First, ask yourself if you actually need grass and, if so, for what purpose. Too many homeowners toss down seed or sod and spend the rest of their ownership wasting money on maintenance and water. Most only need a small area of walk-able grass, perhaps for kid’s play or that weekend volleyball game.

Second, select the appropriate goundcover for your area. Find your USDA plant zone so you can pick the best plant for your area. Look for native grasses, these are proven survivors and are more environmentally appropriate. Succulents might be a good option, but be sure you do your research. You might need one type of ground cover for sunny areas and another for shade.

Third, check local or community ordinances. Some municipalities are a little backward in their thinking—like anything but blue fescue in the front lawn is verboten. Play it safe and check.

Do drive-by and open-house tours. Drive or walk around your neighborhood and see what others have done. Take pictures of ideas you like. Talk to neighbors about their gardens or lawns—what has worked for them, or not. Visit areas that are more upscale as well, so you can get other ideas. Go to open houses, especially for new construction, and focus on the landscaping. Visit your local Botanic Garden, good garden centers, and websites. The goal of all this is to educate yourself on what you like, what works, and new ideas.

Create a floor plan of your yard, called a landscape design (you can also hire a professional to do this for you—well worth the investment). Scoprirete che un buon design del paesaggio non solo manterrà la manutenzione al minimo, ma avrà un aspetto meraviglioso. Aiuta anche a capire le esigenze e i costi delle piante.

Una volta che hai piantato le piante appropriate, assicurati che sopravvivano annaffiandole regolarmente fino a quando non si sono stabilite. Se avete fatto la vostra ricerca, il vostro prato non solo dovrebbe crescere, ma prosperare.