Spring is here, and your grass is reaping the benefits of whatever soil amendments you’ve made to ensure it gets the nutrients it needs. This may be lime amendments meant to decrease the pH of acidic soil, or it could be fertilizers meant to feed your grass by the roots. Unfortunately, it takes time to get a soil test and for amendments to take effect. If you aren’t able to wait, there are alternatives to amendments, but they aren’t a perfect substitute.
5 Alternatives to Amendments
- Raised Beds. The first alternative to a grassy front lawn is to install raised garden beds. This allows you to import nutrient-rich soil to your property and plant above your land. Raised beds can become colorful masterpieces of color when planted with flowers, or they can be useful food producers.
- Desert Landscape. If your soil is that bad, turn it into a beautiful desert. This means decorative rocks and plants that require very little nutrients or water. If your house is the right style, this can be very aesthetically pleasing.
- Astro Turf. The word is an abomination to many grass lovers, but it is an option. Astro turf comes in many realistic-looking options, and it doesn’t care what your soil is like.
- Patio and Pots. A fun and eclectic way to complete your front yard without focusing on a lawn it to fill it with potted plants and turn it into a patio. You’ll still enjoy your time outdoors, but you won’t be dealing with struggling grass.
- Gravel Landscaping. Lastly, gravel landscaping designs are a clean and simple way to enhance the look of your property without dealing with soil amendments. It is basically the opposite of lawn care because you don’t have to do anything with it once it is created (within reason), but it looks better than a dead lawn.
Bad Soil? Alternatives to Amendments Won’t Exactly Substitute
The alternatives listed above are not perfect substitutes. If you want a lush, green lawn, you should take the time to do it the right way and amend your soil. However, if you aren’t sold on having a greenway and looking for an alternative, many people are happy with these substitutes. When you are thinking about landscaping, lawns add beautiful texture and color. They are also great for recreation, barbecues, and for simply walking around barefoot. If you can’t have a lawn because of your soil, there are other options.
Have questions about your lawn?
Greenfeet Lawncare Provides Service to the Following Areas.
770-619-2929
North Fulton, East Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth Counties - including Alpharetta, Canton, Cobb, Cumming, Dunwoody, Gwinnett, Johns Creek, Marietta, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs
