Add some seaside plantings and a few pieces of driftwood. Fescue grasses are tolerant of everyday wear and tear and can thrive in a variety of locations. 10 low-maintenance lawn alternatives #1 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES One of the best ways to reduce the area of your turf lawn: Transform part of the lawn into a gorgeous ornamental grass display. Cuddle a little piece of Australia with our soft toy range. There are numerous benefits to landscaping with plants you can eat. The first is Westringia, an Aussie shrub that grows successfully in all states. Dwarf dogwood (also called bunchberry) and herbs like thyme and oregano work as groundcovers for limited areas. Find ideas for environmentally friendly lawn alternatives. One of the most popular species being the the, For a taller hedge, Karen says coastal correa (. ) Elfin thyme grows to two inches tall and is a gorgeous addition to rock gardens and container gardens, where it cascades over the sides. ... Small white flowers will bloom in the spring, followed by red edible – but not tasty – berries. There are plenty of good alternatives to the classic green lawn.For example, xeriscaping and edible landscaping are excellent eco-friendly options. Maryland native switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), little blue stem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and yellow indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) are three great choices for sunny sites. ), another eucalypt Karen recommends, only grows 3–5 metres tall, and it takes a long time for it to get to five metres. It is absolutely glorious, people just fall in love with them.” They also attract birds. As far as feature trees go, Karen recommends Silver Princess eucalypt (Eucalyptus caesia). One of the most popular species being the the coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa), which sprouts dainty, white flowers. The plant with the most hedge potential, according to Karen, however, is the lilly pilly. Oregano. Many herb plants make good garden bed borders. Also known as foodscaping or front-yard farming, edible landscaping is considered a type of landscaping in which most areas of a lawn on private or public property are used to grow food. Gardening Channel. Hi all. “It has silveryness that if you touch it you get silver on your hands. By capturing clean rainwater from the driveway, roof and sidewalks and diverting it into an attractive rain garden where it can slowly filter contaminants and soak into the ground, you will help the environment by reducing the amount of runoff that runs into our waterways and public sewer systems. ... yards where edible plants—vegetables and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs—replace a portion of turf. A handful of trims a year, depending on the plants and site, will suffice. The plant with the most hedge potential, according to Karen, however, is the lilly pilly. LessLawn.com : lawn alternatives and no mow yards Welcome to LessLawn, where you'll find information on lawn alternatives and no-mow yards to help you design a natural, soul-satisfying landscape. In shady sites, try bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) or the grass-like Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica). are the most unexpected lawn alternatives. Areas that are traditionally difficult to establish lawn perform well with many alternatives. Tall fescues are coarser, drought tolerant and provide a … There’s a good range of small eucalypts to choose from.”. Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. I can't seem to find a single person who doesn't like the idea. A Increase font size. A visit to your local garden center can provide a lot of good ideas. A rock garden can be an attractive alternative to a grass lawn. This is much better for the plants than a situation where the garden receives pounding rains. “It’s a lawn you can sit on and eat,” says Karen – who often uses the flowers as garnish or in salads “and they’re remarkably drought tolerant. If you'd like to replace some or all of your lawn with ground cover plants, or fill in borders or shady spots, these edible varieties can also serve as a tasty addition to your plate. Here are helpful sites on herb gardens and growing herbs. Avoid growing lemongrass, Karen advises, and instead opt for lemon myrtle (, ), which is grown more easily in colder climates. Fescue and Ornamental Grass Both fescue and ornamental grasses provide another alternative to the traditional lawn. Grevillea ‘Coconut Ice’, ‘Superb’, ‘Robin Gordon’, ‘Ned Kelly’ – there are plenty of cultivars to choose from. Explore and create with these great experiments! Jupiter and Saturn meet in the sky for a great conjunction approximately once every 20 years at varying distances and we get to see that on December 21st. Copyright © 2020. It’s better suited to smaller areas. The K’gari-Fraser Island bushfire has been catastrophic. Drought Tolerant and Edible Lawn Alternatives. Dichondra and is another alternative lawn option, which fits perfectly around stone tiles and paths, and like the native violets, needs very little water. Crushing and smelling them is also great to clear the nose.”