I can't say definitively but a great many visitors 100s have visited this sub asking for something that'll stand up to dogs etc. The answer is always that there isn't anything. so shift to converting a section to a pollinator garden etc. you can also consider mixing in some clover with the grass as fodder for the bees but that's about it. Answer from jeffreyd00 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/nolawns › q: are there any plants that are *more* walkable than lawn grass?
r/NoLawns on Reddit: Q: are there any plants that are *more* walkable than lawn grass?
May 29, 2023 -
I have a chance to convince some city officials to replace some of the lawn grass in a local park with some other plants. The problem is, the entire area must be open for people, and possibly dogs, to walk on. As far as any of us can tell, for all it's downsides, lawn grass is the single best plant at surviving foot traffic.
Can anyone counter that argument with examples of other plants, even other grasses, that demonstrably handle foot traffic at least as well as lawn grass does? Huge, huge bonus points if you can point me to a book, study, or even just an internet article that backs up your claim, because showing my research will be the key to winning over the park officials. Thanks!
EDIT: The location is Washington DC, USDA zone 7A.
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I can't say definitively but a great many visitors 100s have visited this sub asking for something that'll stand up to dogs etc. The answer is always that there isn't anything. so shift to converting a section to a pollinator garden etc. you can also consider mixing in some clover with the grass as fodder for the bees but that's about it.
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I have a mixture of grass and clover for my yard and I have a dog that runs around and plays a lot of fetch. The clover doesn't brown in the middle of summer like the grass does and it is way better to lay on. I think even convincing them to include white clover in their grass mix would help out.
The Old Farmer's Almanac
almanac.com › grass-alternatives-lawn-replacements
Grass Alternatives: 12 Low-Maintenance Lawn Replacements | Almanac.com
April 24, 2025 - You can even go 100% clover for no grass, using white, or Dutch, clover. Clover makes an ideal turfgrass substitute because it needs little mowing, stays green all season long, and makes its own fertilizer! See more about establishing a clover lawn here. If you are looking to replace a large section of lawn with pollinator-friendly plants, try clover. If you’re looking for more of a lawn replacement that’s softer, fully walkable, and playable, check out Microclover—a newer, low-growing variety without blooms (i.e., no bees).
Videos
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Best Lawn Alternatives for Hot Climates - YouTube
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Five Best Lawn Alternatives (Ground Cover) with Sarah - YouTube
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3 Sustainable Lawn Alternatives (for Cold Climates) - YouTube
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Check out these fuss-free lawn alternatives | Garden Inspiration ...
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Dymondia (Silver Carpet) makes an amazing Lawn Alternative Ground ...
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Drought-Friendly Lawn Alternatives: Sara’s Top Picks for a ...
Fine Gardening
finegardening.com › home › low-maintenance alternatives to lawns
Low-Maintenance Alternatives to Lawns - Fine Gardening
November 8, 2024 - The most grasslike plant I’ve experimented with is lilyturf (Liriope spicata and cvs.). Definitely in the “thug” category, lilyturf is best planted alone and in controlled sites.
Low maintenance, walkable grass lawn alternatives?
I sowed clover into my lawn to help suppress the grass and because I dislike mono-culture on principle. I've also planted an area of 'lawn' with yarrow, primrose and ox-eye daisy, plus there's nasturtiums self seeding near where I had brassicas last year, and will let them spread as they 'naturalise'. I still need to mow (though to be more accurate I strim) twice a year - once about this time of year and once at the end of the season. More on reddit.com
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January 2, 2025What's an alternative to lawn for high traffic areas?
A clover lawn might be a good idea? I’m not sure what’s native to your area, but a good nursery could tell you! More on reddit.com
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September 3, 2022Q: are there any plants that are *more* walkable than lawn grass?
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May 29, 2023Grass alternatives?
Depending on how much lawn you have right now and how patchy it is, I’d say give it a year of low maintenance care and then decide what you’d like to do. Maybe you’ll find that you enjoy taking care of the lawn (this was me… when we moved in neither of us could care less). Maybe you’ll realize you need a french drain and have to tear up a bunch of spots. Maybe you notice that the lawn looks stellar in one singular section and you’d like to keep it while digging out the rest. Etc. Lawn care can be easy and you’ll actually have a nice looking lawn. The requirements are: (1) mow once per week and (2) keep the lawn getting about 1” of water per week (rain can satisfy that need, so keep track of when you get any days of 0.25” or more and deduct from how much you need to water). That’s it! If you’d like to do more, you’ll find edging to make a very noticeable improvement. Then weed prevention and mitigation. Neither of these are required, but can take an 80% good looking lawn up to 90%. Then if you still enjoy your lawn in the Fall, you can “overseed” and help your lawn fill in to be more thick (which itself acts as a weed preventative). Good luck! More on reddit.com
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April 13, 2022Facebook
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Epic Gardening
epicgardening.com › home › 13 grass alternatives you can walk on
13 Grass Alternatives You Can Walk On
April 14, 2025 - Clover lawns are replacing grass ones throughout the country! You can easily walk on these grass alternatives as a lush, drought-tolerant lawn. Clovers may naturally creep into the space or sprout from seeds you intentionally plant.
