Tired of constantly mowing? Some types of no-mow grass alternatives include clover, wildflowers and native plants, moss, groundcovers, succulents, and xeriscaping. Many of these options are also low-maintenance when it comes to things like fertilization and watering.
1. Clover
Clovers are some of the more popular lawn alternatives. However, it’s more accurate to say it’s reclaiming its place. Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, an agriculture and natural resources educator with the University of Illinois Extension, says that clovers used to be more common until the rise of broadleaf herbicides, which killed them.
This no-mow alternative requires less maintenance than turfgrass:
- It only needs one or two mows a year.
- Clover makes its own fertilizer. As a legume, it hosts bacteria that can turn nitrogen in the air into nitrogen in the soil. It also fertilizers other plants in the area.
- It lives in less than stellar soil conditions. It can survive in compacted and acidic or alkaline soils, depending on the species.
- Clover only needs minimal watering.
As a bonus, clover flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects to your lawn, such as honeybees. Clover in general is also non-toxic to cats and dogs.
However, it may need overseeding every few years or so. It’s a short-lived perennial in some areas and an annual in others. It also can’t handle foot traffic.
There are many types of clover to choose from, and they’re all relatively inexpensive to seed. Here are some common types:
- White clover
- Red clover
- White Dutch clover
- Strawberry clover
- Microclover (great if you want to mix clovers with turf)
Clover growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 3 – 10, depending on species
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: Tolerates as low as 5.3 pH to as high as 8.2 pH, depending on the species; generally prefers 6.0 to 7.0 pH
- Soil type: Can tolerate poor, compacted soils
You can learn more about clovers in these articles:
- “9 Reasons Why a Clover Lawn is Better Than a Grass Lawn”
- “Benefits of Planting Clover in Your Yard”
- “Is Clover a Weed?”
2. Wildflowers and native plants
Wildflowers and native plants can be used as low-maintenance no-mow groundcover. It’s perfect if you’re willing to sacrifice function for beauty.
Choosing a native plant species (or better yet, multiple species) means less watering, less fertilizer, less pesticide, and no mowing. Native plants have already adapted to the areas where they grow, which is why they’re so low-maintenance.
Wildflowers and native plants also provide food for native fauna, so expect visiting pollinators, beneficial insects, and other animals.
You can read these articles to find out more about wildflowers and native flowers:
- “12 Reasons You Should Grow Native Plants”
- “Native Cultivar vs. Straight Species Native Plants”
- “How to Design a Native Plant Garden”
- “How to Grow a Wildflower Meadow”
The options available to you will depend on where you live. Let’s go over some common natives.
Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
Also called moss phlox, creeping phlox is found in the central and eastern parts of the U.S. As its name suggests, it spreads and forms a dense mat. In early to mid-spring, it explodes into a carpet of color as it starts blooming pink, lavender, and sometimes white flowers. There are other cultivars with red and blue-purple flowers.
Rabbits might eat creeping phlox, but deer will generally stay away. This plant isn’t dangerous to dogs and cats, but they might get a tummy ache if they try to eat it.
Creeping phlox growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 5 to 9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0 pH
- Soil type: Moist but well-drained chalk, sand, loam soils
Dwarf cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)
This wildflower is found in the eastern half of the United States. Like creeping phlox, dwarf cinquefoil spreads and quickly forms a large mat about 3 to 4 inches tall that can handle moderate foot traffic. From spring to summer, it blooms small yellow flowers loved by bees and other pollinators.
Wildlife also eat dwarf cinquefoil: the seeds by birds, and the leaves by rabbits and groundhogs. Dwarf cinquefoil is also safe for our furry friends.
If you want a slightly taller groundcover, try spring cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana). It also has yellow flowers but grows up to 6 inches tall.
Dwarf cinquefoil growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 8
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0 pH
- Soil type: Well-draining soils, but can handle some dryness
Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Also called the Virginia strawberry, wild strawberry is found all over the country. It’s also a creeping plant; it spreads through stolons. It grows to about 3 to 7 inches tall. Its small white flowers bloom from April to June, and its leaves stay green throughout the winter months.
Unlike garden strawberries, the fruits of the wild strawberry are much smaller. These fruits are edible — they’re sweet like regular strawberries — and loved by wildlife. Expect furry visitors like squirrels when wild strawberry fruits start popping up. Your pets also can eat wild strawberries without issue.
Wild strawberry growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 8
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0 pH
- Soil type: Fertile well-draining soils, but can handle some dryness
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
If you want to attract butterflies to your garden, then you can’t go wrong with choosing milkweed as a no-mow grass alternative. Many caterpillars feed on milkweed leaves; the monarch butterfly eats it exclusively. There are many types of milkweed, most of which are native to the U.S. Here are the most common ones:
- Butterfly weed
- Swamp milkweed
- Common milkweed
Note: Avoid tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), a non-native milkweed that’s harmful to monarchs.