. No traffic open spaces allow for some of the greatest flexibility in style and plant choices. Blue Star Creeper. Instead of switching to organic lawn care, some might want to get rid of their lawn altogether. Lawn alternatives: ground cover trial. Swap it for an interactive adventure garden or convert it to a low-maintenance living carpet. “People think gum trees and eucalypts are all really large but they’re not. If you find yourself wondering why you’re out there mowing again and again and again, consider turning some or your entire yard into an edible landscape. “You can plant them out as small plants or seed. This one has a rock streambed as the centerpiece, with low-water perennials flanking and overflowing its sides. is one of the best options, recognisable for its blue-grey leaves. “People think gum trees and eucalypts are all really large but they’re not. Dichondra and is another alternative lawn option, which fits perfectly around stone tiles and paths, and like the native violets, needs very little water. Home Topics Science & Environment ‘Lawn you can eat’: Native alternatives to garden staples. “It has silveryness that if you touch it you get silver on your hands. Trade your lawn for a lively prairie or replace it with a runoff-reducing rain garden. I'm doing a story about alternatives to the front lawn, including edible landcaping, mini-orchards, courtyards and cottage gardens etc. Robin redbreasts are belligerent Christmas bullies, Tiny pygmy possum found on Kangaroo Island, despite concerns that bushfires had wiped them out, The Black Summer fires took their toll on the platypus, Koalas badly burned in Victorian bushfires finally return home following recovery, Ecologists capture rare image of critically endangered parrot, A new croc app is set to make Queensland waterways safer, Australian Geographic Society Expeditions, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, Environmentalists, Conservationists and Scientists. It’s great to have a place for kids to play and families to gather, but it doesn’t have to be only grass. A unique opportunity for hands-on, organic learning from a working permaculture garden. Even low-maintenance lawn alternatives need some maintenance: seasonal mowing, supplemental irrigation in times of drought and occasional weeding. Be sure to check with your local homeowner's association before replacing your existing traditional lawn — many areas have requirements and guidelines for what you can do in the front yard. Both nurseries and florists have spotted the trend and are offering us more to choose from. Edible landscaping can save you money. “It’s becoming more available, which shows the growers directly respond to what they can sell.”, Replacing European mint with native mint is also an easy swap. Transform your yard with food, medicinal or pollinator plants, ground cover, and more. For another, the vigorous yellow flower is a nutritious edible weed that makes the ideal addition to a lunchtime salad or the perfect ingredient for an evening cup of tea. For one person, a dandelion may represent an ugly nuisance: a blemish on an otherwise perfectly manicured lawn. “It’s becoming more available, which shows the growers directly respond to what they can sell.”, Quokka population will take over a decade to fully recover from bushfire, The best meteor shower of the year is about to grace our skies, Tasmanian devils look set to conquer facial tumour disease, The Australian Antarctic Division needs tradies. A landscape filled with berry bushes and edible ground covers, perennial vegetables, or even fruit trees is a … All Rights Reserved. , a rainforest tree, and there are also dwarf lilly pilly species used quite commonly throughout Australia,” she says. ) Lawn Alternatives. Founded 2001 by Evelyn J. Hadden ), which she says, loves a hot climate, as long as it has adequate water, and has one of best-smelling flowers around spring time. Vegetable garden Setting up a raised garden to grow vegetables will not only save you money on grocery shopping but also makes a great landscaping feature that will take pride of place in your backyard. Lawn Alternatives with Drought Tolerant and Edible Landscaping BY Gregory Hyman / edible landscaping / Lawn Alternatives / 0 Comment / March 19, 2014 In our last article, we detailed a few basic strategies for conserving water in our historical California drought, namely: A family tree. This ornamental herb smells nice and is completely edible. Get great photography, travel tips and exclusive deals delivered to your inbox. How you can view the ‘Great’ Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, Winning images from our Nature Photographer of the Year competition from