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If you’ve wandered into a home improvement store lately, it might have occurred to you that we go to an awful lot of trouble to maintain grass. Weed killer, new seed, constant mowing, and all for a wide expanse of green. In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog, it isn’t easy being — or staying — green.

Whether you’re looking to conserve water or just mix things up, Care2’s Diane MacEachern has eight alternatives to the traditional lawn you can try this spring.

Just check with the HOA before investing in a landscape designer.

1) Vegetable garden – If you have enough sun to grow grass, you definitely have enough sun to grow a garden. Dig up the sod, till some rich organic compost into the soil, and plant the vegetables you want to eat. It’s a great way to ensure you’re getting totally local and organic produce for the cost of seeds and water for the plants. If you put in raised beds, you’ll significantly reduce weeding, and it will be easier to pick your harvest when it’s ready. Even if you live in a colder climate, you should be able to grow food three seasons of the year. Talk with your county extension agent or local garden shop to learn what you can plant when.

2) Flower beds – Wouldn’t you rather look at a bank of beautiful flowers than a boring old lawn?  Plant some flowers you’ll leave to enjoy, and others you want to cut and bring into your home. You can also put in “theme” flower beds. For example, have one bed designed specifically to attract butterflies, another for flowers like sunflowers that the birds will love. Plant perennial flowers, which will bloom year after year, but keep pots of annuals ready to fill in when one part of the garden is finished blooming.

Full story at Care2.

Gardening for any space.

Graphics credit: Canva