Is a lush green lawn the right solution for your garden? Or are you better off opting for a low maintenance stone garden? The best choice is likely to depend on your lifestyle and budget.
This post compares the two forms of garden to help you select the right one. So if you're on the verge of choosing between lawn or stone garden for your home, here are some ideas to decide the best option for you!
Lawn vs. Stone Garden: Smart Gardening Ideas for Home to Choose the Best Yard Design
Source: Unsplash.
Why choose a lawn?
Natural lawns are good for the environment. The average lawn can produce enough oxygen per day to support a family of four, and could greatly help to combat local air pollution.
Lawns also support various insects, which in turn can feed birds and other wildlife, helping to promote local biodiversity.
If you have kids or pets, a lawn can also provide a soft surface for playing and doing other activities. Dogs may also prefer doing their business on a lawn than on a hard surface. This may give them a practical advantage for some people.
Finally, lawns look amazing when well-maintained. They bring a burst of green to your backyard and can help to create a relaxing atmosphere. A well manicured lawn may even add value to your home.
The drawbacks of a lawn
Source: Unsplash.
Lawns require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking good, which can put some people off.
They need to be mowed regularly throughout the year to prevent them from getting messy. During periods of drought, they also need to be watered regularly with a hose or sprinklers. Additional maintenance may also be required such as weeding, aeration, trimming edges and adding fertilizer.
On top of being time-consuming, lawn maintenance can cost a surprising amount of money. You need to buy all the tools and you need to power these tools: lawn mowers and strimmers typically run on petrol or electricity – both of which will cost you money.
Keeping your lawn watered in summer can meanwhile greatly add to your water bill. Harvesting rainwater could be a solution to this, but you may not be able to rely entirely on rainwater to feed your lawn.
Why choose a stone garden?
Source: Unsplash.
Stone gardens require a lot less maintenance to keep them looking good. Such gardens usually consist of a mix of gravel and paving slabs.
While you may need to rake gravel occasionally and sweep/wash patio paving occasionally, this is a lot less work than maintaining a lawn. Weeds may still be a problem if you don’t lay down a weed membrane beneath, however using a battery powered weed eater, you can easily get rid of any pesky weeds.
You can still grow plants in a stone garden in pots and beds. As a result, a stone garden can still attract wildlife and help combat local air pollution via oxygen produced by plants – it just won’t have as much impact on local air quality as a lawn.
The drawbacks of a stone garden
The hard surface of a stone garden is not ideal if you have kids or pets that want to play outside. There may be a greater risk of kids falling over and getting hurt, while some dogs may not want to relieve themselves on a hard surface.
A stone garden can also cost more upfront than a lawn. Those looking for a budget-friendly way to transform their garden may find that laying more grass is cheaper than investing in paving slabs.
That said, gravel can be quite cheap (depending on the type of gravel you buy). Just be wary that a gravel garden may not add much value to your home. In fact, a lack of lawn or paving may deter some buyers and devalue your home.
Which is the best option for your home?
Source: Unsplash.
A lawn is generally the best option for those who have pets or kids. It is also a good option for those who want to add value to their home.
On top of this, it could be a good option for those who want to protect their local environment. Just consider the fact that some lawn care methods – like using a petrol mower and chemical lawn products – may cancel out any green benefits of having a lawn.
A stone garden is the best option for those that want a low maintenance solution. You do not need to worry about mowing or watering grass, which could save you a lot of time – and potentially money in the long run.
Be prepared to invest more money upfront when creating an attractive stone garden – high quality paving may help to add value to your home even if it’s not as much as a lawn.
Disclaimer:
This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.
