L

AWNGONE
!
 Contents

Introduction 1

Part ONE: Beyond the Lawn

1: Exploring the Possibilities 7
2: Grasses You’ll Never (or Seldom) Mow 21
3: Ground-Covering Plants 33
4: Small Perennials and Shrubs 41
5: Places to Walk, Places to Sit 49
6: Ponds, Pavilions, Play Spaces, and Other Fun Features 63
7: Downsizing the Lawn 73

Part TWO: Out with the Grass, In with a Garden

8: Lawn, Begone! The Pros, Cons, and How-Tos of Grass Removal 81
9: Designing and Installing Your Hardscape 93
10: Bed Preparation and Planting 109
11: Keeping It Alive: Ongoing Maintenance Tips 117

Part THREE: The Politics, Health, and Safety of Going Lawnless

12: Contending with HOAs and City Codes 125
13: Working with Skeptical Neighbors 131
14: Unwelcome Guests: Ticks, Deer, and Rodents 135
15: Fire-Resistant Landscaping 139

Regional Plant Recommendations 142

Northeast 145 Southeast 148 Coastal South 150 Midwest 152 Northern Plains 155
Southern Plains 157 Mountain West 160 Southwest 162 Pacific Northwest 165
Northern California 168 Southern California 170
Recommended Resources 174
Acknowledgments 176
Illustration and Photo Credits 177
Index 180

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 7 9/13/12 2:41 PM

 Introduction

A green, neatly cut lawn has long been part of the

American dream of homeownership.

Since the development of our earliest suburbs, lawn has occupied a privi-
leged place as the default groundcover for builders and homeowners alike.
In the late 1800s, Frederick Law Olmsted, the founding father of Ameri-
can landscape architecture, sought to elevate our nation’s homesteader
aesthetic of bare dirt, vegetable patch, and fenced yard for keeping out
livestock. He looked to the greenswards of grand English estates and
envisioned an uninterrupted carpet of lawn spread across new suburban
developments, unbroken by fence, hedge, or wall (unlike the aristocratic
English model)—a commons shared by each homeowner, whose civic
responsibility included maintaining his own piece of it. Lawn, proclaimed
Olmsted, would be an expression of democracy. Drive the neighborhood
streets of almost any town in the United States today and you’ll see
Olmsted’s vision brought to life, with one lawn flowing into the next all
the way down the block.
It’s easy to see how the lawn became so popular. When maintained
with water and regular grooming, it covers the ground superbly and can < Ornamental grasses
be used for play and relaxation. Installing a lawn is fairly inexpensive, and and easy-care peren-
nials often require less
the tidy openness of a lawn is comfortably familiar. Lawn culture—weekly water and maintenance
mowing and edging, running the sprinkler in summer, and applying than a traditional lawn.

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 1 9/13/12 2:42 PM


An arid Albuquerque,
New Mexico, garden
employs Mexican feather-
grass (Nassella tenuis-
sima), yellow-flowering
damianita (Chrysactinia
mexicana), and prickly
pear (Opuntia sp.),
mulched with gravel, in
lieu of thirsty lawn grass.
In this North Carolina
garden, a carpet of red
creeping thyme (Thymus
praecox ssp. arcticus
‘Coccineus’) is a low-
care lawn substitute.
2 LAWN GONE!
Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 2
chemical fertilizer, pesticides, and weed suppressants—became firmly
entrenched in the 1950s, when home ownership surged, and today many
homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and city councils have codified stan-
dards for a front lawn that each resident must maintain. Just look at
the lawn-care aisles—packed with chemicals, hoses, and equipment—
at your local home-improvement store to see what a big business lawn
maintenance has become.
The Grass is Not Always Greener
The fact is, however, that traditional lawn grasses aren’t well suited to
large regions of our country—the arid Southwest and Mountain West, in
particular, as well as the drought-prone Plains states—and lawns in the
South and Midwest often require copious summer watering to be kept
green. Lawn fertilizers and pesticides have proved toxic to birds, to ben-
eficial insects, and, when they wash into watersheds, to fish and rivers.
Lawns lack cover, food, and nesting material for wildlife. A typical lawn
requires several hours of maintenance each week during the growing
season, and the power tools used for this time-consuming maintenance
come with a high cost in terms of air and noise pollution.
Today, we have a better understanding of the lawn’s impact on the
environment. We’re mindful of water shortages, runoff tainted by lawn
chemicals, and air and noise pollution caused by maintenance equip-
ment. We’ve come to recognize that the look of a more native landscape
is worth cultivating and nurturing. Why should the average homeowner
in the arid high country of the Southwest, for example, emulate a lush
Southeastern landscape, or vice versa? In other words, why deny the par-
ticular beauty of your own region? All around the country you can find
the same few species of lawn grasses and foundation shrubs making up
a national, undifferentiated residential landscape. It’s like driving cross-
country on the interstate and seeing the same four fast-food restaurants
at every exit. We deserve better—and we can make it happen.
9/13/12 2:42 PM
 A Greener Way
Most people hardly use their lawns, especially the front lawn, and it can
seem an awful waste to maintain something that you never use. More-
over, other types of plants also do a beautiful job of covering the soil,
and many of them require less water and maintenance. Simply by choos-
ing to grow several different species of plants in your yard, you’ll help
reduce the “lawn desert,” a monoculture of turf that afflicts so many
neighborhoods.
Also, by growing swaths of plants well adapted to your local con-
ditions and including appropriately scaled hardscape—like paths and
patios—you’ll ultimately use fewer resources and create a better-looking
landscape for your home. You may also spend fewer hours maintaining
A billowing swath of
it. Most rewardingly, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you Mexican feathergrass
aren’t harming the environment and you’re maintaining a landscape (Nassella tenuissima)
that invites you to enjoy it. Let’s reclaim our outdoor spaces for relax- replaces lawn grass in
this Austin, Texas, front
ation, natural beauty, wildlife habitat, and a sense of living more lightly yard that receives no
on the earth. supplemental water.

