What to use in the garden instead of grass ? Although the lawn is the most common way to fill the garden spaces between the house and the fence or flower beds, grass does not grow well everywhere, and its care in such places can be a lot of trouble. Theninstead of grassit is worth choosing a different way of covering the garden surface. Seewhich instead of grass in the gardenwill work if we want the planned space to look interesting and original, and at the same time to be practically developed and easy to maintain?
What, instead of grass, will be sprinkled with stone, cubes, gravel and perennial beds
Ground cover plants instead of grass
Instead of grass in the gardenyou can plant the so-called ground cover plants that are low and will perfectly cover a larger area. It is worth choosing evergreen species, which also decorate the garden in winter.
Ground cover plants, usedinstead of grass in the garden , are characterized by low and dense growth, easily create the so-called carpet effect, are undemanding and reduce erosion on slopes. These can be low perennials and shrubs, creepers and creeping evergreen deciduous plants.Instead of grassthey can be used in heavily shaded areas where the lawn grows poorly, e.g. under tree canopy, as well as on slopes or strongly sunlit places in the garden.
Instead of grassit is worth planting coniferous ground cover plants, such as: 'Blue Carpet', Common juniper 'Repanda' or Creeping Juniper.Of the deciduous ground cover shrubs, it is worth choosing the purple monkshood, Dammer's cotoneaster, St. John's wort, and Japanese marsh. Heather plants, such as the lingonberry 'Koralle' and the scalloped pork neck, will also work.
Instead of grass - common ivy
And of perennialswhat can be planted in the garden instead of grass ? As perennials that cover the surface, the following are the best perennials: ground elder 'Variegatum', long hornbeam, lily of the valley, corduroy tiarellus, lily of the valley 'Beacon Silver', houtunia heartwort 'Chameleon', scattered eat, bird feeder, saxifrage, motherwort and motherwort. The sedum and the swarm of masonry are perfect for sunny exposures.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning the vines that perfectly cover both vertical and horizontal surfaces. In shadowy nooks , instead ofgrass, which grows poorly in the shade of trees, you can plant common ivy.
Paved surfaces instead of grass
Instead of grass in the gardenyou can use other interesting solutions, here we are talking about various types of surfaces. First of all, our garden can be planned to be a combination of hardened surfaces with bark or gravel beds. Such solutions are often found, for example, in modernist gardens.
Instead of grass - a stone path and gravel beds
The material used to build the surfaceinstead of the grass in the garden , should harmonize with the style of our garden. Stone slabs fit perfectly into Victorian gardens, and granite cubes emphasize the rustic character of older gardens. On the other hand, wooden platforms are an ideal element in a garden designed in a modern style. Bricks, which we can arrange in various patterns, are useful for communication paths. However, we should make sure that they are made of frost-resistant material, otherwise they will crack in the first winter.
An interesting solutioninstead of grass in the gardenare concrete surfaces in which various forms are imprinted (so-called Pressbeton). In this way, interesting shapes can be obtained that imitate various materials, from slate, planks, stones to cobblestones.
Instead of grass , it is also possible to arrange surfaces made of classic limestone, which has long been used in gardens. If the substructure is properly constructed, the limestone-covered surfaces can withstand a high load. We can choose between red or gray limestone. For the construction of limestone paving, a stone with a thickness of 50-80 mm is usually selected. Another frequently used element made of natural stone is a cube, most often small with a side measuring 100 mm. In addition to it, we find a large cube, 140 mm wide and 200 mm long. Stone cubes can be used in virtually any environment, as they look natural and blend well with the greenery of plants.
Wood instead of grass
Wood is a material mainly used for paving terraces. It is a living, natural material that gives warm shades and dries quickly after rain. In addition to the classic wooden terraces, it is also worth mentioning wooden stumps, from which you can arrange a path in an interesting way. Along the vegetation, it is worthinstead of the lawnto make a seating area from round logs. A stripped oak, cut to a length of 12-15 cm, laid on a sand bed, is ideal for this purpose. By adjusting elements of different thicknesses, we can arrange them quite tightly, and fill the gaps between them with sand, just like when paving slabs.
Moving surfaces instead of grass
Gravel surfaceinstead of grass in the gardencan be built of natural or broken aggregate. It is a solution that is easy to prepare, as well as aesthetic and cheap. Before making this type of surface, it is worth laying a layer of geotextile, which will protect against the growth of weeds.
Stone grit or gravel used for moving surfaces should have a diameter of not less than 20 mm. It is available in various colors, so it can be matched to the color of the stone edges and vegetation. The combination of stone and glass grit looks interesting.
Instead of grassin the garden, you can also create large areas of decorative bark. The well-known benefits of mulching with garden bark also provide an interesting visual effect. In addition to the typical pine bark, the garden centers also offer decorative wood chips in various colors. Wood chips can be used for discounts, alternatively with grits.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
