Tired of mowing, watering, and fertilizing your lawn? Swapping grass for ground cover plants is one of the most effective ways to cut maintenance, save water, and still enjoy a lush, vibrant yard.
🌿 Best Ground Cover Plants That Replace Grass
Whether you’re working with sun, shade, or something in between, there’s a hardy plant that can take over where your turf left off.
Low-Maintenance Greenery That’s Budget-Friendly and Beautiful
This list pairs perfectly with the top-performing post on Cheap No Grass Backyard Ideas. If you’re reimagining your lawn, start there—then come back here for the plant ideas to bring it to life.
🌸 Creeping Thyme
This fragrant ground cover spreads quickly, forms a low mat of soft green foliage, and blooms in pink or purple in summer. It’s drought-tolerant, thrives in full sun, and handles foot traffic well. Perfect for walkways or sunny yard sections.
Grab a packet of Creeping Thyme seeds and let it do its thing – it requires very little upkeep once established.
☘️ Clover
Clover’s comeback is no accident. It’s self-sustaining, fixes nitrogen in the soil, and fills out quickly with soft green coverage. White clover is popular for front yards and paths, while microclover stays especially low and neat.
It’s an affordable option whether you’re starting from seed or overseeding patchy areas.
🌵 Sedum
If you want texture and drought-resistance, sedum delivers. This succulent-like ground cover thrives in dry spots and brings visual variety with its unique shapes and color tones. Ideal for rock gardens or tough-to-grow areas.
You can find low-growing sedum starter trays that are perfect for larger spaces.
🌱 Dichondra
Dichondra creates a soft, low-growing carpet of kidney-shaped leaves that looks polished and feels nice underfoot. It thrives in sun or partial shade and spreads gently without getting invasive.
This plant is often used in minimalist or modern landscapes for its clean, uniform look.
🌳 Moss
Moss is a shade-lover’s dream. It spreads in damp, low-light areas and creates a rich green layer that feels soft and looks peaceful. If you have tree cover or shady corners that struggle to grow grass, moss is a natural fit.
It’s also low-maintenance – just keep it damp and weed-free.
🧑🌾 Planting + Care Tips
Ground covers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Make sure to prep the area by removing weeds, loosening the soil, and adding compost if needed. Space plants based on their mature width so they fill in properly. Many of these will spread quickly within the first growing season.
Need help choosing which ground cover is best for your space? The Backyard Groundcover Mini guide will help you select low-maintenance plants for your yard.
🏡 Make It a No-Grass Backyard You’ll Love
Replacing turf with plants is more than a trend—it’s a smart, sustainable switch. It also ties beautifully into long-term planning. If you’re mapping out a bigger redesign, the Garden Planning Workbook will help you layer your yard by purpose, use, and maintenance level.
Whether you’re going clover-only or creating a mix-and-match patchwork, these ground covers are a beautiful way to ditch the mower and still keep your yard thriving.
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