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! Answer from wightwitch on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/nolawns › what's an alternative to lawn for high traffic areas?
r/NoLawns on Reddit: What's an alternative to lawn for high traffic areas?
September 3, 2022 -
I'm in CA and am trying to figure out what to do with my yard. I have kids who like to play there and would love something durable that's not grass for us to run around barefoot.
Any suggestions?
UPDATE: We hired a landscaper to start working on the yard, he ended up charging us more than was on the estimate due to unforseen work that we asked he consult us about before starting...which he didn't...then bailed when he was "offended" by my husband for "doubting his work". We still paid him what he asked for. All this to say, lesson learned, we're going to learn to DIY this shit to avoid any more unforeseen expenses...thank you all for your contribution!
University of Maryland Extension
extension.umd.edu › resource › lawn-alternatives
Lawn Alternatives | University of Maryland Extension
This group of grasses is recommended for shady conditions. Hard fescue and sheep fescue are the best of the fine fescues for full sun. Left unmowed in the summer months, fine fescues can grow to 4”+ and form a clumpy, windswept look.
Videos
06:38
Check out these fuss-free lawn alternatives | Garden Inspiration ...
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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
03:23
Best Lawn Alternatives for Australian Gardens - YouTube
10 Lawn Alternatives to Grass - Low Maintenance, Eco ...
Unl
byf.unl.edu › alternative-turf
Alternative Turf | Backyard Farmer | Nebraska
Uses: Ideal for shady, low-traffic areas and between stepping stones. Maintenance: Requires regular watering; occasional weeding and trimming. ... Benefits: Evergreen groundcover that thrives in shade. Tolerant of poor soil conditions. Uses: Perfect for shaded garden beds and as a lawn substitute in low-traffic areas.
What'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, 2022What’s the best ‘natural approach’ to having a front lawn in Australia today? Ground over plants etc It seems a little daunting if you want to also have an area where you can run around and do things with.
Feed your soil not the grass, have a blend of different lawn grasses, remove weeds by hand, accept others, mow often, use organic fertilisers. More on reddit.com
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February 13, 2023Need suggestions of what to plant in a high traffic area
I just toss down mulch anywhere the pups murder the grass. Keeps it from getting muddy but fine for their paws. More on reddit.com
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March 28, 2022High-Traffic Alternative for SoCal?
[Lippia](https://calscape.org/Phyla-nodiflora-()) is great and getting popular, though I'm pretty sure it still needs regular irrigation, just less than a lawn. There's commercial varieties, but tons of native nurseries carry it too
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April 1, 2019LawnLove
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.
Wisconsin Horticulture
hort.extension.wisc.edu › articles › alternatives-to-lawn-groundcovers
Alternatives to Lawn: Groundcovers – Wisconsin Horticulture
Groundcovers provide an excellent alternative for turfgrasses in shade and other tough areas in the landscape. Established groundcovers require relatively low maintenance, outcompete weeds, reduce soil erosion, provide habitat for pollinators, and enhance aesthetic beauty in the landscape. However, groundcovers are not ideal for all site locations and are not totally maintenance free. Unlike lawn, most groundcovers will not withstand heavy foot traffic very well.
Gardening Know How
gardeningknowhow.com › home › lawn care › lawn substitutes
High Traffic Landscaping Alternative To Grass - Kid Friendly Lawn Substitutes | Gardening Know How
July 20, 2022 - Planting different ground covering plants, such as dichondra, that have self-seeding flowers and kidney-shaped foliage is an option. Other plant alternatives are chamomile, which is mat-forming and has white aromatic flowers, or creeping thyme, ...
Blooming Backyard
bloomingbackyard.com › home › 11 no-mow alternatives to your grass lawn
11 No-Mow Alternatives to Your Grass Lawn
November 6, 2023 - The clover lawn doesn’t need mowing or fertilizing. In fact, it can act as a green fertilizer for other plants if you trim it down and use it as mulch or work it into the ground at the base of the other plants. Clover is a perennial, but it does need some reseeding every couple of years to fill in the gaps. This ground cover is the perfect choice for areas with high foot traffic...
SYNLawn
synlawn.com › home › articles › best high-traffic lawn alternatives
Best High Traffic Lawn Alternatives | SYNLawn
September 12, 2025 - High foot traffic ruining your lawn? Learn about the best grass alternatives, like grass blends, hardscaping, and synthetic turf for long-lasting durability.
