Reasons to Reconsider Your Lawn & Suggested Alternatives
The verdict is in: lawns are OUT and pollinator-attracting meadows are IN. Why plant something that requires so much maintenance and time when there are alternatives out there that are more beautiful, less work, and attract pollinators?
In this blog post, you'll learn a little more about the history of lawns, why you should reconsider them, and some easy growing alternatives to plant in their place.
The History of Lawns
The origins of lawns can be traced back to the 16th century, when open, grassy areas around castles served a practical purpose: visibility. These clear spaces allowed residents to easily spot and defend against potential intruders.
By the 17th century, lawns became a symbol of prestige in England, reserved exclusively for the ultra-wealthy. Owning a vast, neatly maintained lawn wasn’t just about landownership—it was a display of wealth, signaling that you had enough resources to maintain land that wasn’t used for agriculture or livestock.
This tradition later crossed the Atlantic, shaping the American ideal that the "American Dream" includes a home surrounded by a sweeping, manicured lawn.
Reasons to Reconsider Your Lawn:
Seeds to Sow for an Alternative Lawn:
Wildflower Meadow
Our wildflower seed shakers offer a beautiful and eco-friendly lawn alternative. To use them, simply prepare your soil by removing any weeds, then shake the seed mix straight from the box onto your desired area in the fall or spring—and watch nature take over!
We offer five unique wildflower mixes, each thoughtfully curated with a specific theme. These mixes are incredibly low-maintenance, requiring minimal watering while providing essential food and habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Plus, they bring vibrant colors and textures to your garden, turning any patch of land into a thriving natural space with very little effort on your part.
Clover
White Clover is one of the most popular lawn alternatives since it is a low growing, easy ground cover. Unlike non-native grasses, however, clover actually helps the soil rather than depleting it. It brings in nitrogen and adds organic matter.
You can sow clover anytime spring through fall for an easy lawn alternative. You can also use Crimson Clover and Medium Red Clover, but they grow slightly taller and require occasional mowing.
Creeping Thyme
Although thyme and other herbs used to be more commonly used back in the day as ground cover, it feels like a relatively new idea for modern day gardeners. Creeping Thyme has been gaining popularity for this use.
Not only is it a low growing perennial, but you can harvest from it and use it in the kitchen. The pollinators love it just as much as you will. Plus, it smells great and is drought-resistant, making it a perfect option for dry areas!
Yarrow
Yarrow is a lesser known lawn alternative, but it still deserves a mention. Once established, this hardy, perennial flower can handled being stomped on. It also creates a beautiful, medicinal flower.
Yarrow will grow tall and flower, but can handled being mowed if you want to keep it low to the ground. The best part? It only needs to be mowed twice a year on the highest setting.