Milkweed nectar is also a food source for pollinators and beneficial insects. Unfortunately, however, milkweed is mildly toxic to people and pets.
Some milkweed species grow only through seeds, while others also spread through rhizomes. So, it will spread through your lawn without much issue.
The growing conditions and blooming times for these plants vary with the species. Here are the growing conditions for the butterfly weed:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 3 to 9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0 pH
- Soil type: Prefers dry, well-draining soil, but can tolerate many types of soil
3. Non-native groundcovers
There are many other no-mow groundcovers available if you’re not restricting yourself to just planting native flora. They’re still beneficial to the environment, but not as much as native plants are.
However, you need to check if what you’re trying to plant isn’t considered invasive (or worse yet, a noxious weed). You can search the National Invasive Species Information Center or contact your local extension office to check.
Let’s go over some popular non-native groundcover plants. You can also check out our article, “Best Ground Covers as Grass Alternatives,” for more ideas.
Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
If you want a now-mow lawn alternative that tingles more than just your sense of sight, then you might be interested in creeping thyme. This member of the mint family has a subtle minty, spicy scent that is perfect for a sensory garden. As a bonus, the same aroma keeps deer and rabbits away.
When creeping thyme blooms (around late spring to early summer), don’t be surprised to find bees hovering around your yard.
But how does it fare as a lawn alternative? Creeping thyme can handle foot traffic – not as well as a lawn does though, of course. It will stay green throughout the year, except in the summer when it blooms pink flowers. It also will spread through your lawn easily through its creeping rhizomes. Lastly, it’ll grow up to 6 inches max.
Creeping thyme growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5 pH
- Soil type: Dry, well-draining soils
Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)
Like creeping thyme, lamb’s ear is a member of the mint family. Its silver and purple-pink leaves are soft and fuzzy to the touch, making it another good addition to a sensory garden. The leaves also smell vaguely apple or chamomile-like when crushed. Additionally, its velvety texture makes it unappealing to deer and rabbits.
In the summer, it blooms very muted lavender-pink flowers that attract butterflies. The flowers bloom on spikes that loom above the leaves. Some cultivars have brighter flowers, while the ‘Cotton Boll’ cultivar has white, cotton ball-like flowers instead.
Lamb’s ear growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: Can tolerate acidic and alkaline soils alike
- Soil type: Well-draining soils
Creeping mazus (Mazus miquelii)
Are you looking for a hardier no-mow lawn replacement? Formerly known as Mazus reptans, creeping mazus grows low and handles foot traffic well. Thanks to its stolons, creeping mazus rapidly spreads into bare soil, but typically won’t spread beyond that. It’s quite low-maintenance, but can’t handle dry conditions.
From late spring to early summer, creeping mazus will grace your lawn with purple, blue, or white flowers. Expect pollinators like bees and butterflies when it blooms as the tubed flowers of this semi-evergreen perennial are easy for them to drink nectar out of. It also resists deer.
While creeping mazus is popular, some northern states consider it an invasive weed. You can always check with your local extension office to see if creeping mazus is an option for you.
Creeping mazus growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 5 to 8
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: Can tolerate acidic and alkaline soils alike
- Soil type: Moist, fertile, well-draining soils
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Also called moneywort, creeping Jenny is another good option for those who want a hardy, fast-spreading groundcover. The difference between it and creeping mazus is that it provides a yellow pop of color with its yellow flowers and (sometimes) yellow-green coin-shaped leaves.
This semi-evergreen plant is a very prolific spreader; so much so that you may need to add landscape edging to keep its creeping rhizomes contained.
Like creeping mazus, moneywort is considered an invasive weed in some areas.
Creeping Jenny growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 3 to 8
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: Can tolerate acidic and alkaline soils alike
- Soil type: Can tolerate most soils
Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora)
If you’re truly committed to having a grass-like no-mow alternative, then look no further than Kurapia. Developed in Japan, Kurapia grows no taller than 2 to 3 inches and tolerates drought well. However, it can’t handle more than light foot traffic.
Its white flowers are quite small but are nonetheless visited by bees in spring and summer. While you could get away with not mowing Kurapia, you can mow it down to prevent bees from visiting if you are allergic to them.
Note: Buy a sterile variety of Kurapia if you want to use it as groundcover. A non-sterile variety will produce seeds and spread, which is not ideal as Kurapia is invasive.
