Lawn is the most widely irrigated crop in America, and it takes steady water, mowing and fertilizer to look its best. You don't have to give it up entirely, but replacing some of it can save time and water while feeding pollinators.
Low-input grasses
Buffalograss is a native turf for the Plains and Southwest that needs a fraction of the water of St. Augustine or bluegrass. It grows best in full sun and can go months between mowings.
Clover mixes
Microclover mixed into an existing lawn fixes its own nitrogen, stays green in dry spells and feeds bees. If you have kids running barefoot, keep in mind the flowers attract bees.
Walkable groundcovers
- Creeping thyme for sunny, well-drained spots and between stepping stones.
- Frogfruit for the South, a native that handles foot traffic and hosts butterflies.
- Sunshine mimosa in Florida and the Gulf Coast.
- Sedges like Pennsylvania and Texas sedge for dry shade where grass struggles.
- Horseherb under trees in Texas.
Meadows and beds
Converting a section of lawn to a native meadow or perennial bed does the most for wildlife. Start small, keep a mowed edge and path so it looks intentional, and check your HOA or city rules on plant height first.
Removing turf without chemicals
Sheet mulching is the easiest method: mow short, cover with overlapping cardboard, wet it, and top with 4 to 6 inches of mulch or compost. Plant through it the following season. In hot climates, clear plastic laid over moist soil for six to eight weeks of summer (solarization) also kills grass.
Browse "Groundcovers" and "Lawn grasses" in the plant explorer to see options for your climate.