How a Landscape Designer Can Reduce the Size of Your Rocky Hill, CT, Lawn

If you’re sick of looking out at an endless sea of green--and the endless work that goes with it--you may be ready for some ways to replace a portion of your lawn while keeping your landscape interesting. Here’s how a landscape designer can reduce the size of your Rocky Hill, CT, lawn to add interest and practicality to your backyard.

Related: Patio Trends for 2020 That Landscaping Companies Expect to Build in Simsbury, CT

More Outdoor Living

Many patios are one simple expanse of pavers. Adding to your outdoor living space is an enticing option, especially if the kids are grown and gone, and you don’t need an expanse of grass for football or other sports. This doesn’t mean creating a gigantic patio; rather, you can create very distinct outdoor “rooms” that are connected by various types of walkways. These outdoor rooms can extend like fingers into the landscape. For example, consider a hot tub and small lounging patio surrounded by boulders and lush native plants; a quiet bird watching area just big enough for two, nestled among fragrant shrubs and featuring a bird feeder and comfortable bench; or a circular paver patio with a large outdoor fireplace (include a pizza oven for extra enjoyment), surrounded by a seating wall where friends and family can gather in comfort on chilly days.

Pollinator Garden

This is perhaps the hottest trend in landscaping as we enter the “Roaring Twenties.” With the alarming decline in bee and butterfly populations, more homeowners are creating pollinator gardens that are completely free of insecticides and herbicides (only natural pest and weed control methods are used). These pollinator gardens are typically wilder-looking than some homeowners like; you can make a small corner of your backyard into a pollinator garden, or create several raised-bed pollinator gardens for a neater look. They are typically filled with native plants carefully selected to provide the optimal nesting and feeding opportunities for pollinators. This has the added bonus of being very low-maintenance since pollinators need undisturbed nesting sites and native plants are perfectly adapted to the surroundings. 

Creeping Groundcovers

Groundcovers such as bearberry or sedum spread but don’t grow tall, eliminating the need to mow and providing an attractive alternative to grass. Another bonus of groundcovers is that they typically grow quite densely together, which minimizes weeds. 

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses give your landscape a softness that closely trimmed grass cannot. They range from just a few inches tall up to eight feet. Ornamental grasses require very little maintenance, and they are the perfect backdrop for flowering annuals and perennials.

A Water Feature 

If your landscape lacks eye-catching features, consider adding a water feature, whether it’s a serene reflecting pool surrounded by crushed gravel (a very modern on-trend look) or a naturalistic waterfall. A well-designed water feature looks beautiful all year, whether the water is running or turned off for the season.

A Game Area

Side yards are often underutilized, yet they still require a substantial amount of work if they’re mostly lawn. Consider replacing that grass with a gravel game area that can accommodate horseshoes, bocce ball, or if your side yard is large enough, a life-sized paver chessboard (which looks amazing, even when covered with snow).

Edible Gardens

More and more people are starting to do away with lawns and replace them with edible gardens. These can be in-ground, in raised beds, or in containers, depending on how much time and effort you want to devote to growing your own food. Container gardens are a great way to experiment with growing herbs and veggies. If you find it to be a satisfying endeavor, your landscape designer can create an attractive raised bed planting area using masonry, for a cohesive look.

Related: Landscape Design Tips for Iconic Front Entrances in Simsbury, CT