Introduction 3

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 3 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 Lawn Gone! will inspire you with examples of real-life, lawn-free land-
scapes and show you how to achieve a beautiful yard with practical infor-
mation about removing the lawn and landscaping without traditional
grass (or, at least, with less of it). Whether you’re considering removing
all or part of your lawn, Part One will show you different options for cov-
ering your soil with low, ground-covering plants, welcoming patios and
paths, and enticing features like ponds, firepits, and garden pavilions.
When you’re ready to begin, Part Two will walk you through the various
methods of lawn removal and explain how to install hardscape and plant
your new garden.
If you have HOA rules or city ordinances to contend with, you’ll
find Part Three especially helpful. This section also addresses garden
pests and ways to minimize their impact and explains how to create a
wildfire-resistant landscape. In Regional Plant Recommendations, you’ll
find plant picks and local gardening information contributed by regional
experts, helping you to pinpoint plants that will thrive in your region.
By picking up this book, you’ve already taken the first step toward
a greener way of landscaping. Now let’s explore the possibilities and get
inspired!

> Massed groundcovers,

like these near Seattle,
Washington, add texture
and visual interest that
lawn alone cannot
provide.
> Opposite Page :
Shade-tolerant sweet
woodruff (Galium odora-
tum) flowers in the late
spring.

4 LAWN GONE!

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 4 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 Pa rt one

Beyond the Lawn

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 5 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 Ch a p ter 1

Exploring the
Possibilities

The primary question most people have, as they consider

removing their lawn, is, “What do I replace it with?”

If you’re not an experienced gardener or you’ve moved to a different

part of the country, you may feel daunted by the sheer number of unfa-
miliar plants at the garden center, worried that you’ll choose the wrong
ones, and unsure of how to begin. You may feel overwhelmed trying to
envision how to landscape your yard with anything other than lawn.
Conversely, if you are a plant lover, you may be so excited about replac-
ing your lawn with a garden that you make hasty choices, forget to plan
for paths and other “people places,” and end up having to redo much of
it later.
In either case, it pays to do some planning first, and this book is
designed to help you with that. A mix of plants and paving will likely
< Sedums, Nassella tenuis-
replace your lawn (you don’t generally replace a lawn with just one type sima, and white-flowered
of plant), so you need to consider the big picture before you start ripping gazania mingle to create
up sod. There’s no need to choose specific plants just yet though; that a Persian carpet of low-
maintenance ground-
comes later. Instead, as you read through Part One, make note of the covers in this Los Angeles,
kinds of plants and features that appeal to you: a lawnlike mix of grasses, California, garden.

