Exchange mowing for lounging in an outdoor oasis with natural plantings, seating niches, or garden beds.
Your backyard is an extension of your living spaceonly its in the fresh air.
Here are some inviting inspirations for no-mow landscaping.
Credit: Jamie Hadley
This family did just that by installing a beautiful outdoor seating area surrounded by planting beds.
Awide garden path around a fountainfurther reduces lawn space.
The last remaining strips of grass are easily tamed with a push mower in just a few minutes.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Also, plan easy entry and exit for all seats.
Astone retaining wallkeeps the slope in place and frames a bed of colorful plants.
A water feature takes advantage of the slope to create a waterfall effect.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Widen a Path
Highlight a no-grass backyard lifestyle and add more living space by widening garden paths.
Here, an extra-widepath of flagstonesleads to a spacious patio.
If an outdoor gathering requires more room, the pathway blocks are large enough to comfortablyaccommodate additional seating.
Tufts of green soften paths of geometric concrete pavers and gravel. Although the plants vary from grasslike sedge, clipped boxwood, and fuzzy lamb’s-ear, they share a similar sphere-like shape.Credit: Holly Lepere
Create a four-foot-wide pathway to the main patio area to allow two people to walk side by side comfortably.
Spread Out
Don’t skimp on size whenadding a deckor patio.
Swim, Don’t Mow
Evensmall backyardscan be transformed to feel like a luxury resort.
Credit: Dan Piassick
In this suburban backyard, the lawn was replaced with anin-ground swimming poolthat ties together four small entertaining areas.
What was once a labor-intensive lawn is now the centerpiece for family fun.
But help came when the homeowners replaced the tired turf with agravel courtyardpunctuated with circular concrete pavers.
Credit: Shaun Sullivan
A welcoming and low-maintenance yard that looks as inviting from ground level as it does from above.
Acomposite deckanchors the opposite end of the yard.
Sheared evergreens, lush bamboo, andsmall trees add greenery to the spacewhile also providing shade and additional privacy.
Credit: Bob Stefko
A tree doesnt have to be large to stand outchoosing the right placement as a focal point is key.
Mix Materials
Small spaces don’t have to look crampedif you’re clever about mixing paving materials.
In addition, the two small patios are separated by a strip of concrete.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
It creates the illusion that the area has doubled in size.
Here, a shady, muddy backyard was given dry footing with the addition of alarge raised deck.
This no-grass backyard idea adds entertaining space.
Credit: David Tsay
Eliminating mowing andweeding choreswill allow more time to relax with family and friends in your no-mow backyard.
Plan for Family Fun
Removing the lawn isn’t enough toturn your backyard into a relaxing retreat.
Think about how you want to use the space and build the landscape around your family’s needs.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Drought-tolerant plants need good drainage.
Add grit or pea gravel to heavy soil to prevent waterlogging.
Let Mother Nature take its course and allow plants and trees to grow within theirorganic shape.
Credit: Werner Straube
This homeowner avoided straight lines and hard edges encouraging her shrubs and perennials to spill onto the stone pathway.
As a result, the upkeep is minimal, and the garden looks like it sprung up naturally.
verify to consider what each of thedifferent seasonsoffers in your backyard to make the most of them.
Credit: Dana Gallagher
They also included aportable fire pitto warm up chilly nights.
Credit: Marion Brenner
A custom firepit, made from a repurposed industrial propane tank and filled with crushed clear glass, sits at the center of the outdoor living room. A gravel frame ties the firepit to the rest of the yard.Credit: Holly Lepere
Credit: Bob Stefko
Credit: Bob Stefko
