If you were asked to imagine a garden, you would probably imagine a classic English garden. You’d think of the sweeping green lawn, the brightly-coloured flowers dancing in the breeze, a few trees, perhaps a pond - a classic garden scene.

However, very few people actually have the space or inclination for the ‘classic’ garden arrangement. There’s a good reason for this, too; as beautiful as the classic English garden may be, these gardens require a huge amount of investment, time, management, and overall care.

As a result, more and more people have instead opted for a garden that bucks the conventional approach altogether. In doing so, by far the most popular choice is the removal of one of the most common classic garden features: the lawn.

Why do people choose to remove their lawns?

There are several reasons people choose to remove their lawns entirely, including:

• The lawn is arguably the single most time-demanding aspect of any garden. During the spring and summer, the grass will need to be mowed at least once per week, which is a lot to ask of anyone’s schedule.
• In many cases, lawns simply aren’t used that much, which effectively renders them something of a waste of space. This issue is particularly pertinent if the area could be put to better use; for example, installing a shed, a patio, or even a swimming pool.
• Modern garden design trends have stepped away from the necessity of a lawn, too. Hard landscaping, gravel, decking, and patios have become more common and - according to some perspectives - are seen as more contemporary and up-to-date.

It’s also worth noting that, sometimes, people do not actively choose to remove their lawns. They may, for example, have simply decided to go without when first designing their garden. Furthermore, lawns also tend to require a large amount of space, which many people simply don’t have available.

Can ‘gardens without the grass’ ever look good?

Absolutely! While most of us are very much trained to see a lawn as essential to a garden, this is far from the reality. In fact - as we touched on above - many people have come to see grass-free gardens as outright preferable, preferring the style benefits of gravel, decking, and similar choices. Lawns may once have been the best, and arguably the only, choice for a great garden, but times have changed.

It’s important to note that a lack of grass does not mean a lack of greenery. You could, for example, gravel the vast majority of your garden, but continue to grow plants and vegetables in a number of raised beds. You can also use hedges and trees to ensure that a lack of lawn doesn’t mean a lack of natural elements.

Final thoughts

Grass may be a big part of the standard garden but, realistically, a garden has to work for you. If you would rather use the space occupied by your lawn for a swimming pool, enjoy the stylish aesthetics offered by gravel, or just reduce the time you have to spend with a lawnmower in hand, life without a lawn could well be the right choice for you.