Native Lawn Alternatives

Kill Your Lawn!

There are various techniques for converting a lawn into a native planting. Some prefer sheet-mulching, others prefer solarization, while others are partial to herbicides (both organic and conventional). Whichever method you use, you'll still end up with the same result and that is a fresh bed to create a brand new native planting!

Spring is a great time to kill off sections of your lawn and transition it into a native garden. It is the perfect time to smother the lawn (and any weeds within it) as it emerges from dormancy, while the increasing temperatures also aid in both solarization and herbicide treatments.

While any lawn can be transitioned and planted out with any variety of native species, we decided to focus particularly on the front lawn. We feel there is no need to conceal this native plant movement to our back yards, especially when there are so many great native options for including with a Native Lawn Alternative. These plantings can be more traditional, including one or two grassy species that are formally mowed once or twice a year, or they can be diverse meadows of low-growing grasses, sedges, and wildflowers that will provide a myriad of ornamental colors and textures while being highly functional ecologically. Below, you will find our top recommendations for the latter, including species that remain under 2 feet tall, species that can handle foot-traffic, and those that can handle the blades of a mower - if you're into that sort of thing.

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Grasses, Sedges, Rushes

"Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses have knees that bend to the ground."

	Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) Long Island Native, Great for Dry-Shade Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium Sun Exposure: Partial, Shade Height: 6" - 1' Bloom Color: Green Bloom Time: Apr, May, June Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Light Foot Traffic, Mowing
	Short-beaked Sedge (Carex brevior) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium, Medium-Wet Sun Exposure: Sun-Part Shade Height: 6" - 1' Bloom Color: Green Bloom Time: Apr, May Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Light Foot Traffic, Mowing
	Bicknell's Sedge (Carex bicknellii) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium, Medium-Wet Sun Exposure: Sun-Part Shade Height: 1'-3' Bloom Color: Green Bloom Time: May Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Light Foot Traffic, Mowing
	Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium, Medium-Wet Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 1'-2' Bloom Color: Red, Tan Bloom Time: July, August Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Salt, Heavy Foot Traffic
	Side-Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun *Endangered within NYS Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium, Medium-Wet Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 1'-3' Bloom Color: Green, Tan Bloom Time: July Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Mowing, Black Walnut, Salt
	Greene's Rush (Juncus greenei) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium, Medium-Wet Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 1'-2' Bloom Color: Green, Tan Bloom Time: May-July Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Light Foot Traffic
	Path Rush (Juncus tenuis) Long Island Native, Great for Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand Soil Moisture: Wet, Moist, Medium-Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 6-24" Bloom Color: Green, Tan Bloom Time: June-August Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Heavy Foot Traffic
	Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) Midwest Native, Relative of Sideoats Grama Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 4-6" Bloom Color: Green, Tan Bloom Time: June-August Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes, forms Turf Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Heavy Foot Traffic, Mowing
	Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) Native to East & West Coasts Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 1-2' Bloom Color: Yellow, Red Bloom Time: July Spacing: 6" - 1' Naturalizes via: Rhizomes, forms Turf Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Heavy Foot Traffic, Mowing
	Northern Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) NYS Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, San, Rocky Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 2-4' Bloom Color: Green, Tan Bloom Time: August-September Spacing: 24" Naturalizes via: Seed Benefits: Deer Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Wind

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Flowering Perennials

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow..."

	Birds Foot Violet (Viola pedata) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Height: 3" Bloom Color: Purple Bloom Time: April, May, June Spacing: 4-6" Naturalizes via: Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Light Foot Traffic
	Common Blue Violet (Viola sorroria) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Moist, Dry Sun Exposure: Part Shade Height: 4-6" Bloom Color: Purple Bloom Time: April, May, June Spacing: 6-8" Naturalizes via: Rhizome, Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Light Foot Traffic
	Field Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) Long Island Native, Great for Poor Soil Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Height: 6-12" Bloom Color: White Bloom Time: April, May, June Spacing: 6-8" Naturalizes via: Rhizome, Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Light Foot Traffic
	Beardtongues (Penstemon hirsutus, Penstemon pallidus) Long Island Natives Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Moist, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Height: 18" Bloom Color: Purple Bloom Time: May, June Spacing: 10-12" Naturalizes via: Rhizome, Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Salt, Drought
	Maryland Golden Aster (Chrysopsis mariana) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Medium, Dy Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Height: 1-2.5' Bloom Color: Yellow Bloom Time: August-October Spacing: 12" Naturalizes via: Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Salt
	Hyssop-leaved Boneset (Eupatorium hyssopifolium) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Moist, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Height: 1-2' Bloom Color: White Bloom Time: August-October Spacing: 1-3' Naturalizes via: Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Salt, Black Walnut
	Forked Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade Height: 12-24" Bloom Color: Yellow Bloom Time: August-October Spacing: 12" Naturalizes via: Seeds (Annual) Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Salt
	Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun Height: 24-36" Bloom Color: White Bloom Time: June-September Spacing: 12-24" Naturalizes via: Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Salt
	Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca, Fragaria virginiana) Long Island Natives Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky, Clay Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun - Part Shade Height: 6" Bloom Color: White Bloom Time: April-May Spacing: 12-24" Naturalizes via: Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Salt, Erosion
	Silver Rod (Solidago bicolor) Long Island Native, Great for dry sun! Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Medium, Moist Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Shade Height: 12-24" Bloom Color: Yellow Bloom Time: May-June Spacing: 12" Naturalizes via: Rhizomes, Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Erosion
	Golden Groundsel (Packera aurea) Long Island Native, suppresses weeds! Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay Soil Moisture: Medium, Moist Sun Exposure: Full Sun - Shade Height: 1-2' Bloom Color: Yellow Bloom Time: May-June Spacing: 12-24" Naturalizes via: Rhizomes, Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Black Walnut
	Stiff-leaved Aster (Ionactus linariifolius) Long Island Native, Great for Dry Sun Long Island Native, suppresses weeds! Cultural Details Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Rocky Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry Sun Exposure: Full Sun - Partial Shade Height: 12" Bloom Color: Blue-Purple Bloom Time: August-October Spacing: 10-12" Naturalizes via: Rhizomes, Seeds Benefits: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Tolerates: Drought, Erosion, Poor Soil

We Recommend Landscape Plugs for Lawn Conversions as they offer more plant material for your dollar. Look for these and many more native species that may be suitable for native lawn alternatives this year at our nursery.

Contact us today for more information.