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Welcome to the No-Mow Zone New Ways to Ditch Your Lawn

Say goodbye to high-maintenance grass and hello to sustainable landscaping

Courtesy of Clinton Lak, ArtisTree Landscape In America, large, well-manicured lawns are a source of pride. But that lush green grass comes with a price: mowing marathons, weeding, watering, edging and, often, environmentally unfriendly chemicals. It might be time to consider saying goodbye to high-maintenance lawns and hello to sustainable landscaping: Welcome to the no-mow zone. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. That's what Neil Diboll, 67, owner of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, Wisconsin, and his wife, Maureen, did decades ago. Diboll has been preaching sustainable landscaping for nearly 40 years. Now, instead of mowing, he enjoys prairie gardens and meadows filled with on his property. "People want to control their garden,” Diboll says. “When you are in a joint venture with nature, you are playing by her rules.” courtesy Ching-Fang Chen

Want to scrap your lawn Check for restrictions

While some states, particularly those that have experienced drought, encourage homeowners to give up their lawns, other areas are not as tolerant. Make sure to check your local regulations, including homeowner association rules, regarding what is permitted in your area.

Limiting the front lawn

Though it might not be to everyone's taste, the American Society of Landscape Architects encourages people to replace grass with drought-resistant ground cover that requires no mowing. Reducing or eliminating a lawn and opting for sustainable landscaping can ultimately be more affordable, manageable and better for the environment, Diboll says. Lawns can be replaced by everything from native perennials to rock gardens, vegetable and
However, opting out of a lawn isn't a simple process. It can be a good idea to consult experts if you have a project in mind. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > An award-winning landscape architect and project manager for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Chen transformed her typical suburban corner lot with a traditional lawn into a garden showstopper. "Lawn is a food desert for insects, birds and small animals,” she says. “It has very low ecological function and requires a great deal of maintenance." Chen used the no-digging method to get rid of the lawn she planned to replace. The strategy involves laying newspaper or cardboard on the grass, and then covering with mulch. "Let the bed sit for a few weeks,” she says. “The grass and roots will rot and become compost.” The newspaper or cardboard suppresses weeds while allowing water to filter through. Today, Chen's yard includes a lily pool designed to fit into a steep slope by the driveway. She has a slate dining terrace sheltered by a hemlock hedge and a kitchen garden for edibles including fruits, vegetables and herbs. She retained some lawn on the quarter-acre property as a path so people can circulate throughout the yard, push trash containers, walk and enjoy the garden. Leaves from the garden are recycled in planting beds, and high-nitrogen-content sludge from a biological pond filter is used as fertilizer for woody plants and fruit trees. She has to water the garden only during severe drought. "We enjoy the beautiful and year-round garden, love to be surrounded by birds, bees and butterflies,” Chen says. “We cook with fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden.… The garden is our pride." AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe More on home-family AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS