'Tapestry' lawns are a prettier, low-maintenance alternative to grass – this expert urges you to consider one

Obsessively manicured lawns are a thing of the past. Instead of a sweeping mass of tidy green grass, homeowners are now opting for wilder, more natural backyards that look prettier, cost less, and have a greater benefit on the planet – and they're calling them tapestry lawns. 

Also known as a meadow lawn, matrix garden, or patchwork lawn, this turf technique involves rewilding traditional grass by introducing a ground cover of low-growing flowering plants. The result is a beautifully vibrant patchwork landscape that attracts pollinators to your backyard and makes your lawn maintenance virtually nonexistent. Sound appealing? We thought so. 

To learn more about this latest landscaping trend, we spoke with a gardening expert who explains their many benefits and how to plant one. 

What is a tapestry lawn?

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In a nutshell, a tapestry lawn is a type of ground-cover foliage made up of various low-growing perennials that create a sort of patchwork collage in your backyard. 'They're made up of a mixture of different plant species, including grasses, wildflowers, and clovers,' explains Diana Cox, blogger and gardening expert at The Gardening Talk. 

While any type of native perennial will work, popular choices include clover, thyme, chamomile, and different varieties of stonecrop. Together, they offer a kaleidoscopic array of colors to brighten up your backyard. 

Besides the aesthetic appeal, there're a whole host of benefits to tapestry lawns, too. Like clover lawns, they require less maintenance than grass with minimal mowing, less watering, and no fertilizer necessary. This also makes them a far more environmentally friendly alternative. As Diana notes: 'the mixture of plant species in a tapestry lawn can help attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, which then help pollinate other plants in the area.' 

How do you plant a tapestry lawn?

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A carpet of flowers in place of your traditional lawn certainly sounds appealing, but how do you plant one? The good news is, you don't have to be particularly green-thumbed to embrace this low-maintenance garden idea as long as you use native plants because these will flourish on their own. 

'First, prepare your soil by removing any existing grass and weeds,' says Diana. 'Mix in compost and rake the soil until it is level, then spread your seed mixture evenly over the area, making sure to follow the recommended seeding rate on the seed package.' Once you've scattered your seed, lightly water the area to keep the soil moist until the seedlings start to grow.

For the best chance of a flowering lawn come summer, now is actually the perfect time to plant a tapestry lawn. Planting your seeds in early spring or fall when temperatures are cooler will give them a chance to establish themselves before the warmer conditions kick in. 

'During the first few weeks after planting, it's important to keep the soil moist but not saturated, as this can cause the seedlings to rot,' Diana explains. 'But, once the lawn has become established, it will only need to be watered during prolonged dry periods.' 

If you want to make your lawn super lush and think, consider overseeding. What is overseeding? It is a technique of sowing new seeds over an existing lawn,  without having to tear up any existing turf or soil. This leads to a thick variety that lasts a long time.

Do you have to mow a tapestry lawn? 

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If you find mowing a chore, you'll be pleased to hear that tapestry lawns don't require regular mowing at all. That said, if you still want to use your lawn as a space for the kids to play and for you to lounge on sunny Sundays, you'll need to trim it every so often to avoid it becoming an unruly wildflower meadow. 

'Occasional mowing keeps the plants from getting too tall and spreading too far,' says Diana. 'Mow the lawn to a height of 3-4 inches and leave the clippings on the lawn to act as a natural fertilizer. It is also important to periodically remove any weeds that may appear in the lawn, as they can compete with the desired plants for resources.' 

Be sure to keep the blades on your lawnmower high if you want to reap the benefits of wildlife gardening, and make sure you wait for your tapestry lawn to grow to a height of six inches before the first mow. Follow these steps and you'll have a technicolor lawn full of beautiful blooms come summer that the bees and butterflies will thank you for.