Example Article for Broadwater County Extension Agent
Exploring Lawn Alternatives
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
Exploring Lawn Alternatives
Allison Kosto
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
Something about a lush green lawn is as American as apple pie. It’s a tradition that built a whole industry dedicated to green spaces. In some neighborhoods, it’s seen as a status symbol where neighbors are counting the dandelions while peeking through the curtains. However, did you know that the average home landscape uses as much as 50 percent of the water in the household?! In addition to being a heavy water user, traditional turfgrass lawns have poor shade tolerance, don’t do well on slopes, require high nutrient inputs and are susceptible to pests and diseases. Due to these issues, there is a slow trend to move away from traditional Kentucky bluegrass lawn to lawn alternatives.
Before you make any changes or even look at the options, it’s important to analyze your goals and reasons behind having a lawn or yard. Do you have kids who play on it? Pets who run around? Do you just look at it? Are there areas of your lawn that you mow but never use? Break down your existing lawn into subareas to help determine the lawn alternative options.
One of the more common alternatives to turfgrass is clover or microclover. Microclover is a type of white clover that has smaller leaves and a lower growth habitat. It is best mixed with lawn grass because, alone, it tends to be clumpy. The top growth also dies back over the winter which can create bare spots in the yard which are subject to erosion. Mixing it with lawn grass helps provide continued ground cover. In Montana, it still needs to be watered regularly, about 1 inch a week, so if you pair it with a minimal maintenance turfgrass like sheep fescue, it could make a good combination. Other downsides of microclover are that it is not drought tolerant, doesn’t do well in shade or high traffic areas, and the seed is more expensive.
Creeping thyme is another option but is best used in smaller areas. It is a woody plant that does not die back each winter. The stems remain on the ground but do not have the soft texture of traditional lawns. It sometimes does not survive our winters if there is not enough snow cover. Creeping thyme also needs water and should even be watered at least once a month during the winter. However, it uses less water than a high maintenance lawn, has a lovely purple flower that makes a nice ground cover, and attracts pollinators.
There are a variety of other groundcovers, including carpet bugle, dwarf chamomile, creeping buttercup and goldmoss sedum. Most of these are ideal for subareas of the lawn and are not something that you would use throughout. For example, creeping buttercup is a good option for areas that have poor drainage and are often damp. Groundcovers can be weedy in certain conditions so pay close attention to keep it contained. Your neighbors may not want to be involuntary recipients of your groundcover.
Developing bee lawns is another popular alternative. This is using a combination of turfgrass and low growing flowers such as Dutch white clover, creeping thyme, self-heal and common violet. Bee lawns still need to be watered, especially to encourage summerlong blooming and should still be mowed.
If you don’t want to mow often or at all, then a Prairie or Meadow lawn might be a good option to consider. This is the use of a landscape dominated by native or naturalized grass and flowering perennial plants to mimic a native meadow. There are many benefits to this type of lawn including little to no water, no fertilizer and minimal mowing. It also can encourage wildlife, improve water infiltration, reduce erosion and improve nutrient transfer. However, it can be tricky to choose the most appropriate grasses and forbs that can thrive in your landscape. It takes three years or more to start looking like a meadow and weeds can be an issue.
If you decide you want to maintain a large space for a traditional lawn, changing species of turfgrass can also make a difference and reduce water use. The most common turfgrass in Montana is Kentucky bluegrass which needs at least 2 inches of water a week. Sheep fescue is a drought tolerant species that can also be used in lawns. It requires half as much water as Kentucky bluegrass, only needing about 1 inch per week. Keep in mind though that by switching to a different grass, your lawn may lose its manicured sod-like look. However, you can still have a wonderful lawn that kids and pets can play on, and for you to enjoy.
For more information about lawn care or alternatives, contact MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu.
