“They’re all large flowers, they don’t have prickly leaves, they flower all year round, they love warmer weather but they grow in Melbourne as well. Home Topics Science & Environment ‘Lawn you can eat’: Native alternatives to garden staples. Have you ever wondered why we fertilize our yards and spray our grass with harmful chemicals that will make it grow faster and fuller and then gripe about the fact that we have to mow it again? Dichondra and is another alternative lawn option, which fits perfectly around stone tiles and paths, and like the native violets, needs very little water. Your email address will not be published. This can be done simply or you can go to elaborate means to create a growing space in which you can raise food to eat. And I know that can't be the case. In this ultimate guide to rethinking your yard, Hadden showcases dozens of inspiring, eco-friendly alternatives to that demanding (and dare we say boring?) ). Between a lawn as front yard and an edible wilderness are many grades. They’re grown for this citrusy caviar that just bursts in your mouth.”, Avoid growing lemongrass, Karen advises, and instead opt for lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), which is grown more easily in colder climates. Dichondra and is another alternative lawn option, which fits perfectly around stone tiles and paths, and like the native violets, needs very little water. Created to support you on your journey to becoming a food gardener, Kath will teach you how to design and run your own Edible Backyard. Clover is an easy-to-care-for lawn alternative that’s often planted as a green cover crop to fix nitrogen in the soil, but it can also act as an ideal eco-friendly landscaping option. Annuals, which include most common vegetables, need to be planted each year. Of course, this depends on how elaborate you get with your designs and the materials you choose to use. Vegetable garden Setting up a raised garden to grow vegetables will not only save you money on grocery shopping but also makes a great landscaping feature that will take pride of place in your backyard. Many Australians have that one tree in their backyard they have a lot of affection for. Edible landscaping, which is gaining in popularity, is simply incorporating food-producing plants, shrubs and trees into your yard. One of the biggest benefits of gardening for food is the exercise you will get while you work outdoors in the fresh air. Swap it for an interactive adventure garden or convert it to a low-maintenance living carpet. According to Karen the plants also make great cut flowers, which can be soaked in water to make a delicious drink. As far as feature trees go, Karen recommends Silver Princess eucalypt (. Grevillea coconut ice. are the most unexpected lawn alternatives. “It’s a lawn you can sit on. It is absolutely glorious, people just fall in love with them.” They also attract birds. “It has silveryness that if you touch it you get silver on your hands. Jupiter and Saturn meet in the sky for a great conjunction approximately once every 20 years at varying distances and we get to see that on December 21st. For another, the vigorous yellow flower is a nutritious edible weed that makes the ideal addition to a lunchtime salad or the perfect ingredient for an evening cup of tea. Now there’s someone who’s ready for the holidays. No traffic open spaces allow for some of the greatest flexibility in style and plant choices. Consider the following options… No Traffic. Dwarf dogwood (also called bunchberry) and herbs like thyme and oregano work as groundcovers for limited areas. A team of researchers has found a novel way to keep foxes away from 20 precious bandicoots introduced into a Victorian conservation reserve last month. ), which she says, loves a hot climate, as long as it has adequate water, and has one of best-smelling flowers around spring time. Robin redbreasts are belligerent Christmas bullies, Tiny pygmy possum found on Kangaroo Island, despite concerns that bushfires had wiped them out, The Black Summer fires took their toll on the platypus, Koalas badly burned in Victorian bushfires finally return home following recovery, Ecologists capture rare image of critically endangered parrot, A new croc app is set to make Queensland waterways safer, Australian Geographic Society Expeditions, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, Environmentalists, Conservationists and Scientists. The K’gari-Fraser Island bushfire has been catastrophic. For a backyard with more space, Karen recommends native frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum), which she says, loves a hot climate, as long as it has adequate water, and has one of best-smelling flowers around spring time. Many Australians have that one tree in their backyard they have a lot of affection for. Fescue grasses are tolerant of everyday wear and tear and can thrive in a variety of locations. A Decrease font size. But here we’re talking about ground covers and alternatives to this grass, not a bunch of fiddle and banjo players