How to Create a Lawn with Low Lawn Maintenance

Everyone wants a beautiful lawn; ever since the introduction of the lawn mower became popular, Americans have associated well-trimmed lawns with the American Dream. But all too often, homeowners buy into the myth that lawn maintenance is too costly or laborious to keep up with, and they end up neglecting their property. Don’t be like them–read on for three easy lawn maintenance tips that will grow low-maintenance lawns. Grass Varieties for Low Lawn Maintenance It all starts with planting the right grass varieties. Certain grass species require less maintenance than others, but you also want to ensure you’re planting native varieties. Native grasses are already suited to the local climate, so they require less water and maintenance. Five low-maintenance grass varieties that grow well in Virginia are Fine Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, tall fescue, Bermuda Grass, and Zoysia. Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermuda Grass, and Zoysia can grow in most conditions, are self-repairing, and require little water. The Fescue Grass types are similar in that they require little water and fertilization, though they’re not the most suitable for active areas. In addition to native grasses and naturally low-maintenance varieties, it’s important to consider your yard’s soil type and conditions. For example, Fine Fescue doesn’t do well in soil with poor drainage, so you may want to consider another grass variety if you have drainage issues. Planning and research on the front end will keep your lawn low maintenance. Ground Covers and Hardscaping for Low Lawn Maintenance One of the easiest ways to reduce lawn maintenance is by reducing the size of your lawn–it sounds simple because it is. There are two common ways to do this: planting ground cover and covering your lawn with hardscaping like patios or pavers. Ground covers are low-growing plants that can form a dense layer over soil to help with erosion control and weed suppression. That said, it’s important to consider your soil type, local climate, and native plant varieties so that ground covers don’t become invasive and take over your lawn. Some ground covers native to Virginia are Creek Sedge, Bugleweed, Foam Flower, and Pachysandra. Hardscaping is a great way to take up lawn space while making your property more functional. Patios, walkways, and outdoor kitchens are larger examples of hardscaping that will take up more space in your yard. But you can also get creative with your landscaping and install retaining walls to separate your grass from your ground cover for a colorful and visually interesting property. Weed Control for Low Lawn Maintenance Weed control tends to be the most taxing and time-consuming part of lawn maintenance, so you want to prioritize making this easier for yourself. Overall, applying herbicide and other chemical weed control methods may work quickly, but it will be lower maintenance to prevent weeds before they develop by growing landscapes that repel them. To do this, it’s best to encourage healthy plant growth rather than remove weeds after they have germinated. By using organic methods such as planting groundcovers in empty spaces where weeds would otherwise grow, mulching and composting, and using landscaping fabric in your planting beds, your plants will flourish so much that there won’t be room for weeds to germinate and grow. If you already have weeds in your landscaping and need to get rid of them, it is recommended that you pull them once and then put these low-maintenance weed control methods into effect immediately. Depriving weeds of water and sunlight, or conversely, pouring boiling water onto weeds, will kill them, but you must be careful because these methods can also kill your healthy plants, so they must be used cautiously. Conclusion Overall, a vibrant, healthy property doesn’t need to be difficult to achieve; you just have to set yourself up for success. Learning more about your specific landscaping conditions and your local climate goes a long way when it comes to planning a low-maintenance landscape. Lawn maintenance will always be required to some degree, but when you implement natural processes, you get closer and closer to a self-sustaining landscape.