There is often a misconception that landscaping design invariably includes a lawn or larger areas of grass, but that is simply not the case. There are numerous reasons why a landscape design might not include grass areas, with the simplest of them being that the garden that is being designed does not have a lawn.
Whether the lack of a lawn is a result of the homeowner choosing not to have one, or the garden in question cannot have one due to soil or other horticultural problems that prevent it, will vary from garden to garden. The good news is that the lack of lawn does not prevent an awesome landscape design from being created, and if you read further you will see we have outlined no fewer than seven landscaping design ideas for such a lawn-free garden.
Stones/Paving: The scope for using stone and/or paving within a landscape design is almost limitless given the number of options available. This applies not just to the types of stone and paving that can be utilised, but also to how they are incorporated into the landscaping design. Examples include the simplistic such as an unassuming paved patio or a more decorative option which is to use stones of multiple sizes, colours, and shapes to create walkways throughout the garden.
Ground Covers: This involves using plants other than grass as coverings within your garden. This has the potential to provide you with a wonderfully colourful array, and that includes using all green ground covers but in a multitude of different shades. Most suited to Western Australian gardens are Pallinup Gold, Coastal Pigface, Barrier Saltbush, Common Emu Bush, and Sticky Goodenia, however, there are dozens more, so ask your landscape designer for their recommendations.
Rock Garden: Rock gardens are one of those landscaped garden features that remain popular whilst other gardening trends come and go. Maybe it is the fact that they provide an aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance feature that appeals to homeowners. In addition, rock gardens can be adapted to suit their surrounding environments and the preferences of the garden’s owner whether they desire a simple or an elaborate design.
Raised Garden Beds: The absence of a lawn means there is ample space available to include raised garden beds in your landscape design, and as with most of the other features we have highlighted, your options are plentiful. You can plant flowers, small shrubs, vegetables, and even herbs in your raised garden beds. In addition, they are also low-maintenance and easy to access.
Vegetable Garden: If the idea of growing vegetables appeals to you, why not go the whole way and have a vegetable garden as the main element of your landscape design? You and your family can enjoy the fresh produce from your vegetable garden as well as save money on groceries. One caveat is that a vegetable garden requires more maintenance than some of the other options.
Water Features: Whilst many landscape designs incorporate water features within them, you could choose to have one as the main feature within your garden instead of the lawn. This could be a pond, whereby you might add fish as an added attraction. There is also the option to create a stream or a fountain to provide you and anyone who spends time in your garden with a calming and tranquil atmosphere which will also attract butterflies and birds as an added bonus.
Decorative Mulch: Our final suggestion can be both decorative and provide a practical benefit to your garden. The decorative element comes from how the mulch you use is created as this produces a wide variety of textures and colours. The practical benefit is that mulch will retain moisture within your garden’s soil, and it is very adept at suppressing those pesky weeds.
