Alternatives to Traditional Lawns for Your Columbus Home

More and more Columbus homeowners and new Columbus homebuyers are looking for alternatives to the traditional grass lawn. The biggest appealing factor of alternative landscaping at a home is that it requires less maintenance and attention than the upkeep of grass. 

Some other reasons homeowners are searching for grass lawn alternatives are that it can be friendly to the planet and their pocketbook as well with a lesser demand for watering and constant need for the application of other products like Weed and Feed to keep landscaping thriving and healthy. 

Good Reasons to Choose Grass Lawn Alternatives

Information from the University of New Hampshire shows that choosing alternative plants instead of grass can be great for homes that have a nice sunny lot. You can also make them work at any house including homes with pets and kids that need the yard to run and play. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac grass can be a water hog and the healthiest of lines require fertilizer and chemical use to keep them looking amazing.

Lawn alternatives can make good use of native plants that are extremely easy to grow and can have your landscaping looking amazing with very little to no effort at all. What's even better is that a property full of native plants is much more eco-friendly. Some homeowners who have already gone the alternative landscaping route have seen a huge drop in their water usage which is a much lesser impact on the planet and also their pocket.

Here Are Some Great Tips for Lawn Alternatives at Your Columbus Home

Plants that Make Great Lawn Alternatives

Moss

When you have a lawn moss is often seen as that unwanted nuisance growing in between your grass. But what about paying attention to the moss exclusively? Moss is an alternative ground cover to grass and clover that can thrive and look lush and green in the right environment. It is a great low-maintenance ground cover that traps moisture and helps to fight erosion. Another plus side to moss is that it does not require trimming like grass and is perfectly capable of being walked on. If you have a yard that doesn't get a lot of sunlight then moss can be a perfect lawn alternative.

Native plants

Plants that naturally grow in the wild in the location you live are probably the easiest to take care of. They almost need no attention at all to thrive and bring a lush and aesthetically pleasing environment to your land. In addition, they can provide food and a habitat for local wildlife.

Companion planting

If you are not a fan of using harsh chemicals on your garden plants that could not only wipe out harmful and annoying pests attacking your plants but also good native wildlife and insects then companion planting is a good alternative landscaping plan. This is the practice of planting items that are susceptible to pests next to other plants that help to naturally deter pests. Such as planting aphid-repelling basil near your rose bushes.

Adding more trees

Bringing more trees to your landscape can help to supply a carbon filter as well as retain stormwater and give cooling shade to the area. When planted strategically some trees can even provide more shade for your house and keep it cooler which will in turn help you to save money on cooling your home during the summer.

Use different ground covers that work well together

The worry with using some ground covers for homeowners is that some forms of ground cover can feel invasive and begin to take over the whole territory. Choosing the right ground covers will help you to keep your plants in the place where you expect them to be and not choke out other neighboring plants. It can also bring contrast, texture, and visual interest to your landscape. Some great crown covers that stay in place are lambs ear, blue fescue, black-eyed Susans, pussytoes, creeping rosemary, creeping thyme, and sedums.

Green methods that can keep alternative landscaping thriving

Go for a sustainable irrigation system

The great green way to water your landscaping that requires little to no money and drastically reduces your water usage is by installing a rainwater harvesting system. Before you do this however you need to make sure that you are within zoning laws for your area to be able to do so. It sounds funny to need permission to collect water coming out of the sky but some areas require it.

Use organic plant foods

Helping the plants in your landscaping to thrive may require a little extra help from you. The nice thing is that you don't have to use harmful chemicals to keep the soil healthy and your plants happy. There are many organic fertilizers out there available for homeowners to promote strong growth of their landscaping at their home and can't even help to prevent plant diseases.

Consider composting

Composting is another little-to-no-cost way to feed your plants nutrients and keep them thriving. It can be as simple as grabbing some kitchen scraps and yard waste and getting them into a pile in an unused small spot in your yard. This drastically reduces the need to purchase other items to feed the plants in your landscape.

Taking care of the landscaping around your home is important to help your home retain its value and curb appeal well also providing a space that is somewhere people want to hang out and enjoy. The nice thing is taking care of the yard around your Columbus home doesn't have to be extremely complicated or expensive.

For more information on living in Columbus including available Columbus area real estate please contact us anytime.