No time to mow? No Problem
Sue Fisher shows you how to create four colourful, wildlife-friendly and lowmaintenance alternatives to the traditional grass lawn
The classic manicured green sward can take a lot of time and effort to keep at its best, so it’s not always an ideal option. It’s not particularly wildlife-friendly either. Luckily, there are lots of great alternatives – not just meadows, or even fake turf, but patchwork carpets of low-growing plants that look fantastic, are tough enough for light use, attract wildlife, and need much less mowing. They’re particularly suitable for small areas or extremes of sun or shade. Gentle footfall improves growth, stimulating the plants to spread and root from stems, although heavy wear or games is a no-no. We carried out a trial over an 18-month period, creating four different metre-square plots, and the results were impressive. While the initial cost is higher than traditional turf or grass seed, in the long term this balances out with savings on mower wear and tear, fuel and time. So why not try going grass-free yourself, even in just a small area? Read on to find out how.