The emerald green lawn that is the homeowner’s dream isn’t always the easiest reality to create.The challenge of growing that lush, green grass everywhere on your lawn is often something that in reality just is not going to happen. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on your ideal lawn,it just means you need to revise the dream to include some creative touches and a brand new landscape design that your lawn maintenance expert can help you plan out.

Why Won’t My Grass Grow?

Maintaining your lawn is key to keeping it healthy. This includes a regular watering schedule and making sure the grass does not get cut too short which can cause the grass to dry out too rapidly and die. Most varieties of grass need six hours of sunlight per day to do well. This means that grass receiving only partial sunlight, such as on the side of the house or under trees is not going to do as well as the rest of the lawn that is getting the full six hours a day. Making sure to maintain the proper nutrient levels in your soil is also critical for avoiding patchy, brown spots scattered throughout the yard.
What are My Landscaping Choices That Don’t Involve Grass?

Make Much of Mulch

Putting mulch around trees or near your house is a smart solution to those shady areas where the grass just won’t grow. Mulch is low maintenance since it only needs to be replaced once a year.Your lawn maintenance expert will decide when the best time for that is – usually in the spring.Another benefit of mulch is that as it breaks down, it fertilizes the plants growing in it which makes it a good place to grow flowers or other ornamentals.

Think About Taking Cover

Ground cover doesn’t have to be grass and only grass. Imagine a no-mow lawn. Then imagine why more people don’t select it, especially considering how many other plants there are that spread quickly for ground cover and can even add a color other than green. Even if you only want to cover a spot where grass won’t grow, ground cover can be the perfect solution.Ask your lawn maintenance expert what will work best for your area from the wide variety of choices of ground cover which can include options such as moss, Creeping Thyme, Creeping Phlox, Periwinkle, Pachysandra, New Zealand Burr, and Liriope.

Create an Outdoor Living Space

Replacing a problem spot on your lawn by putting in a patio will mean less stressing over your lawn. It also means having a place to enjoy the great outdoors and will provide an impressive addition to the overall landscape of your lawn. Don’t stop at simply creating the patio, invest inquality, weather-resistant, comfortable outdoor furniture. An outdoor fireplace is another option along with the patio grill and good lighting for nighttime events. Placing plenty of potted plants,flowers and ornamentals will add the perfect finishing touch. Your lawn maintenance expert can suggest the plants that will work best for your location to fill your decorative pots, urns, and barrels.

Think About Your Home Turf

If you’ve tried and tried again and grass simply isn’t working for you, try turf which will provide the healthy grass look with far less maintenance. Synthetic grass is designed to last a lifetime,and there will still be plenty of gardening left from the flowers, ornamentals, bushes, and trees.

Play Ball!

Creating a play area in a spot where the grass won’t grow anyway is a great way to fix a problem area. Having a permanent play area in the backyard encourages children to go outside more often, increasing their creativity, socialization and encouraging healthy exercise habits. Rubber mulch, sand, or rubber mats are good choices for ground cover under a playground or swing set.Swing sets and playgrounds are not the only options for a backyard play area though. Adding an area for bocce ball, tetherball, horseshoes, croquet or other lawn games in an area where the grass won’t grow anyway, will provide endless hours of enjoyment for the household while relieving you of the aggravation of that bare patch that just won’t go away.

Picture Perfect Pond

Landscaping designs that include water can create a striking look for your backyard and can provide a unique solution for that place where the grass just won’t grow. A pond can provide the perfect backyard oasis. Ask your lawn maintenance expert which pond liner, fiberglass or concrete, will work best for your backyard pond, and then think about stocking the pond with decorative koi fish for an even more peaceful experience.With so many solutions, your lawn woes will be a thing of the past. Instead, your lawn will still be the green haven you have always dreamed of having but with the addition of any of these creative landscaping ideas.