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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
NMR: Flowering groundcover instead of mowing?
Our backyard is hard to mow because of surface tree roots. I'm thinking of seeding the whole lawn with a low-growing flowering groundcover and not mowing. Do you think the neighbors will look at us askance? One side borders the street, and you can clearly see over the fence. Would this bug you? (There's no HOA or anything). Here's a link to what I'm thinking of using...should grow 4- 6" max.
http://www.mmwildflowerseeds.com/prod61.htm
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Re: NMR: Flowering groundcover instead of mowing?
J born 4/11/2011
That is all fine and dandy when it is blooming, but what does it look like when it isn't? Is your yard going to turn into a dirt pit during the fall, winter, and early spring? Is this something you are going to have to re-plant every year? Do you really think that harsh Philadelphia winters won't kill off all the plants (even though they say they are perennials)? Also how will your neighbors react if/when the flowers spread into their yards?
Are the roots all over your yard, or could the problem be taken care of with some strategically placed flower beds?
Have you considered nixing a lawn all together and putting down paving stones or decking? I know that will cost significantly more, but it might be worth it.
Do leaves fall in that area? How would leaf clean up work?
I am all for grass alternatives - generally need less water and chemicals. ?The prettiest area of my yard right now is the verbena taking over my flower beds - I love it - so little weeding in those areas!
Thanks for the website!?
I'd be annoyed....it would look like a bunch of weeds to me. If you planted flowering shrubs or perennials in a nice arrangement I would think it was ok.
I'd be even more annoyed if you planted wild flowers that seeded and I ended up with a bunch in my lawn
That is all fine and dandy when it is blooming, but what does it look like when it isn't? Is your yard going to turn into a dirt pit during the fall, winter, and early spring?
Hmmm...I don't know. You do mow it once in the fall to re-seed. I'm not going to pull up the current grass, just hoping this will mix in. Right now there's a spot of just wood much where the big playset the previous owners had used to be, so it's not like I'd be replacing a pristine lawn anyway. Do you think it would look much worse than dead grass in winter?
Is this something you are going to have to re-plant every year? Do you really think that harsh Philadelphia winters won't kill off all the plants (even though they say they are perennials)?
I spoke to the owner of the website, and she said the plants are recommended for my climate (she will do a custom mix if your climate is not suitable). The ones that are perennials should self-sow when we mow for the next year. I don't think it'll be any different from the Black-eyed Susans we currently have in some areas of our lawn, which die off each winter and self-sow and return each spring.
Also how will your neighbors react if/when the flowers spread into their yards?
I don't see this as a big concern...one side borders the street, another a complete privacy fence, and the third has a large hedge between us and the neighbors. Birds could drop seeds, but otherwise I don't think they'd spread that easily.
Are the roots all over your yard, or could the problem be taken care of with some strategically placed flower beds?
They are pretty much all over.
Have you considered nixing a lawn all together and putting down paving stones or decking? I know that will cost significantly more, but it might be worth it
Part of the lawn is a patio...I wouldn't want to get rid of the lawn totally.
Personally, I think it looks a tad messy, but that's just me. I do like the idea of not having a lawn because they use sooo much water!
http://www.gardenguide.com.au/l104-0/cottagecountry-style-plants/ground-covers
This link has some pretty groundcovers that stay low and have pretty flowers. Hope it helps!
I think this is cute, it's called Phyla nodiflora - and it chokes out weeds and grasses. It would take over eventually!
You mow it in the fall. Not sure how it would look, but if it's mixed in with the grass I don't expect it would look much worse than the grass itself?
OK... so let me just ask. You are going to sprinkle the seeds on the grass. I know that the type of flowers in the mix won't be thick enough to choke out the grass for some time, so the grass will continue to grow. What are you going to do when the grass starts to overgrow the flowers?
I hate lawn grass and love flowered/alternative/garden lawns.
If DH is cool with it, I wouldn't worry what anyone else thinks. Sadly, my DH likes grass a lot... I'm going to have to leave him some space the stuff. But it is so going to be his job to take care of it.
Sorry OP, but I have to agree with hawaii. I think that it looks like weeds... but I am also partial to the look of grass in general! Sorry, JMO.
I don't like plain grass lawns, so I think it's very nice.
And you can just claim "it's better for the environment" if anyone complains. Because it is - less chemicals, less mowing, less water. Lawns are a pretty stupid invention compared to a more mixed grassy area.
Ditto. But then again, I can't come up with any better suggestions, either.
As for the ones on here that love short grass, you do realize that having grass cut less than 3" during cool weather and 4" during hot dry weather actually does more harm to the grass than having flowers.