Think you know plants? Challenge!: What would be a good ground covering instead of grass?

Question

Something that will stay green --> 365 <-- days a year, cold winters, hot summers? Something that blooms is a plus. I'm looking to replace ALL the grass in my front yard with something that won't require mowing, since my front yard is on a SLOPE. Half the yard has full sun, half has partial shade. ZONE 6.

All (serious) suggestions welcome. Most knowledgeable plant person gets best answer and my eternal gratitude.

P.S.- Sometimes the summers in my area have been known to have droughts.

Oh, and sometimes the winters can reach into the very low digits (anywhere from the teens to the negatives).

Answer 1

blacktop painted green or AstroTurf
LOL

princess pine may work well

Answer 2

I live in Michigan in a similar climate to what you describe, and part of my backyard is on a slope, and it's half sun and half shade.
I have euobonis and creeping myrtle (vinca vine) on part of that slope. I also have boston ivy and snow on the mountain. Creeping myrtle is the vine that has beautiful small blue flowers in the spring, with an occasional one peeking through in the summer.
Just remember this...tree seedlings and weeds are still going to grow there, and you will have to weed instead of just mow as you used to!
I suggest that you break it up somewhat, with pathways and borders, rocks or something, so that you can reach to every part of it, or you are going to have to trust your footing while you step on the plants to remove all those darn little tree seedlings that over a summer become not so little anymore.
You may be surprised to hear this, but believe me, mowing is the easiest yard work there is, weeding is harder. My plants are mature and compact, and still the weeds grow.
So only do this if you realize that you will need to work more, not less, on the area.

Answer 3

Oh, Goody, a challenge?
Let me see, you want something that will stay green all year long, flower, tolerate drought and freezing temps, and will do well in full sun and partial shade?
Okay, here you go. An evergreen perennial ground cover for both sun or part shade in heat and in cold and also flowers.
Snow-on-the-mountain:
http://www.eburgess.com/detail.asp?nav=gcv&pid=6645
(correction) Here is a pic of the flower:
http://www.stratsplace.com/gardendiary/snowonmtn.html
Pic is not very good, but it's the best I can find.

Answer 4

I'm in Zone 7 (Oklahoma) and am also slowly replacing my lawn with ground covers. We have summers up to 105 Fahrenheit and winters down to near zero Fahrenheit. Oklahoma is the land of droughts and ice storms, so these plants are very tough. This is what I'm using:

1. Monkey (mondo, liriope) grass: http://www.absolutelybushed.com/images/liriopeBigBlue.jpg. Flowers in purple, blue, or white spikes. Sun/shade. Different colors and sizes. Most liriope is evergreen. Spreads once established. Liriope facts: http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1108.htm

2. Vinca (periwinkle). http://www.flickr.com/photos/hedgerowmobile/441646049/. Be sure to get the perennial kind. Low growing ground cover. Sun/shade. Purple flowers. Spreads once established. Periwinkle facts: http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1112.htm

These two plants have also been established on the sloping waterfall I built that goes into my fishpond. They are excellent ground covers and good for erosion control.

Boulders may be added amonst these ground covers to add vertical interest. These plants look especially attractive growing on and around boulders.

Good luck!

Answer 5

One of the best grasses I've seen for xeriscaping was Buffalo Grass at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. There are also lots of ground covers that you can consider - I'd suggest looking up xeriscaping sites for your part of the country. Since I don't know where you live, I'm including some of the sites that I like. The site for Colorado is in Colorado Springs; you can call their utility department for suggestions - it's a BIG deal in a city where there are so many people and so little water!

Answer 6

i do no longer think of you may get something extra durable than grass. there are differrent varieties notwithstanding. I unquestionably have bought what they call a playgound combination befor. It has a tendency to opt for much less water and care is somewhat course yet does stand up to extra site visitors. notwithstanding in case you have very heavy use interior the backyard no longer something is going to stand up. Freequesnt air score will help dramatically...this is pockingg many holes into the backyard with a maching made for this or a pitchfork and there are additionally strategies you are able to strap on your ft and stroll around on an identical time as donning ,,,,...we could

Answer 7

Pachysandra (white, nonspecial flowers in the spring), creeping myrtle (blue spring flowers), ivy (no flowers). All of these are nice, but how big is your front lawn? Too much of these plants could be boring.

How about low ground covers like junipers, andromedas, or similar plants spaced in groups, with the above ground covers filling in?

Answer 8

Be bold and make a statement. Use herbs, solo or combined. Thyme will hug the ground. I have a creeping purple form of oregano on a bank facing north and it has lavender flowers right now. Z4 RScott

Answer 9

Ivy

Ivy grows so fast, and never needs mowing. It stays green all year long

Answer 10

what about pursulaca ? it is pretty and can tolerate the heat very well .