You can replace some or all of a conventional lawn with ground covers, but the right choice depends on your yard’s light, drainage, soil, slope, climate and foot traffic. Clover can work as a flowering, occasionally walked-on lawn alternative; creeping thyme suits sunny, well-drained spots such as gaps between pavers; and sedges or other native plants can address shade and site-specific challenges. These are not interchangeable options, and none is a universal substitute for a hard-wearing play lawn.
Choose for the site, not just the look
Before choosing plants, note how many hours of sun the area gets, whether its soil stays dry or damp, how well it drains, and whether it is flat or sloped. Then consider what the surface needs to do: provide a soft ornamental carpet, attract pollinators, help hold soil, or tolerate occasional walking. Check that any species is suited to your region and conditions; “native” depends on where you garden.
Ground cover and lawn alternative overlap, but they are not the same thing. A flowering clover planting may function as a lawn alternative, while a low mat of thyme between pavers is better treated as a landscape feature than a surface for regular play.
Five ground-cover choices to consider
1. White clover or a clover-rich lawn
Clover may suit poor, dry soil and can tolerate some foot traffic. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) notes that clover is drought tolerant, can produce its own nitrogen, and provides nectar for bees and butterflies. These traits make it an option for a flowering lawn alternative, not a guarantee that it will suit every yard or preference.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- COVERAGE: 20,000 seeds of creeping thyme (Thymus Serpyllum) provide extensive ground coverage for gardens, pathways, and landscaping areas
- PERENNIAL GROWTH: Hardy flowering plant returns year after year, creating a dense, low-growing mat of fragrant foliage and delicate purple blooms
- VERSATILE PLANTING: Ideal for rock gardens, between stepping stones, lawn alternative, or as an attractive border plant that helps suppress weeds
- GROWING SPECIFICATIONS: Thrives in full sun to partial shade, reaches 2-4 inches in height, and spreads up to 18 inches per plant
Plan for its growth habit and appearance: clovers can spread by seed, and white clover and bird’s-foot trefoil can also spread by stems or rhizomes. For broader context on the choices and trade-offs involved in eco-lawns, see Oregon State University Extension’s guide to balancing eco-lawns and pollinators.
2. Creeping thyme for sunny, well-drained spots
Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox) is a fragrant, low-growing ground cover for appropriate sunny locations. Oregon State University Extension lists it for use between pavers and in rock walls. Its plant profile gives a height of 1–4 inches, a spread of 6–18 inches, bloom from May through August, and USDA hardiness zones 4–10. These are profile details, not a promise of performance in every garden; check local conditions and guidance before planting. Thyme is not evidence of a substitute for a high-traffic lawn.
Rank #2
- 🌱 High Germination Ground Cover Seeds – Create a lush green carpet for paths, patios, and empty garden spaces.
- ☀️ Easy Growth & Low Maintenance – Thrives in full sun and poor soil, perfect for effortless landscaping.
- 🐝 Fragrant & Pollinator Friendly – Releases a pleasant scent when stepped on and attracts bees and butterflies.
- 🌿 Fast Spreading Coverage – Quickly forms a dense mat that helps suppress weeds.
- ❄️ Hardy Perennial Plants – Cold-hardy in zones 4–9 and returns year after year with minimal care.
3. Native sedges for shady areas
Where turf struggles in shade, Penn State Extension names Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), plantain-leafed sedge (Carex plantaginea) and spreading sedge (Carex laxiculmis) as options for shady areas. Pennsylvania sedge is identified as a lawn substitute; for its best appearance, Penn State recommends cutting it to about 3 inches in late winter. A planting can reduce routine lawn work without eliminating seasonal care.
4. Creeping phlox for suitable slopes
Penn State Extension identifies creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) as an erosion-control option for well-drained soil. Keep it well watered during its first year; Penn State says it is drought tolerant afterward. Those conditions apply to this species and guidance, not automatically to every phlox or slope.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- AAS WINNER & OUTSTANDING QUALITY: Verbena Moss is an All-America Selections winner, recognized for its exceptional decorative qualities and vintage appeal. This sustainability champion features a stunning color range, making it a must-have for any premium garden collection.
