How to Landscape a Yard Without Grass

Landscaping is a great way to bring life into your home and boost your curb appeal, which also increases your home’s market value. Well-maintained grass is the foundation of a good landscape, creating a lush green look that livens up a dull yard.

But what if you need to landscape a yard without grass? No worries. We’re going to answer that question and more. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

• Take the First Step
• Tips to Landscape a Shaded Yard 
• Tips to Landscape a Yard With Poor Soil 
• Tips to Landscape a Drought-Tolerant Yard 
  • Xeriscaping for Drought-Tolerant Yards
• Final Thoughts
• Related Resources
• Need More Help?

Take the First Step

The first step to landscape a yard without grass is pinpointing why you can’t grow grass in the first place. The most common causes include: 

• Your yard is too shaded and doesn’t get enough sun to support the growth of greeneries
• The soil quality is poor, lacks nutrients, or is not suitable for the type of plants you’re growing
• Your yard is drought-tolerant

If one of these is your problem, don’t worry. Here are our tips on how to landscape a yard without grass based on all three of these issues.

Tips to Landscape a Shaded Yard

Shaded yards can’t grow regular grass because of the lack of sunshine. If your yard is located in an area that doesn’t get too much sun, choose plants that don’t require regular sunlight. There are a variety of shade-loving plants you can plant in your yard, such as: 

• Red-Twig Dogwood: Shade-tolerant red branches with rich green foliage. Its height makes it suitable as a border plant. 
• Climbing Hydrangea: A climbing vine that can grow as much as 60 feet long. It’s best grown beside structures like walls and fences. 
• Northern Sea Oats: Ornamental grass that can grow 2- to 5-feet tall, which can be used to fill bald areas on your landscape. 
• Fine Fescue Lawn Grasses: Turf-type grass that can grow in shady areas. This can serve as your ground cover.  
• Other native plants: Look for forest-dwelling plants in your area that are low maintenance and can grow in shade. 

When landscaping a shaded yard, add some shade-loving greeneries for your groundcover, paths, sitting areas, etc. It’s also good to add a mix of low-lying plants, taller plants, native plants, as well as those with attractive foliage. 

Tips to Landscape a Yard With Poor Soil

There are different classifications of soil, and your soil type dictates what kind of plants you can grow in your yard.

The reason you can’t grow anything in your yard is probably that you’re growing the wrong plants for your soil type or your soil is low on nutrients. Try growing perennials that aren’t sensitive to soil type and health. There are a lot of plants that can grow even on poor soil, such as: 

• BlackJack Sedum: An easy-to-grow plant that thrives well in poor soil. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and blossom with flowers up to 8 inches wide. They do well in partial shade but thrive better in sunlight. They create a good accent for your yard. 
• Bleeding Hearts: An accent plant that will add a romantic aura to your landscape, bleeding hearts are heritage plants that can grow 6 inches to 2 feet tall and prefer shaded areas for growth. They thrive well even in poor soil. 
• Gaillardia Fanfare: Despite being suited for poor soil, this plant can grow unique and brilliantly colored blossoms. They can grow up to 2 feet in height and require lots of sunlight. 
• Lenten Roses: These grow well in poor soil, heat, drought, humidity, and cold. They can grow up to 2 feet tall even in shaded areas, making them a good option for landscape borders. 
• Oregon Grape: Ideal to use as a hedge or tall border in your yard, these plants can grow 2 to 4 feet tall and grow shiny, lush green leaves. They also grow small white flowers in the summer that turn into berries. 
• Periwinkle: A plant with leafy stems and star-shaped blossoms in the colors of blue, pink, and white. They are great for creeping ground cover since they spread across the ground instead of growing up. They also prefer shaded areas and can thrive in poor soil. 

Tips to Landscape a Drought-Tolerant Yard

If you live in an area that is extremely dry and doesn’t get enough rain, your priority is to conserve as much water as you can. There are ways you can save water while maintaining your landscape. One is through xeriscaping techniques. 

Xeriscaping for Drought-Tolerant Yards

Xeriscaping is the act of prioritizing water efficiency in landscaping. It is a technique that’s suitable for drought-prone areas. Xeriscaping techniques help by using the least amount of water possible.

You can use xeriscaping techniques to conserve water and help your landscape thrive in drought-prone areas. Here are some effective ways to get started. 

• Amend the soil and work with compost and organic matter to improve the soil’s ability to retain water.
• Mulch the plants to keep moisture in the soil and slow down evaporation.
• Select the right plants that can withstand drought conditions, such as cacti, succulents, ornamental grasses, and inorganic mulch. 
• Group the plants according to similar water needs to program your irrigation system more efficiently.
• Reduce turf grass, which coincidentally reduces the need for frequent watering. 
• Water in the morning when it is cooler and there’s a lesser chance for evaporation. 
• Install a moisture-sensing device that automatically turns the sprinklers on when the soil is dry.
• Get rid of harmful weeds that compete with your plants for moisture.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to landscape a yard without grass involves a blend of creativity, planning, and regular maintenance. By focusing on diverse plant options, alternative ground covers, and eliminating weeds that compete for moisture, you can transform your outdoor space into a vibrant, low-maintenance oasis.

Remember, knowing how to landscape a yard without grass opens up a world of possibilities for creating a home that reflects your personal style and environmental consciousness.

Related Resources

• Landscaping Page
• The ultimate guide on landscaping ideas for driveways
• Everything you need to know about landscape lighting
• When to install landscape lighting
• Small yard design: different configurations for tiny spaces
• Landscaping ideas for office buildings
• Designing a pocket garden to read and relax
• 10 reasons to use a landscape designer
• How to landscape a yard without grass
• Get a free estimate form

Need More Help?

Need a pro to help you landscape your grassless yard? Just contact American Landscapes here for a free, no-obligation estimate. Or call us at (513) 947-8727.

You can also learn more about our lawn care applications and treatments, landscaping, and outdoor lighting services by reading our blog. In addition to fertilizer and weed control, we provide mosquito control, lawn aeration, lawn seeding, and much more.