby beds and paths, so best to opt for larger, heavier 40mm chips to avoid this. The cool tones and flat shape of this aggregate complement modernistic garden ideas every bit well as Japanese-inspired gardens, equally garden designer Katherine Roper explains. 'We used Delabole blue slate chippings in this client's gardens as they wanted a zen-like feel and didn't want a lawn. Aesthetically the blue works well and information technology's darker, then the plants stand out. Nosotros painted the fences blackness for the aforementioned reason.'

ten. Lay easy-care decking

Alternatives to grass: modern decked garden — *Garden design by* *Cityscapers*

Want to make your outdoor space usable 24/seven? Then adding one of our favorite decking ideas is a must. A level, mud-free, uninterrupted surface is supremely practical and volition encourage you to movement exterior and utilise your backyard with minimal hassle.

The best composite decking has superseded standard grooved deckboards, requiring less upkeep and proving durable in all-weathers, only hardwood designs remain at the top of the virtually-desirable list.

Nigel Gomme, landscape designer at Cityscapers tells united states more nigh this recent projection: 'The deck features smooth planed Yellow Balau hardwood decking boards which, contrary to the name, are warm medium chocolate-brown in color. The wood is FSC certified, an of import ecology consideration for us, which ways it has been grown and felled sustainably. Aesthetically information technology is a cute material – tough, stable and resistant to our inclement weather and very like shooting fish in a barrel to maintain – an almanac rub down with decking oil is all information technology takes to go along information technology looking pristine.'

Other popular hardwood options include ipe, iroko, cumaru and oak each with their distinctive grain patterns and colouring. Choose from shine planed, shallow reeded or grooved boards and await for co-ordinated handrails, facias and edging.

Detect out how to give your decking the edge with our covered deck ideas and decking railings ideas.

Which grass needs the least care?

After alternatives to grass that will require fiddling mowing? So a turf or seed mix that includes creeping fescue is the answer. Forming a close-knit turf, the leaves grow at a much slower rate than other grasses, such equally ryegrass, reducing the need for mowing. Suited to most light soils through to heavy dirt, this grass tin can take time to put down roots and plant simply it forms a dumbo covering and is hardwearing.

Are there canis familiaris friendly alternatives to grass?

Alternatives to grass: dog friendly lawns

Lovable as they are, our canine friends do little to help the lawn. Leaving tell-tale yellowish and burnt patches behind and the occasional earthworks spot too, you may be tempted to find more pet-friendly alternatives to grass.

Clover is i practiced option. It's not one of the most poisonous plants for dogs, so it's rubber for them to eat, tougher than grass and less probable to stain too. The creeping stems root hands, quickly forming a dense mass of trefoil leaves. It needs fiddling feeding or watering merely tin continue spreading on to beds and borders also, so not for everyone.

Synthetic turf is another possibility. Soft withal hardwearing underfoot, information technology is designed to allow any water drain through and can too be hosed downwardly and swept if needed. The tough, latex backing ensures that the covering is dig-proof and of grade the covering volition be entirely mud-free likewise.

Made from nylon, polypropylene or polyethylene the UV fast grass will not fade or discolour when 'used' by your domestic dog and some products also come with an antibacterial backing which helps to cut downward on leaner and unpleasant odours. Bogus grass comes in dissimilar pile depths and its mostly idea that a pile of between 25mm- 35mm is well-nigh comfy under-paw.

What to exercise with areas of grand that won't abound grass?

Grass can be stubborn and sometimes there'due south no disarming information technology to thrive. If this is the instance, become with it and attempt a less stressful option. Smart permeable paving ideas with raised planters; gravel and boulder gardens planted with grasses and cacti or, perhaps, a timber deck with potted olive and citrus trees can all create a smart and relaxing outside spot needing very lilliputian maintenance.

Faced with a shady area then why not devise a network of meandering garden path ideas weaving through shrubs, bamboo and mounds of basis cover. Embrace the ground with bark chippings and cut logs to assist suppress weed growth and retain moisture besides.

Jill puts her beloved of plants and all things garden related downwards to the hours spent pottering around with her Nan and Grandfather when she was little. There was never a moment at their house when they weren't weeding, pruning, planting or harvesting cucumbers or dahlias from the lean-to greenhouse. Her Granddad'due south shed was a identify of wonder, and she tin can all the same remember the musky odour. Today she is lucky enough to accept a garden of her own in Surrey and spends much of her time writing about them besides. A typical long-thin boondocks garden information technology features favourite flowers along with the odd veg plant and the usual array of toys, bikes and… oh a couple of guinea pigs also.

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