Alternatives to grass lawn

ERECincy · Post by **ERECincy** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:18 pm

Our current house in has a rather large front lawn with grass. I'd like to do something more productive and cheaper than just having grass (lawn mower, fertilizer, etc.) I live in a subdivision in Cincinnati so I can't just plant a big garden in the front yard, even though I threaten my wife with it occasionally.

Has anyone been successfull converting their lawn into something more sustainable and less costly? Any websites or info out there on how to begin?

Post by **jacob** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:40 pm

Look into xeriscaping.

George the original one · Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:43 pm

> I live in a subdivision in Cincinnati so I

> can't just plant a big garden in the front yard
Eh? There are restrictions against that in Cincinnati? Or is it just a cultural thing?
In the Portland area, we do it all the time unless there are convenants that restrict such gardening. Veggie or flower gardens taking over the front yard, in the parking strip, etc.
http://www.katyelliott.com/beta/wp-cont ... oregon.jpg
http://img4.sunset.com/i/2011/02/front- ... pg?400:400
I've also seen the other extreme, where the yard is paved. Probably wouldn't pass zoning laws in Portland proper due to impervious pavement runoff concerns, but the surrounding communities aren't that smart.

KevinW · Post by **KevinW** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:53 pm

Also consider filling in the grass areas with gravel. It can look OK if you aim for a zen garden sort of look.

M · Post by M » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:53 pm

@ERECincy -
I live 30 minutes away from Cincinnati, in a wooded area with few people around, so I just let the trees take over my yard. I mow a small part around the house, but the rest of it I let mother nature have. It's a lot easier.

Of course, if you tried this in a subdivision in Cincinnati, you would likely get fined. What part of Cincinnati are you from (if you don't mind saying)? I've never seen someone from my area on the forums before.

ERECincy · Post by **ERECincy** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:58 pm

@M - I'm located in the Miami Twp / Milford area.
We actually have a small vegetable garden in the front side yard but I'm not sure we would want to make a garden of the entire front lawn. It's about 100' X 50' or so. Probably no restrictions against any of these suggestions as we are not in a zoned city or anything. Just public perception to deal with...

M · Post by M » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:19 pm

@EREcincy
I would be tempted to go with the vegetable garden myself, as it could serve to potentially benefit you as well.
I live just north of Cincy, so it's nice to see someone from my area on here. Maybe if we can find some other people in our area we can form a meetup someday.

photoguy · Post by **photoguy** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:11 am

We ripped out our front lawn and replaced it with a (mostly) native california garden. It's not very complicated but will require some hard work. You'll also need to figure out what plants to put in that will be low water.
We received a rebate of a little more than 1k from the county which paid for a lot of the supplies (mulch, plants, etc.) We killed the lawn ourselves (this is the hardest part) by digging it up with an adze and then smothering it with cardboard/newspaper etc. After that it's basically just reshaping the soil (if you want mounds), putting on the mulch, and planting whatever you want.
I had to water the first year or so, but afterwords it becomes pretty self sufficient.

dot_com_vet · Post by **dot_com_vet** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:44 pm

There is "no mow" grass that gets to a certain length and falls over. Lawn mowing is kind of meditative for me, though, I like it.

HSpencer · Post by **HSpencer** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:19 pm

We have some areas around here who have mostly foregone the expansive lawn idea. These homes are sited in a wooded area, and the natural landscape is incorporated into settings of the houses. These homes are built in hilly areas of woods, and the trees, natural plants and rocks are mostly making up the landscaping. A little bit of path-work, usually with gravel, has made these homes pretty nice looking in my opinion. You get the "wooded" setting, complete with wildlife, and the occasional visiting rattler or copperhead, who are not to be blamed, as they think it is still their turf. Many will mow chop out and keep mowed a 20 ft area surrounding the home to discourage these visitors.

Personally, I like it a lot, and would go for it. However, I am set where I am and I do mow about two acres. Like Dot-com-vet, I really enjoy mowing. I have a Dixon 52" Zero Turn mower, and it is sort of a hobby for me. I like the look of my place when I have just mowed it nicely. Were I to be experiencing a time or expense issue with mowing, I would have to go to plan B or something else. I do love the wooded look, however. You can make it really nice, and attractive around a home of most any design.

jennypenny · Post by **jennypenny** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:03 pm

@George the original

Yup, I live in a town with strict guidelines for what you can put in your front yard. And any increases to impervious surface need a variance (including gravel and crushed shells). I thought I lived in the most ridiculous town until I read about a couple outside of Detroit who were almost jailed for planting raised beds with veggies in their front yard.
Our town has a rule for everything. And I pay almost $10K per year in property taxes for the priviledge of living with those rules.
We refuse to use chemicals in our yard so the naturally occuring crab grass and clover are taking over.

dragoncar · Post by **dragoncar** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:12 pm

jennypenny -- I wonder what would happen if you find the ugliest legal thing to put in your yard (pink flamingos, etc?) and then ask for the variance.

ERECincy · Post by **ERECincy** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:34 pm

We're thinking of putting a few fruit trees in the front yard as well as putting some type of rock, ornamental grass, and natural wildflowers closer towards the street. Less mowing and producing something we can eat (in 3-5 years...)

jennypenny · Post by **jennypenny** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 12:43 am

@dragoncar--HsHa!! But the flamingos would have to be "green and grass-like in nature" according to the township. Maybe I could find some green porcupines.
I'm considering painting the lawn green but I can't find a paint that's environmentally friendly enough to use outside.
The joys of Stepford...

sshawnn · Post by **sshawnn** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:14 am

Cincy meet up sounds good. Im 2 hours away.

shawn · Post by **shawn** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:26 am

I would plant the fruit trees and then plant clover underneath it. The clover will provide fertilizer to your fruit trees and be low maintenance.

ERECincy · Post by **ERECincy** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:55 pm

@shawn - I like this idea with the clover. I'm leaning towards planting some clover next spring. This might finally get me to the point where I can reasonably buy an old manual reel mower. Less fuel and ownership costs than the gas mower and I should be able to handle the maintenance myself.