The Old Farmer's Almanac
almanac.com › grass-alternatives-lawn-replacements
Grass Alternatives: 12 Low-Maintenance Lawn Replacements | Almanac.com
April 24, 2025 - Yes, this is grass, but not your traditional lawn grass. Fine fescue is an herbaceous perennial tufted grass that forms a lush green carpet in either full sun or partial shade. It forms a dense sod that withstands moderate foot traffic and inhibits weed growth. Plus, fescue is drought-tolerant and is “no-mow” (or no more than twice a year), so fescue seed is a sustainable alternative to the traditional high-resource lawn.
ABC News
abc.net.au › news › 2023-06-09 › lawn-turf-alternatives-to-grass-in-backyard › 102439920
Lawn isn't the only option: Ground cover alternatives to give your backyard a shake-up
June 9, 2023 - In high-use areas, it's best planted around some pavers or stepping stones. In heavy traffic areas you can use pavers and stepping stones with plants growing around them, like this native viola (Supplied: Vivid Design) "And it'll happily creep ...
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
news.maryland.gov › dnr › 2019 › 06 › 14 › lawn-alternatives
Lawn Alternatives
June 14, 2019 - It can tolerate shade but becomes sparse in growth. This sedge performs best in dry, acidic soil and can spread in the right conditions. The clumps of leaves are around eight inches tall. This sedge is clump forming and can be mowed around three inches high. It can withstand moderate foot traffic as well.
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 - "There are many varieties of moss that are hardy enough to walk on," says Bromley, making it versatile for properties with heavy foot traffic. How to Grow a Moss Lawn—a Low-Maintenance Grass Alternative That Thrives in Shady Yards
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › 302511393792359 › posts › 1563856384324514
Lawn alternatives for heavy foot traffic, including large ...
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Fine Gardening
finegardening.com › home › low-maintenance alternatives to lawns
Low-Maintenance Alternatives to Lawns - Fine Gardening
November 8, 2024 - If you don’t need a tough playing surface for kids and dogs, grass can be replaced with just about anything—trees, shrubs, perennials, edibles, patios, gazebos—but I chose to simply copy the look of a lawn using plants more to my liking.
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.
LawnLove
lawnlove.com › home › best ground covers for foot traffic
Best Ground Covers for Foot Traffic
March 26, 2025 - Whether you want to add texture to your landscape or combine tall and low-growing plants, Ajuga, beach strawberry, creeping thyme, sedum, and silver carpet lamb’s ears are some excellent ground covers for foot traffic.
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 - Here’s a look at a few groundcovers that would be happy to take over for your high-maintenance lawn: We know — you’ve spent a lot of time trying to get clover OUT of your lawn. Now we’re telling you: you can replace the whole lawn with it. Clover is tough as nails, thriving in sun to partial shade and needing no fertilizer. It will endure some foot traffic but not heavy running and playing, so it’s not suited to an active family.
Call +1-845-463-0592
Address 80 Airport Drive, 12590, Wappingers Falls
Yard and Garden
yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu › how-to › lawn-alternatives-turfgrass
Lawn Alternatives to Turfgrass | Yard and Garden
June 10, 2025 - These materials all work well to provide a low-maintenance alternative in areas with a lot of foot (or vehicle) traffic or areas that tend to be hot and dry. While gravel and patios are low-maintenance, that does not mean they are no maintenance. Regular weed control through hand-pulling or with herbicides will be necessary to eliminate the plants that emerge between the stones and cracks. Initial installation costs can be higher as you will need to purchase the stone or pavers as well as cover the costs to ship, deliver, and install them.
California Native Plant Society
cnps.org › home › stories › native grass alternatives to lawns
Native Grass Alternatives to Lawns - California Native Plant Society
January 24, 2025 - Based on personal experience, Red Fescue is the best option for a usable lawn, particularly the cultivar ‘Molate.’ It is remarkably tolerant of stressors such as foot traffic, pets, and rust.
City of Guelph
guelph.ca › home › living › house and home › lawn and garden › groundcovers and lawn alternatives
Groundcovers and lawn alternatives - City of Guelph
March 28, 2025 - effective grass alternative · resilient to heavy foot traffic and dog pee · low maintenance · prefers poorly-drained, fertile soil · attracts beneficial insects · A slow spreading mat that grows 7 to 15 centimetres (3 to 6 inches) tall, spreads 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) with white or yellow flowers in the spring. Lawn and garden ·