Geographic Alternatives to Lawns

The Great Plains

Open space? Yes. Open lawn? Not necessary.

The plains have plenty of natural beauty—but the standard American lawn isn’t really part of it. Lawns here often rely on irrigation and imported grass types that aren’t suited to the region’s semi-arid climate and strong winds.

What to do instead:

• Tap into your prairie roots—literally. Use deep-rooted natives like switchgrass, black-eyed Susan, and echinacea.
• Try windbreaks of native shrubs or trees, like serviceberry or chokecherry.
• Add wildflower strips for pollinators and visual impact.

Shrinking your lawn here helps restore vital prairie ecosystems—and can actually look more open and natural than turf ever could.

Too much grass + too much mowing = too much hassle.

Midwestern summers are humid, and the growing season is long—which means your lawn doesn’t quit. That sounds nice until you realize you’re spending every Saturday pushing a mower. Plus, excessive fertilization and watering in this region contribute to nutrient runoff into waterways, like the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico (caused in part by Midwestern fertilizer runoff).

What to do instead:

• Incorporate prairie plants like coneflowers, little bluestem, and bee balm that are colorful, low-maintenance, and pollinator-friendly.
  
• Try “no-mow” fescue lawns or mix in clover, which naturally fertilizes the soil.
• Create a rain garden to soak up stormwater and reduce runoff.
  

Think of it as restoring a bit of the prairie or wetland that once blanketed your region—with way less mowing.

The seasons are dramatic—your lawn doesn’t have to be.

With four distinct seasons, Northeastern lawns take a beating. Lawns often struggle to recover, so homeowners throw down synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to help them bounce back.

What to do instead:

• Create pollinator gardens with goldenrod, joe-pye weed, and asters.
• Mix in clover for green coverage that feeds the bees and your soil.
• Consider letting part of your yard go wild—the fall foliage will look even better with a wild backdrop.

Your garden can evolve with the seasons—and still be gorgeous without the turf tantrums.

Rain is your friend. But grass still needs work.

Sure, it rains here—but lawns still need summer irrigation to stay green when the dry months hit. Plus, mold, moss, and soggy soil mean that many lawns struggle to look their best without a lot of extra care (and chemicals).

What to do instead:

• Embrace lush native groundcovers like kinnikinnick, salal, or Oregon grape.
• Use moss deliberately! It’s green, needs no mowing, and thrives in your damp shade.
• Turn parts of your yard into forest-inspired gardens with ferns, huckleberries, and vine maples.

You’ll save water and time—and your garden will fit right in with the misty forests.

The grass grows fast—and the bugs do, too.

In the Southeast, everything grows fast, including your grass, weeds, and thatch. Combine that with humidity, and you’ve got a recipe for fungal diseases, pests, and a near-constant battle to keep things tidy. Many homeowners lean heavily on chemical treatments, which harm waterways and wildlife.

What to do instead:

• Plant natives like muhly grass, milkweed, or coreopsis.
• Incorporate edible landscaping—banana trees, citrus, rosemary, or sweet potatoes.
• Replace turf with mulch pathways, raised beds, or wildflower meadows.

Your yard will still be vibrant and tropical—but with less fertilizer and more butterflies.

The lawn here is a water hog in a desert masquerade.

Water is gold in the Southwest—and lawns act like they’ve got an unlimited supply. With record droughts and climate change, this region is ground zero for water-wise landscaping. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, large parts of the Southwest are under chronic drought conditions. Yet many homes still maintain thirsty grass that needs thousands of gallons per year to survive.

What to do instead:

• Go xeriscape! Think cactus, agave, yucca, and stunning gravel designs.
• Use native grasses like blue grama or buffalo grass—tough, drought-tolerant, and beautiful.
• Replace turf with decomposed granite or mulch.

Bonus: Cities like Las Vegas will literally pay you to rip out your lawn. The Southern Nevada Water Authority offers rebates of $3 per square foot for turf removal.