There’s a certain allure behind having a lush, green yard. That is until you realize how much works goes into keeping grass beautiful and healthy.

You’ve got to mow, feed, weed, water, and aerate it. It takes up more time than most people have. Not to mention, it can be expensive.

What if we told you that there was a way to have a gorgeous yard without having to worry about all the maintenance that comes hand and hand with grass? 

Check out this guide for a few alternatives to grass that will make all your neighbors envious of your setup.

1. Fescue Grass 

Fescue grass is technically grass but it’s not like the traditional stuff that goes in most yards. Granted, you still have to mow it but only around once a month or so due to the way that it grows. 

The blades fold over themselves. It sounds like it would turn into a clumped mess but it’s actually quite stunning. The blades ripple when the wind blows, causing a pretty wave effect. 

You can plant this grass in the shade and it will still thrive. It’s also drought resistant so you don’t have to worry about it turning brown if your area goes through a dry spell. 

2. Wildflowers

If you want to fill your yard full of color rather than have the traditional green look, wildflowers have you covered. You’ll still have to water your flower beds but they eat up less H2O than grass. 

We will say that there is still quite a bit of maintenance involved with wildflowers. If you want to keep beautiful blossoms in your yard, you will have to reseed every few years or so. You’ll also have to do a bit of weeding. 

It’s not a lot of extra maintenance but it’s still maintenance. Before you plant, keep in mind that you might want to avoid putting the flowers anywhere children play. They also don’t do well in places that see heavy amounts of foot traffic for obvious reasons. 

3. Creeping Thyme

Herbs aren’t only good for making your food taste better. They’re also a beautiful low maintenance lawn option. When deciding what kind of thyme to plant, we will say that spicy orange and creeping lemon are the best choices. 

They produce colorful buds that can be walked on. In fact, it’s encouraged considering they give off a nice scent when crushed. Wooly thyme is also a good choice because it’s soft to the touch. 

As far as growing thyme and keeping it healthy goes, it’s not too hard. It will thrive in the worst soil as long as it has access to sunshine and the soil drains well. 

4. Moss

Moss needs a yard that sees plenty of shade. If your area sees too much sun, it might be a good idea for you to consider another option on this list. 

If your yard is shaded, you’re in luck. Most mosses make good no-mow lawn alternatives to grass. It’s soft, beautiful, and some varieties have a texture that mimics grass. None of your neighbors will be able to tell the difference. 

If you live in a dry climate, you may end up watering your moss more often than you would like. Moss is also kind of delicate so it doesn’t stand up well in children’s play areas or in places that see a lot of foot traffic. 

5. Corsican Mint 

Moss might be a no-go if you live in a dry climate but Corsican mint isn’t. It loves dry soil and bright, sunny days. Corsican mint can go pretty much anywhere grass would go in your yard. 

It laughs in the face of foot traffic and gives off a nice scent when you step on it too. 

6. Rock Garden  

Rock gardens are great because of how versatile they are. You can use one to spice up a small section of your yard or cover the entire thing. You can use a variety of pebbles, boulders, or rocks to make your setup pop. 

If you don’t use plants, you won’t have to worry about watering anything and it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. Your rock garden will be able to handle it. We will say that you should consider incorporating a few plants. 

Without them, your yard may end up looking a bit bland. If you have children, you’ll have to take the size of your rocks into heavy consideration. Small pebbles can pose a choking hazard for kids.

7. Artificial Grass 

If you want all the aesthetic appeal of grass without the maintenance, there’s nothing wrong with artificial lawns. You don’t have to water or mow it. 

It will last a while and can stand up to any amount of foot traffic and play that you throw at it. We will say that having an artificial lawn doesn’t come without a price. Installation can be hard on the wallet. 

You’ll also have to run water over it at least a little. If you don’t, it can become unsanitary. You don’t want your kids to play in bacteria after all.  

8. Wood Chips 

Laying down wood chips is probably the least expensive option on this list. You might even be able to find free wood chips by contacting local tree removal companies. 

Wood chips are attractive and require no maintenance. You’ll have to refresh it with new chips at some point but that’s about it. Like rock gardens, wood chips pose a choking hazard for young children. 

Alternatives to Grass That You Should Know About 

Having a lush, green lawn sounds nice in theory but in practice, it’s a lot of work. You’ve got to mow, water, aerate, and feed the grass, which can be expensive and time-consuming. You’re much better off using one of the alternatives to grass on this list. 

Most of them look just as beautiful (if not more so) and are more manageable. Some of them can even up the resale value of your home. Check out our blog to find out what else can make your house attractive to potential buyers.