Although it is considered an invasive species, Kurapia has naturalized in California and is a decently popular lawn alternative in that area because of its excellent drought tolerance. You can grow Kurapia outside of California; just make sure to buy a sterile variety. However, it grows best in zones 7b and warmer.
Kurapia growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 6 to 11
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: Can tolerate acidic and alkaline soils alike
- Soil type: Well-draining sandy loam soils
4. Moss
Do you often have to deal with moss? If you’re tired of maintaining turf, you can give in and grow a moss lawn instead. It’s a great low-maintenance alternative, especially if your lawn is often damp and has lots of shade. Moss doesn’t need mowing and it’s green year-round. If it does dry out, it will usually start growing again when water becomes more plentiful.
If you’re a fan of fireflies, you might find more of them glowing in the night if you decide to grow moss. Most other wildlife won’t touch it though. While that means you won’t find pests, you also won’t find pollinators in your yard (there are no flowers to drink from, after all).
Moss does have drawbacks, however. It can’t handle foot traffic well and needs to be kept debris-free. Plus, you can’t use herbicides or pesticides on moss; if you find any weeds, you’ll need to pull them by hand.
The growing conditions for moss will vary depending on the species. Generally, they prefer these conditions:
- Acidic, compacted soil
- Shaded areas
- Moist areas (although some will survive drier conditions)
- Wind-free areas
5. Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)
Stonecrop is a genus of succulents that are popular groundcovers. If you’re worried about your yard looking like it was overtaken by cacti, don’t fret; stonecrop plants have varied leaf shapes. They also have varied flower colors, so you’re bound to find a stonecrop species that suits your tastes.
Some popular species include:
- Broadleaf stonecrop
- Yellow stonecrop
- Corsican stonecrop (a particularly cold-hardy succulent)
- White stonecrop
The flowers of stonecrop plants are quite showy, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. Throughout the seasons, their leaves also change colors; they range in color from warm reds and oranges to cool blue-ish hues.
As succulents, stonecrop plants are very low-maintenance. Some may even say they thrive on neglect. They only really need well-draining soil, lots of sun (but some tolerate partial shade), and a sprinkling of water during a drought.
Here are the general growing conditions of stonecrop plants:
- USDA hardiness zones: Zones 3 to 9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5
- Soil type: Well-draining sandy and loam soils
6. Xeriscaping
One of the ultimate no-mow alternatives is xeriscaping. Although its main benefit is how it saves water, xeriscaping is just generally low-maintenance. It’s not very surprising, since it focuses on drought-resistant plants and inorganic materials like mulch, rocks, and hardscaping.
Xeriscaping can also incorporate the above no-mow alternatives (the drought-resistant ones, anyway).
You can learn more about xeriscaping in these articles:
- “Benefits of Xeriscaping”
- “11 Xeriscape Ideas for a Water-Wise Yard”
- “17 Best Xeriscaping Plants for Your Landscape”
- “How Much Does Xeriscaping Cost in 2024?”
FAQs about no-mow grass alternatives
What other groundcovers can you use as no-mow grass alternatives?
There are way too many groundcovers to list. Generally, you want something that grows low and stays short. You can check out these articles for specific plant ideas:
- “13 Ground Covers With White Flowers”
- “12 Ground Covers With Pink Flowers”
- “13 Ground Covers With Purple Flowers”
- “13 Ground Covers With Blue Flowers”
- “10 Ground Covers With Yellow Flowers”
- “The 15 Best Ground Cover Flowers”
- “9 Best Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers”
- “Best Ground Covers as Grass Alternatives”
- “Best Ground Covers for Foot Traffic”
- “Fast-Growing Groundcovers for Shade”
Can I use artificial grass as a no-mow grass alternative?
Yes, you can use artificial grass as a no-mow grass alternative. It’s very low-maintenance, only needing some cleaning and water from time to time. However, it has a much higher upfront cost and little environmental benefits.
Are there no-mow or low-mow grasses I can use?
Yes, there are actually some grasses that you can forgo mowing. Here are some of them:
- Hard fescue (and other fine fescues)
- Zoysia tenuifolia, a no-mow Zoysiagrass species
- Buffalograss
Hire a pro to install a no-mow yard
Converting your lawn into a no-mow yard is a monumental task, no matter which option you go with. If you don’t have the time, energy, or effort to do that, consider hiring a professional for an extra set of hands. Lawn Love can connect you with local gardeners who can take care of the planting for you.
If you’re not ready to get rid of your beautiful lawn just yet but are tired of the constant maintenance, then hiring a lawn care pro may be just what you need. You can also connect with local lawn care pros through Lawn Love who can mow your lawn and more.
Main Image Credit: Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0
