bogfrog Posted October 31, 2012 Hi folks, just wondering if anyone knows of any alternatives to grass for a small patch of ground that i would like to turn into a lawn. I would prefer some kind of groundcover which doesn't need to be mowed and doesn't mind being walked on or sat on everynow and then. Cheers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) If its only occasional traffic & you can keep the moisture up to it Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) would be my first choice, its not the easiest lawn substitute species but its really low growing, looks great & smells divine when you walk on it. Edited October 31, 2012 by shortly 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khala Posted October 31, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuloYX_CHeU I intend to not have a lawn. I'd love to have stepping stones with just a large mix of native flowers and ornamentals, fluttered about with butterflies and lady beetles, the chirping of crickets, kids hitting the wickets and a porch with an old guitar. Is that a song? It kind of sounds like one 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted October 31, 2012 Wonderful suggestions, i might mix it up and try a few things, my gotu kola has been rooting underneath the ground and spreading like crazy so it would do great. I'll probably be able to source some of that mint quite cheaply through my partner's work, thanks for the suggestions! Khala, you dreamy poet, you would love my garden then, its all stepping stones, trees and flowers.. Cabbage moths, cacti clusters and bonsai viewing platforms. Made up of many many terraces with nooks and crannies galore for my army of plant-folk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chilli Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) I started a Chamomile lawn over there not long before we moved, it was spreading quite well. always wanted to have a little patch like this: http://camomile.whit.../image/home.jpg Edited October 31, 2012 by chilli 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2meke Posted October 31, 2012 i knew someone in perth that had a cool thyme lawn. smelt nice when you walked on it and if i remember correctly it didn't need to be mowed. it may have been a creeping variety. it was leading up to their front door so took a fair bit of traffic. they put a few pavers down so you could avoid walking on it all the time. i've been interested in this idea for a while. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anodyne Posted November 1, 2012 Small sedges, chamomile, native violets, thymes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gecko Posted January 4, 2013 (edited) Phyla nodiflora (Verbenaceae) aka fogfruit, condomine couch etc. it can be a bit invasive in some areas, and flowers often and attracts bees (hazard for bare feet) quite tough. Dichondra repens (Convolvulaceae) ok for low trafic areas and a bit of shade. Edited January 4, 2013 by gecko 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeyMagic Posted January 4, 2013 Zoysia is a Genus of very hardy and low maintenance grass if you just wanted an easier to care for variety. Its natual form comes as a thick layer of small leaves. The whole layer tends to get undulating lumps, which can make for an intresting 'lawn' It has also been cultivated into more 'normal' looking lawns. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookahhead Posted January 4, 2013 Prickly pear cactus? Stay off my lawn you damned kids! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bigred Posted January 5, 2013 i have condamine couch it is lovely has a great texture to walk on but it does seem to take over the whole garden. It is very hardy and is quite comfy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
