Natural Lawns

What is a Natural Lawn?

A natural lawn is an eco-friendly landscaping approach that creates a more natural-looking lawn compared to traditional turf grass-heavy lawns. By incorporating native plant species, these yards provide habitats for local wildlife and minimize the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

A Natural Lawn is Not

A natural lawn is not created by neglecting your existing lawn or by allowing nature to decide what it wants to do with open areas. Letting your lawn grow wild is considered to be neglect and is a violation of the City ordinance.

This is important to avoid because:

Weeds thrive in unkept environments.
Native plants do not just grow on their own. Natural lawns will not thrive if not carefully planted and maintained.
Poor aesthetics have the potential for complaints and unattractive neighborhoods.
The City of Holland ordinance requires property owners to maintain their yard to a maximum height of 8 inches. This ordinance is in place to prevent vegetation from blocking road visibility creating a visibility hazard, to prevent harborage of pests that carry harmful diseases, and to ensure that neighborhoods remain attractive and do not negatively impact the quality of the neighborhood.

How to Create and Maintain a Natural Lawn

Planning and Designing a Natural Lawn

Designing a natural lawn requires the same planning and design principles as traditional landscaping. Without proper planning and maintenance, your lawn may resemble an unkept wild habitat, creating an ordinance violation and sending a negative message about native plants and natural lawns.

Upkeeping a Natural Lawn

Natural lawns need maintenance too! No landscape is maintenance-free, there are just different levels of maintenance.

Recommended Steps:

Remove Current Grass - Before you begin planting, be sure to remove the grass in your planting area completely so it does not continue to grow in your plant beds. Removing grass is essential for proper nutrients, soil health, managing weeds, and the overall aesthetic appeal of your lawn.
Clean Your Edges: By creating clean edges for plant beds, your yard will look well-maintained. Add landscape edging or a boarder detail so the lawn does not creep into the landscape area. Be sure to include sides or boarders around planting beds running along shared property lines; you do not want your neighbors struggling to keep their landscape separate from yours.
Watering: Keep the soil around the plantings moist by watering less often and more deeply to encourage the plants to develop a resilient root system (during establishment; supplemental watering shouldn’t be required after plants are established).
Address Exposed Areas: Inevitably there will be bare space between your plants. Mulch or bark should be applied to make the area look "finished" and to prevent weeds, 2 inches thick is recommended. Bark or mulch will also help retain moisture in the soil for your plants.

Acceptable Natural Lawns:

Unacceptable Lawns:

Turf Grass Alternatives

Turf grass alternatives are lawn options that require less maintenance than traditional turf grass while providing a similar look and appeal. These alternatives often require less water, mowing, and pesticides, and can offer additional benefits such as pollination areas and increased biodiversity. They can be a great choice if you're looking to incorporate a more natural lawn option while still maintaining a classic appearance.

It's important to note that turf grass alternatives still require some maintenance. While they generally demand less upkeep than traditional lawns, they are not maintenance-free. Regular care, such as occasional mowing, weeding, and monitoring for pests, is necessary to keep these alternatives healthy and aesthetically pleasing. Over time, these alternatives can be a great long-term option to minimize maintenance, but they still require attention to ensure their success.