BBB Seed
bbbseed.com › grass-alternatives
6 Sustainable Grass Alternatives That Look Fantastic
June 23, 2025 - Moss as Ground Cover: Ideal for shaded areas under trees or along walkways where grass struggles to grow. Moss Terrariums: Build miniature ecosystems in glass containers with moss, rocks, and small plants for indoor decoration.
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Penn State
extension.psu.edu › lawn alternatives
Lawn Alternatives
Where recreational activity is not a priority, sedges and no-mow grasses are alternatives that mimic the uniform green of a lawn. No-mow grass varieties are fine fescue blends that once established require little supplemental water or fertilizer.
Facebook
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What are some native grass alternatives for lawns in North ...
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Elemental
elemental.green › home › outdoors › good to know outdoors › 10 easy, low-maintenance lawn alternatives
10 Easy, Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives
February 15, 2025 - And there are plenty of options—everything from red clover as an eco-friendly lawn alternative and managed meadows to ornamental grasses and flower beds, all sharing sustainability as a common denominator.
California Native Plant Society
cnps.org › home › stories › alternatives to lawns
Alternatives to Lawns - California Native Plant Society
January 24, 2025 - Although an herbal lawn made of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) (for sun) or yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii) (for shade) has the same down-sides as any monoculture, it is more drought tolerant than a turfgrass lawn, and doesn’t require weekly ...
Wisconsin Horticulture
hort.extension.wisc.edu › articles › alternatives-to-lawn-groundcovers
Alternatives to Lawn: Groundcovers – Wisconsin Horticulture
Groundcover plants are low growing perennials that spread by trailing stems and cover an area of the ground. Groundcovers provide an excellent alternative for turfgrasses in shade and other tough areas in the landscape.
The Home Depot
homedepot.com › diy projects & ideas › outdoor living ideas › lawn & landscaping ideas & projects
8 Grass Alternatives for Lawns - The Home Depot
September 7, 2023 - In this guide, you'll learn eight alternatives to traditional grass lawns, including ground covers, wildflower meadows and clover lawns. Two points to keep in mind: timing and scale.
Martha Stewart
marthastewart.com › 8116129 › grass-lawn-alternatives
12 Alternatives to a Traditional Grass Lawn—and Why You Should Consider Making the Switch
September 17, 2021 - Add dimension and texture to your ... you can walk on," says Bromley. Popular varieties include sedum, creeping thyme, dichondra, Corsican mint, and chamomile, among others....
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LawnLove
lawnlove.com › home › types of no-mow grass alternatives
Types of No-Mow Grass Alternatives
March 26, 2025 - Some types of no-mow grass alternatives include clover, creeping phlox, lamb’s ear, Kurapia, moss, stonecrop, and xeriscaping.
SYNLawn
synlawn.com › home › articles › best high-traffic lawn alternatives
Best High Traffic Lawn Alternatives | SYNLawn
September 12, 2025 - Synthetic turf has become a leading choice for a long-lasting, maintenance-free lawn alternative. Modern artificial grass, in particular, looks and feels more realistic than ever, making it a practical solution for high-traffic areas.
Garden Design
gardendesign.com › eco-friendly › lawn-alternatives.html
Eco-Friendly Lawn & Grass Alternatives | Garden Design
October 25, 2024 - To simulate the look of lawn using less water and no mowing, use ground-hugging plants such as small sedges, succulents, and walkable groundcovers. These plants can be used to define narrow side yards, edge pathways, in between pavers, in curbside ...
Ergeon
ergeon.com › blog › post › grass-alternatives
Grass Alternatives for Low-Maintenance Lawn Landscaping
March 5, 2024 - Here are some grass alternatives ideas, from ground covers to native plants and creative landscaping solutions. Ground covers are an excellent option for homeowners seeking alternatives to traditional grass lawns.
Houzz
houzz.com › magazine › inspiring-alternatives-to-the-traditional-lawn-stsetivw-vs~93296611
Inspiring Alternatives to the Traditional Lawn
In areas where there are ordinances restricting what you can do with your front yard, you will need to work within those, or coordinate with local authorities to show them how your ideas will work. Find a landscape designer on Houzz ... Creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) is a cool-season grass native to North America that has a silky appearance when left unmown. Alternative Grasses While they can’t take the foot traffic of a conventional lawn, a number of no- or low-mow grass blends and native grasses can be used to provide a similar visual appearance.
Neave Outdoor
neavegroup.com › blog › lawn-care › 12-low-maintenance-lawn-alternatives-in-new-york-and-connecticut
12 Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives In New York And Connecticut - Neave Outdoor
March 26, 2024 - These include chamomile, which has fern-like foliage and white flowers with yellow centers; Corsican mint, which thrives in shade and exudes a minty smell, and you can munch on it or steep it for tea; and assorted thymes, which feature dainty flowers and work well between pavers or as a low-mounding carpet. Choose spicy orange thyme or creeping lemon thyme and you’ll soon say, “Lawn? What lawn?” ... Sedges have grass-like leaves and grow in clumps.
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