Yard & Garden: 6 Pointers to Mow Less

Wouldn’t it be a great summer if your lawn would cut itself?
  
 It seems that too many of us spend too much of our valuable time clipping the grass or fussing over those annoying bald or brown patches that we wish were grass.

Not to worry. Grass is only one of many landscape elements. Here are a half-dozen tips for mowing less, giving you more time to enjoy summer.

1. Grass is essentially a ground cover, so try another ground cover such as vinca for less sunny spots, or a prairie grass like fescue for sunny areas.

2. Design a quiet resting spot with mulch and a bench at wood’s edge. Landscape-quality shredded bark mulch or rock mulch is available in a variety of textures and colors.

3. A few flat stones like Chilton flagstone are a great accent and will create a landing for a bench overlooking the lake or adjacent to a bed of flowers.

4. Open, sunny spots are great places to start a prairie or desert garden. Many of the plants native to your area will have interesting texture.

5. A few well-placed plant beds with consideration for evergreen shrubs or fragrant shrubs of varying heights and textures make a nice addition to your easy landscaping.

6. Walkways are usually undersized. Don’t be afraid to take more space from the yard for a wider walk or a larger plant bed.

    So, downsize your grassy areas. Spend summer with family and friends enjoying the lake, the sunny warm breezes, and cool evenings – but not the lawn mower!

– Pine to Prairie Landscapes Inc.

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