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 7 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 flowering perennials, a patio for entertaining, a shady spot for a ham-
mock, a pond to attract wildlife, and so on. Also, go outside and get to
know your property before you begin. What parts of your yard are sunny,
shady, wet, or dry? Is your soil rocky, clayey, sandy, or clogged with tree
roots? Differing conditions will require different plants, and maybe
even different types of paving materials. If you have the luxury of time,
observe your yard over the course of a year, noting how sun and shade
patterns change with the seasons, where runoff goes during heavy rains,
how dry the soil gets in the summer. Taking the time to understand your
existing conditions will help you make smart plant choices and avoid
costly do-overs as you begin relandscaping.
You may even wish to hire a landscape designer to help you design
your yard. A good designer will focus your ideas to come up with a pleasing

house
porch

< fountain Brick Patio

Driveway

Front yard, no lawn

8 LAWN GONE!

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 8 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 layout, appealing features, and a plant list well suited to your climate and
specific conditions. Some designers offer design-only services, which you
may prefer if you wish to do the installation on your own; others are full-
service and will design and install your new landscaping for you. If you’d
rather create your own design, a helpful method is to enlarge and make
several copies of your property survey and draw on them, making rough
sketches of planting beds, patios/decks, and paths, trying out different
configurations and just playing around with the design. Another good
method is to print out an eight-by-ten-inch photo of your yard, lay trac-
ing paper over it, and sketch rough drawings of key plants, garden beds,
and outdoor living spaces. Experiment with different designs by simply
replacing the tracing paper and drawing something new. Dream big at
first, and then narrow your choices to suit your space and budget.
Here are three examples of professional landscape designs, which
illustrate a front yard with no lawn, a front yard with a reduced lawn, and

house

porch

lawn

Driveway
< arbor

< Retaining wall

Front yard, Reduced lawn

Exploring the Possibilities 9

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 9 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 Compost Area

screen

SHed

gravel

< pond

Vegetable Beds >

porch

house

backyard, no lawn

10 LAWN GONE!

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 10 9/13/12 2:42 PM

 a backyard with no lawn. Use these examples for design inspiration or
simply to see how you might sketch out your own unique design.
To get your creative juices flowing, here are some shortcuts to chap-
ters throughout the book that may help you to refine your vision for your
own yard:
• If you live in a neighborhood that prizes or requires a front
lawn, a native lawn or sedge lawn might keep the peace while
allowing you to water and mow less often (see pages 22 and 27).
You may also benefit from the tips on dealing with HOAs (see
page 125) and working with neighbors (see page 131).
• If you have young children, you might want to keep at least a
small portion of your lawn, as shown in chapter 7 (see page 73),
or install a play space in place of lawn (see page 69).
• If you want a peaceful retreat, some billowing grasses (see page
24) and soft pea-gravel pathways (see page 53) might suit your
style. Add a contemplative labyrinth or relaxing garden pavilion,
as shown in chapter 6 (see page 63).
• If you like to entertain, you may want a large patio or deck
(see pages 49 and 93).
• If you live in an arid region, you’ll love the sections on drought-
tolerant grasses (see page 21), succulents (see page 36), and
gravel and stone patios in chapter 5 (see page 49).
• If you live in a moist woodland region, you’ll be inspired by
moss lawns (see page 38), using wood mulch as a groundcover
(see page 60), and perhaps a low deck elevated over tree roots
and damp ground (see page 98).
• If you want a yard that requires the lowest amount of main-
tenance possible, consider a combination of hardscaping (see
page 49) and artificial grass (see page 29), but don’t discount
a low-care groundcover, too (see page 33).
Now, let’s look at several examples of lawn-replacement projects and
the design decisions that drove them.

Exploring the Possibilities 11

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 11 9/13/12 2:42 PM

L
AWNGONE
!
 To my mother and father, who both love a garden more than lawn,
and especially to David, Aaron, and Julia, whose
support and love mean so much to me.

Copyright © 2013 by Pam Penick

All photographs and illustrations, except as noted on page 177, copyright © 2013 by Pam Penick

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.tenspeed.com

Ten Speed Press and the Ten Speed Press colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Penick, Pam.
Lawn gone! : low-maintenance, sustainable, attractive alternatives for your yard / by Pam Penick.
— 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Landscape gardening. 2. Landscape design. 3. Lawns. I. Title. II. Title: Low-maintenance,
sustainable, attractive alternatives for your yard.
SB473.P428 2013
712—dc23
2012029997

ISBN 978-1-60774-314-9
eISBN 978-1-60774-315-6

Printed in China

Design by Chloe Rawlins

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

< Page ii : Widen a front walk into a patio with room for a bench or a table and chairs, and surround it with
garden beds filled with a mix of evergreen shrubs for year-round interest and flowering perennials for color,
scent, and butterflies. Add a couple of ornamental trees for shade and height, and you’ve created a beautiful
courtyard garden to enjoy instead of a lawn to mow.
< Previous Page : Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) frames a path to an intimate patio backed by
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Dixieland’.

Peni_9781607743149_xp_all_r1.indd 6 9/13/12 2:41 PM