Watching what happens is part of the fun. Check that you won’t run head-on into local ordinances or subdivision rules that require lawns to be mowed to a certain height.Īt American Meadows, you can find seed mix custom-blended for your part of the country. Make sure you have a sunny site-and can tolerate a weedy look at the edge of your property. Native plants like goldenrod, sunflower, and coneflower supply nectar for butterflies and, in fall, produce seeds for birds to enjoy. If you have the space, establishing a “minimeadow” as a border or boundary area is another effective way to attract birds, as well as beneficial insects. Then, when you want a distraction from the mundane tasks, you can watch the wildlife. Add a small water feature-a birdbath or fountain-as the focal point. Outside a kitchen or home-office window, position shrubs that provide food and cover for birds, such as highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum), red osier dogwood ( Cornus stolonifera), common spicebush ( Lindera benzoin), and viburnum varieties.

Your yard will be lushly planted-and easy to maintain-if you add wide borders with low-care perennials and shrubs to the mix.

If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, also factor in the area that individual sprinkler heads spray: Plug heads you don’t need, or convert them to supply a water-efficient drip irrigation system for the new planting beds. But you can gradually shift toward a front yard that’s more garden than lawn by establishing deep planting beds that curve along the front and sides of the house.Įxperiment with designs by laying out a garden hose in a gentle curve, then bring out the mower and test to make sure that whatever lawn remains takes a shape that’s easy to trim. If you live where every house flaunts an immaculate, weed-free front lawn, giving up grass entirely might read as an act of rebellion. Fall’s cooler temperatures make now a good time to set the wheels in motion for a new and improved yard. Less lawn can result in outdoor living spaces that demand less of your time and energy-not to mention less water, gas, and electricity.

Side yard ideas