the last decade, The blue-banded pitta has already got its Christmas jumper on, ‘Lawn you can eat’: Native alternatives to garden staples, Hedges aren’t just ornamental but also can be used to create privacy. Growing your own food allows you to choose what pesticides, herbicides and insecticides you use. Garden designer Karen Sutherland of Edible Eden Design specialises in both ornamental and edible native plants perfect for your garden. Other ornamental lawn substitutes include Dichondra, Scheranthus, Pratia, Convolvulus, Pigface, some Grevilleas or Native Violets. “It’s a lawn you can sit on. eat,” says Karen – who often uses the flowers as garnish or in salads “and they’re remarkably drought tolerant. Many also grow well in shady areas. Instead of exotic fruits and herbs, Karen says there are plenty of native alternatives. By Su Byron and Marty Fugate 10/1/2019 at … In this ultimate guide to rethinking your yard, Hadden showcases dozens of inspiring, eco-friendly alternatives to that demanding (and dare we say boring?) There is no supermarket that can compete with the freshness of freshly harvested vegetables, herbs and fruits. Many Australians have that one tree in their backyard they have a lot of affection for. The principle behind a rain garden is that it is a place to hold water while slowly releasing it into the soil. Between a lawn as front yard and an edible wilderness are many grades. If you like the open feel of a lawn but don’t want the maintenance or water requirements. Stepping stones are also popular and can greatly reduce the amount of lawn in your yard. ). Stones are also common elements of Japanese gardens. Large grevilleas are the obvious alternative for roses, says Karen. Other ornamental lawn substitutes include dichondra, scheranthus, pratia, convolvulus, pigface, some grevilleas or native violets. Perennials, which include items such as blueberries, strawberries or rhubarb, will grow and produce … Many Australians have that one tree in their backyard they have a lot of affection for. Non-native grass seed is much cheaper, because the harvesting of native seed is uncommon.”. “They can be really tall hedges, like the. Edible landscaping allows you to grow unusual items that you can’t find at the local supermarket. This can be done simply or you can go to elaborate means to create a growing space in which you can raise food to eat. Ever-bearing strawberries produce fruit most of the summer and tolerate marginal soils and light shade. Australian Geographic acknowledges the First Nations people of Australia as traditional custodians, and pay our respects to Elders past and present, and their stories and journeys that have lead us to where we are today. Interested in learning more about herb gardens? I don’t water [them] very often.”. You can choose to include chemical sprays and powders or you can adhere to producing only organic food products. “It has silveryness that if you touch it you get silver on your hands. Here, we chat to Karen about the replacements for hedges, grass, roses, feature trees and herbs. Better known as a flavor than as a ground cover plant, both the leaves and the red berries of wintergreen are edible and have a unique taste that can be added to teas or recipes. In Edible Landscapes, Installation, Lawn Alternatives By foodscapes [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This client wanted a low maintenance lawn, so we replaced the grass with mazus! Required fields are marked *. Greenlee has created many sustainable alternatives to conventional lawns. green turf. For a backyard with more space, Karen recommends native frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum), which she says, loves a hot climate, as long as it has adequate water, and has one of best-smelling flowers around spring time. They’re just fantastic.”. Importantly, grevilleas attract nectar-eating birds, such as wattle birds, as well as native insects and bees. Rain gardens can up to 30 or 40% more than a grass lawn. A team of researchers has found a novel way to keep foxes away from 20 precious bandicoots introduced into a Victorian conservation reserve last month. What’s the damage? “You can use it to make a tea, put it in different salsas, salads, place sprigs in cocktails and jugs of water. Vegetable garden Setting up a raised garden to grow vegetables will not only save you money on grocery shopping but also makes a great landscaping feature that will take pride of place in your backyard. Once you have decided to make the environmental switch to a lawn alternative, you are ready to think about how to remove that lawn…and that’s the subject of another article. Perennials, which include items such as blueberries, strawberries or rhubarb, will grow and produce food year after year. The traditional green grass we use to cover our front and back yards has many disadvantages and quite honestly, very little benefit. 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