Lawn Substitute Plants: 3 Alternatives to Standard Grass

Lawn substitute plants can be used instead of traditional grass sod to give your yard a different look. These groundcover plants will spread out on their own to fill in any empty spaces in the yard or garden. A good lawn substitute plant must be able to withstand a moderate amount of foot traffic. Ideally, you want a plant that can be mowed the same as a regular lawn. This keeps the ongoing maintenance down to a minimum and will allow you to hire a lawn care company if you choose not to mow it yourself. Here are three types of lawn substitute plants that work well as groundcover.

Lawn substitute plants: Blue Sedge

Blue Sedge is a perennial lawn substitute plant that can also be evergreen if the climate is warm enough. It can survive in shaded areas as well as full sun. This makes Blue Sedge a good choice of lawn substitute for yards with a lot of trees. This groundcover plant is able to live comfortably among tree roots. Its foliage appears similar to grass and comes in a deep bluish-green color. Blue Sedge prefers moist ground, but can tolerate drought for limited periods of time, making it adaptable to a wide range of climate zones.

Lawn substitute plants: Horseshoe Vetch

Horseshoe Vetch is a lawn substitute plant that will give your yard a flash of color during the spring and summer months. Its brilliant yellow flowers also attract butterflies and bees to your garden. It is quite drought resistant, making it a good lawn substitute for dry climates. It is one of the taller lawn substitute plants, growing to a height of around 12 inches if it is not cut frequently. In addition to growing tall, Horseshoe Vetch will also spread out and take over open areas in the yard or garden.

Lawn substitute plants: Chamomile

Chamomile is another of the flowering lawn substitute plants. When it is in full bloom, chamomile may be more vulnerable to foot traffic than other types of ground cover plants. Most groundcover varieties of chamomile are grown from seed and spread out rapidly to fill in the open area in your yard. This rapid spreading makes chamomile a good lawn substitute for areas with sandy soil to cover. Like other groundcover plants, chamomile prefers moist, well-drained soil, but can also survive through temporary droughts. When used as a lawn substitute plant, chamomile should be cut slightly higher than a normal lawn would be.