Alternatives for Lawns for Sustainable Gardening.

 Yes, large lush-green lawns are beautiful to look at, but generally the traditional huge lawn is just not practical and logical anymore.

Why is an overly large lawn considered unsustainable? 

*Your lawn needs to be cut on a regular basis.

*To look good, a lawn needs regular fertilising.

*Lawns have a bad reputation as being a polluter of our streams and rivers.

*The pesticides and herbicides you spray on your lawn can be harmful to humans and animals.

*Many lawn types are water thirsty & need regular watering to look at its best.

When you start to incorporate alternatives for these water thirsty culprits, you will see that, even when you reduce the size of your lawn, you will be able to benefit the environment, while saving yourself time, energy and expense!

Luckily there are quite a few alternatives for lawns we can recommend:

1. Ground covers:

Drought tolerant, evergreen ground covers such as Gazania, Aptenia, Delosperma, Portulacaria afra 'Prostrata', Sedum 'Angelina' and Plectranthus neochilus, are all excellent replacements for water thirsty lawns. Place some steppingstones in between to be able to move through the area without stepping on your plants.

Some, like the Dymondia, will even be able to handle light traffic (once established) and don’t need to be cut at all!

2. Artificial lawn:

Made famous on sports fields, synthetic grass (or artificial lawn) is becoming an increasingly popular choice for the water wise gardener.

Very little maintenance, an instant lush-green look all year round, and absolutely NO WATER required!

(Photo credit: Cape Garden friend: iGrass)

*Cape Garden stock different options of artificial lawn - with different styles, textures, thickness and pricing. Sold per 2m x 1m size. Please visit your nearest branch to view the different options available to make a personal selection.

*The iGrass showrooms and offices is also conveniently located at Cape Garden, Joostenbergvlakte branch:

Tel: +27 21 988 4515 / Whats App: 067 034 9159

Cape Garden, 56 Tarentaal Road, Joostenberg vlakte

3. Pavers (Stepping stones):

Who wouldn’t want to extend their home for extra entertainment space by incorporating a large area of pavers? Either put stones or a low-growing, drought tolerant ground cover in between the pavers, place a table and chairs and get ready to party!

Or create a wide paver pathway directly around your house – not only will it be practical to have a clean and dry area to walk on, but you will also reduce the size of your lawn by doing this.

(Photo credit: Cape Garden client: Oriole Organics)

4. Stone:

For large areas: consider drainage chips (gravel).

For smaller areas (also in between drought tolerant plants): consider river stone or other more ornamental stone.

We recommend placing bidim material on the bare soil first and then putting the stones on top of the material. This will prevent weeds from growing through the stones and will keep maintenance low.

(Photo credit: Cape Garden client: Durbanville landscaping)

5. Wooden decking:

What about a beautiful, large deck where you can braai or just unwind? Another way to extend the home for more entertainment or relaxing space and in the process reduce the size of your lawn!

(Photo credit: Cape Garden client: Living gardens landscaping)

6. Other types of ground coverings:

Peach pips, bark nuggets and even sea shells can all be used to cover bare soil.

7. Indigenous plants:

If you plan to reduce the size of your lawn by creating bigger or more garden beds, strongly consider planting drought tolerant indigenous plants here.

These plants are already adapted to our local climate, are not so sensitive to dry conditions, and can also provide habitat for local birds, mammals, and beneficial insects

Consider: fynbos (like pin cushion, cone bush and protea), spekboom (Portulacaria), Strelitzia regninae, Searsia crentata, Tulbaghia, Gazania, Euphorbia tirucalli & Euryops.

(Keep in mind that not all indigenous plants are necessarily water wise - see each plant's drought resistance as indicated)

8. Other drought tolerant plants:

Succulents are naturally water wise plants and these days you get beautiful , colourful varieties. Not only do they need minimal water once established, they also provide interest in the garden with the many textures and shapes available.

Plants native to the Mediterranean regions also fare well in South African water wise gardens. Consider: Lavender, Rosemary, Olive trees, Bougainvillea, Westringia.

(Photo credit: Cape Garden client: Petro landscaping)

It’s no rocket science - we need to change our traditional way of thinking when it comes to lawns and gardening sustainably.

Won’t it be so much more satisfying to know:

*You do your part in conserving water?

*You create a natural space for wildlife (using drought tolerant, indigenous plants)?

*You can spend more precious time outside with family and friends (in that newly paved or decked entertainment area)?