Grass free or "tapestry" lawns

[billigoat]

I am keen to know if anyone has experience of planting a grass free, or Tapestry lawn? I have a tiny lawn which I have tried to tend for many years and have indeed replaced the grass several times, but have decided I've had enough of it. There seems to be a movement towards grass free lawns, using lots of different species and work has been done at the University of Reading. They look lovely and are much better ecologically- I can't be the only person in Sheffield interested in this?

[billigoat]

I am keen to know if anyone has experience of planting a grass free, or Tapestry lawn? I have a tiny lawn which I have tried to tend for many years and have indeed replaced the grass several times, but have decided I've had enough of it. There seems to be a movement towards grass free lawns, using lots of different species and work has been done at the University of Reading. They look lovely and are much better ecologically- I can't be the only person in Sheffield interested in this?

[HJL_Shef]

See e.g. http://blogs.reading.ac.uk/grass-free-lawns/rethinking-the-traditional-grass-lawn/

 

I was actually wondering about how many people are heading towards this, as the other day, when walking down Norfolk Road, I noticed that one of the houses has begun to inter-plant within their lawn, and there were lots of clumps of pretty blue flowers.

 

A good attitude change to strive towards, in my opinion, with the exception of formal parks and golf courses.

[Chez2]

What is the problem with your lawn, why do you have to keep re doing it?

 

Get the base prepared properly, get grass protection grid down or heavy duty landscaping grid if you park the car on it. I have poultry rooting around on my grass and the grass protection grids have prevented them turning it in to a mud pit.

 

On the 'best' lawn we have German Shepherds running around damaging the grass in winter. A bit of aerating of the soil and watering when its dry and it soon grows back. We don't water the lawn in summer either. It does get weed and feed in summer and autumn. We need to do this otherwise it would be more weeds and moss than grass.

 

If you interplant the lawn with bulbs you can't mow until the bulbs die down.

 

Edit _ I don't like those tapesty lawns in the link HJL_Sheff. It would be better to have a fully planted garden border which could almost look after itself but also provide food and shelter for insects. It would be much more visually pleasing too. I had such a boder at my last house and it was so maintenance free I had to get hubby to keep chopping down the edges of the lawn so I had something I could tend and plant up.

 

We have considered a wild lawn full of wild flowers but its not possible with the dogs.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Chez2