jamming in your backyard. One of the most popular species being the the coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa), which sprouts dainty, white flowers. Tall fescues are coarser, drought tolerant and provide a … PLUS receive a gift. Bye-Bye, Lawn: Four Great Alternatives to Grass Landscaping Give your mower—and nature—a break with these alternatives to turf. “People don’t realise there’s more than 40 different varieties of finger limes, which originated in rainforests. “These are totally water-saving plants, requiring way less water than traditional turf. There is no supermarket that can compete with the freshness of freshly harvested vegetables, herbs and fruits. Here, we chat to Karen about the replacements for hedges, grass, roses, feature trees and herbs. Instead of switching to organic lawn care, some might want to get rid of their lawn altogether. Gardening Channel. Composed of region- and climate-specific plants that are low-growing by nature, these alternative lawns don’t need constant mowing to stay short. “It’s becoming more available, which shows the growers directly respond to what they can sell.”, Quokka population will take over a decade to fully recover from bushfire, The best meteor shower of the year is about to grace our skies, Tasmanian devils look set to conquer facial tumour disease, The Australian Antarctic Division needs tradies. They’re just fantastic.”. More Sustainable (and Beautiful) Alternatives to a Grass Lawn . Areas that are traditionally difficult to establish lawn perform well with many alternatives. What’s the damage? Blue Star Creeper. LessLawn.com : lawn alternatives and no mow yards Welcome to LessLawn, where you'll find information on lawn alternatives and no-mow yards to help you design a natural, soul-satisfying landscape. is one of the best options, recognisable for its blue-grey leaves. “They can be really tall hedges, like the Waterhousia floribunda, a rainforest tree, and there are also dwarf lilly pilly species used quite commonly throughout Australia,” she says. There are many ways in which to expand patios to provide seating as well as containers for growing your favorite vegetables, fruits or flowers. Many also grow well in shady areas. Herb gardens are another means of adding some edible beauty to your backyard. For one person, a dandelion may represent an ugly nuisance: a blemish on an otherwise perfectly manicured lawn. Maryland native switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), little blue stem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and yellow indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) are three great choices for sunny sites. It’s great to have a place for kids to play and families to gather, but it doesn’t have to be only grass. As far as feature trees go, Karen recommends Silver Princess eucalypt (Eucalyptus caesia). Avoid growing lemongrass, Karen advises, and instead opt for lemon myrtle (, ), which is grown more easily in colder climates. Even low-maintenance lawn alternatives need some maintenance: seasonal mowing, supplemental irrigation in times of drought and occasional weeding. Drought Tolerant and Edible Lawn Alternatives. All Rights Reserved. Lawn alternatives: ground cover trial. Incorporating nitrogen-fixing legumes such as white clover into a lawn is also beneficial for decreasing fertilizer applications. Drought-Resistant – This plant’s deep roots make it incredibly resistant to water shortages, so you won’t need to worry about watering it. Fescue and Ornamental Grass Both fescue and ornamental grasses provide another alternative to the traditional lawn. So, here, we look back on the winning images from the past decade. Perennials, which include items such as blueberries, strawberries or rhubarb, will grow and produce … A Reset font size. If you'd like to replace some or all of your lawn with ground cover plants, or fill in borders or shady spots, these edible varieties can also serve as a tasty addition to your plate. There are plenty of good alternatives to the classic green lawn.For example, xeriscaping and edible landscaping are excellent eco-friendly options. They are also ideal for container gardening in pots on your patio. A Increase font size. The silver princess and fuschia gum (Eucalyptus forrestiana), another eucalypt Karen recommends, only grows 3–5 metres tall, and it takes a long time for it to get to five metres. NATIVE AUSTRALIAN plants are currently experiencing a revival. “People think gum trees and eucalypts are all really large but they’re not. There’s a good range of small eucalypts to choose from.”, For a backyard with more space, Karen recommends native frangipani (. Typically, lawn alternatives are more suitable for low–traffic areas where the plants won’t get trampled on too heavily, or to fill the gaps between pavers, a role in which they excel. Crushing and smelling them is also great to clear the nose.”. I don’t water [them] very often.”