Which Lawn Is Right For You?

Whether compelled by tradition, keeping up with the Joneses, or the joy of spending time outdoors, 69 percent of U.S. homeowners do their own yardwork, and maintain 40,000 square miles of lawn. Mowing, blowing, raking, weeding... the list of tasks is long?but it doesn't have to be. To illustrate the point, Julie Bargmann, a New York?based landscape architect, sketched three versions of a typical ?-acre residential lot for Popular Mechanics, from high- to low-maintenance. (Full disclosure: She's my sister.) "A lot of chemicals and water are used to get 'perfect' yards," Bargmann says. "But there are alternatives. It can be liberating to apply a less labor-intensive aesthetic to your personal outdoor space."

Other landscape experts we consulted share this sentiment. They say that reducing yardwork involves shrinking lawn size, increasing your plant palette, and using less water and chemicals. "A sustainable landscape can mean spending fewer hours on the yard," according to Judy Nauseef, a landscape designer from Iowa City, Iowa.

Here's a look at a few options.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/lawn-garden/which-lawn-is-right-for-you?src=rss

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