I know what you mean about mowing—used to dread it every week. I’m curious, though, has anyone tried those clover lawns or even mixing in some thyme? Supposedly they use way less water and you barely have to cut them. Just wondering if the city rebate would cover something like that...
WHAT IF YOUR CITY PAID YOU TO USE LESS WATER?
Clover lawns are definitely catching on, but I’ve got to admit, I’m a bit skeptical about how well they’d hold up in the long run, especially if you’ve got kids or dogs tearing around. A few years back, I tried mixing in microclover with my regular grass. Looked great for the first season—lush and green, barely needed to water—but by the second summer, the clover patches started getting patchy and muddy where the kids played soccer. Maybe it’s just my soil or the way our yard slopes.
I’ve seen thyme used in some of those fancy model homes, but it always seems more ornamental than practical for a whole yard. Plus, it gets kind of woody after a while. Not sure if the city rebate would cover it either—last time I checked, they were pretty strict about what counted as “approved” drought-tolerant landscaping. Sometimes feels like they want everyone to just throw down rocks and call it a day...
Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of less mowing and watering. Just wish there was something that could handle real life—muddy shoes, backyard barbecues, all that.
Sometimes feels like they want everyone to just throw down rocks and call it a day...
Totally get that feeling—rock gardens look tidy but they’re not exactly inviting for kids or pets. I’ve seen some folks mix in artificial turf with drought-tolerant borders, but I’m not sure how well that holds up to heavy use either. Has anyone tried buffalo grass or some of those tougher native mixes? Wondering if they’re any better for high-traffic areas.
Title: What if your city paid you to use less water?
I get the appeal of native mixes like buffalo grass, but I’ll be honest—if you’re expecting a lush, soccer-ready lawn, it’s not going to deliver. Buffalo grass is better than rocks for sure, but it still goes dormant and patchy in summer, especially with heavy foot traffic. I’ve seen clients frustrated when their “kid-friendly” native lawn turns into a dust bowl by July.
Artificial turf is a mixed bag too. It looks green year-round, but it gets hot and can feel kind of plasticky. Plus, you have to deal with cleaning up after pets or it starts to smell.
If you want something that’s actually tough and low-water, try combining hardscape paths with small pockets of sturdy groundcovers—think creeping thyme or yarrow—mixed in with mulch or gravel zones. It’s not the same as a big lawn, but it handles traffic better and stays looking intentional, not just like someone dumped rocks and called it done. The trick is layering textures so it doesn’t feel barren or sterile... and honestly, it’s way more interesting to look at than a sea of pebbles.
I tried the buffalo grass route when we moved into our new place last year, mostly because I liked the idea of something low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. It looked decent in spring, but by mid-July it was basically a patchwork of green and brown, and my kids’ soccer games definitely didn’t help. I ended up spending more time trying to “fix” the lawn than I ever did with regular grass.
We’re now experimenting with a mix of flagstone paths and some creeping thyme between the stones. It’s holding up better than I expected, and honestly, it smells great when you walk on it. The only thing is, I’m still figuring out how much maintenance these groundcovers actually need—like, do you have to replant every couple years or do they fill in on their own? Also curious if anyone’s tried mixing in clover or other low-water options that can handle a bit of roughhousing.