. Durability – Dutch clover is one of the toughest lawn alternatives on our list, easily withstanding normal foot traffic. Look at this proud little guy. Filed Under: Herb Gardening, Landscaping, Lawncare, Water & Irrigation Tagged With: edible landscaping, lawn alternatives, outdoor living space, rain gardens, Your email address will not be published. This is much better for the plants than a situation where the garden receives pounding rains. Also, you don’t need to fertilise them and you don’t need to spend so much time and money on mowing.”, Native violets (Viola banksii) are the most unexpected lawn alternatives. ... yards where edible plants—vegetables and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs—replace a portion of turf. “It’s a lawn you can sit on and eat,” says Karen – who often uses the flowers as garnish or in salads “and they’re remarkably drought tolerant. Hi all. As far as feature trees go, Karen recommends Silver Princess eucalypt (Eucalyptus caesia). Entries are about to open for the 2021 competition. Rain gardens, which work to remove pollutants in the same manner as a forest or meadow, are a good means of reducing your impact on our planet. In Edible Landscapes, Installation, Lawn Alternatives By foodscapes [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This client wanted a low maintenance lawn, so we replaced the grass with mazus! Get great photography, travel tips and exclusive deals delivered to your inbox. Ever-bearing strawberries produce fruit most of the summer and tolerate marginal soils and light shade. eat,” says Karen – who often uses the flowers as garnish or in salads “and they’re remarkably drought tolerant. 10 low-maintenance lawn alternatives #1 ORNAMENTAL GRASSES One of the best ways to reduce the area of your turf lawn: Transform part of the lawn into a gorgeous ornamental grass display. Here are helpful sites on herb gardens and growing herbs. Explore and create with these great experiments! “It has silveryness that if you touch it you get silver on your hands. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. green turf. Once you have decided to make the environmental switch to a lawn alternative, you are ready to think about how to remove that lawn…and that’s the subject of another article. The traditional green grass we use to cover our front and back yards has many disadvantages and quite honestly, very little benefit. Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. Required fields are marked *. By subscribing you become an AG Society member, helping us to raise funds for conservation and adventure projects. My name is Melinda Fulmer and I write for MSN. Subscribe & Save up to $49 New analysis of palm cockatoo populations put the bird on a downward trajectory, prompting scientists to call for a downgrading in their conservation status. Wintergreen. Vegetable garden Setting up a raised garden to grow vegetables will not only save you money on grocery shopping but also makes a great landscaping feature that will take pride of place in your backyard. Edible Backyard is a series of gardening workshops run from Kath Irvine’s permaculture home garden. There’s a good range of small eucalypts to choose from.”. There are numerous benefits to landscaping with plants you can eat. Some groundcovers are edible, such as strawberries or low-growing herbs. “You can use it to make a tea, put it in different salsas, salads, place sprigs in cocktails and jugs of water. ... Small white flowers will bloom in the spring, followed by red edible – but not tasty – berries. Transform your yard with food, medicinal or pollinator plants, ground cover, and more. How you can view the ‘Great’ Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, Winning images from our Nature Photographer of the Year competition from the last decade, The blue-banded pitta has already got its Christmas jumper on, ‘Lawn you can eat’: Native alternatives to garden staples, Hedges aren’t just ornamental but also can be used to create privacy. Other ornamental lawn substitutes include dichondra, scheranthus, pratia, convolvulus, pigface, some grevilleas or native violets. I can't seem to find a single person who doesn't like the idea. Karen recommends three native alternatives to the commonly used Japanese box (Buxus microphylla) and Sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum). By capturing clean rainwater from the driveway, roof and sidewalks and diverting it into an attractive rain garden where it can slowly filter contaminants and soak into the ground, you will help the environment by reducing the amount of runoff that runs into our waterways and public sewer systems. Lawn Alternatives. A handful of trims a year, depending on the plants and site, will suffice. “It has silveryness that if you touch it you get silver on your hands. ), another eucalypt Karen recommends, only grows 3–5 metres tall, and it takes a long time for it to get to five metres. I'm doing a story about alternatives to the front lawn, including edible landcaping, mini-orchards, courtyards and cottage gardens etc. Copyright © 2020. 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