- 6,000 PREMIUM AMERICAN SEEDS: Get 6,000 fresh, clean, and Non-GMO seeds with no fillers. These seeds are effective and easy to plant, ensuring vigorous, compact growth of multicolored perennial ground cover that spreads beautifully across your landscape.
- COLORFUL LONG-BLOOMING GROUND COVER: Elevate your garden aesthetics with this exquisite floral mix. These beautifully branched, compact plants feature tiny complex flowers grouped into large, rounded umbel-shaped clusters, creating a living bouquet effect.
- VALUABLE COLOR ASSET: More than just a flower, this variety is a master of color and impact. It boasts an impressive range of expressive shades—white, cream, pink, red, lavender, lilac, and purple—set against delicate, fern-like foliage for a picturesque tapestry.
- CONTINUOUS FLORAL DISPLAY: Ultra-decorative, lacy, and airy green foliage with a fine feathery texture forms a soft cushion for clusters of star-shaped, saturated flowers. This contrasting palette transforms ordinary gardens into extraordinary landscapes with long-lasting blooms.
5. A locally suited native ground cover
For challenges such as difficult drainage, shade or erosion, a native ground cover chosen for the specific site may be more suitable than a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Penn State Extension’s native ground-cover guidance emphasizes matching plant characteristics to the location. Confirm a candidate’s native status and growing requirements with a regional extension service or other local botanical reference before buying or planting it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Plan for conversion and establishment
Remove the existing lawn
If you are converting grass to ground cover, lawn removal comes first. Oregon State University Extension explains that the best timing depends on the removal method and what you plan to plant afterward. Its guide, “Beyond grass: Removing lawns to make room for new landscapes”, discusses organic and chemical approaches; a herbicide is not presented as universally necessary.
Rank #4
- DENSE, MAT-FORMING GROUND COVER: Outsidepride Irish Moss seeds provide a lush, mat-forming ground cover ideal for pathways, rock gardens, shaded areas, patio borders, and lawn alternative projects. Ideal for homeowners, gardeners, landscapers, and property owners, this perennial adds soft, moss-like greenery to outdoor spaces and border accents.
- LOW-GROWING LAWN ALTERNATIVE: Growing only 1-2 inches tall, Irish Moss seeds offer a compact, low-maintenance ground cover that is perfect for lawn replacement, pathway edging, patio makeovers, rock garden design, and filling gaps between stepping stones or pavers for a seamless finish.
- ADAPTABLE TO SHADE & SUN: Irish Moss can thrive in both partial shade and full sun, making it versatile for shaded pathways, bright patios, rock gardens, and border plantings. This perennial favorite is a dependable choice for customers interested in shade-tolerant ground cover, lawn alternatives, and low-maintenance outdoor design.
- MOISTURE-RETAINING & SOFT TEXTURE: Irish Moss ground cover grows well in moist, well-drained soils and forms a soft, carpet-like surface. It pairs well with stepping stones, pavers, patio borders, rock gardens, and other low-growing ground cover plants while helping retain soil moisture in shaded areas and cooler gardens.
- COLD-HARDY PERENNIAL FOR ALL SEASONS: With cold tolerance and perennial growth, Irish Moss returns each year to add low-growing greenery to your landscape. Perfect for shaded gardens, rockery, patio ground cover, and low-traffic areas, this deer-resistant ground cover adds delicate white spring-to-summer blooms and enhances outdoor spaces year-round.
Expect early weed control
Young plants need time to fill in. The RHS says some weed control is needed until ground covers establish and form a dense cover. That early work is part of the conversion, even if the mature planting is intended to need less routine attention. Choose spacing from plant-specific guidance rather than applying one rate to every ground cover; growth habits differ.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
