You should ditch your lawn

When you imagine a garden, what do you think of? Chances are, it’s a glimmering green sward of lush grass, punctuated by the occasional daisy. Now, when was the last time you saw this mythical paradise? If it’s in a National Trust property, it doesn’t count.

It’s time to rethink your lawn. Almost every one of my clients asks for a low-maintenance garden, and guess what? Lawns are by far the highest maintenance element of any outdoor space. They’re too wet in winter, too brown in summer, and they require weekly titivation by a mower that takes up half your shed.

Kids and dogs need space to play, it’s true. But how much more exciting to play on paths that wind through planting, hunt for frogs in a pond, or race around a trio of fruit trees. Get rid of your lawn and you instantly double the size of your garden. Finally you can include those flowers you love, somewhere to sit in the shade, or a patch of raspberry canes.

If you absolutely must keep the lawn, then instead let go of the idea that it has to be perfect. Allow dandelions and clover to grow in it – they feed the bees, and stay green during drought. Mow some areas shorter, and keep some long. This makes your rewilded lawn look like a deliberate choice, rather than a chore you haven’t done.  Above all, remember that your garden is your garden, and you can do whatever you want with it. Regardless of what tradition, or I, say.