Costa checks out some lawn lookalikes that will help you create a nomow sea of green. Subscribe http://ab.co/GAsubscribe
A little bit of lawn can go a long way in a garden. They're hardwearing, great for playing on, and it's been proven that even looking at a sea of green can help you relax. But not everyone has the sun or space for lawn. And let's face it, not everyone wants to mow. If you want a green sensation with a little less fuss, Costa’s got you covered groundcovered, that is!

Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin it’
This native mounding groundcover has freeflowing needlelike branchlets that spread out and look like a hairy head of hair. They can cover a large area so give them space, about a metre, and it will cover the ground for you. The foliage is slightly brittle, so avoid planting it where it might get trodden on. The foliage is dense and will suppress weeds once established.

Myoporum parvifolium Creeping boobialla
This adaptable ground cover can thrive in full sun or part shade. Several cultivars vary in form and leaf size and can suit different conditions. To grow a sea of green, you won't need too many plants as they can grow quickly and cover over three metres each. You can also propagate them quite easily, as these long running stems root easily as cuttings or by layering from the existing parent. For the layering technique, simply strip a few leaves on the middle of a length of stem, then have the exposed area make contact with soil, leaving a few leaves poking out the other end to photosynthesize. In a few months, the section under the soil will form roots and you can separate it from the parent to plant elsewhere.

Lobelia pedunculata Matted Pratia
If you love the feeling of walking across the lawn, this plant can take a little traffic. They do best in a moist, shady spot and produce a sea of delicate white flowers in spring and summer. They're quite resilient and can handle light frost or full sun. You can even plant them into your lawn to add a bit of floral bling. They spread by suckering, which means wherever the stems touch the soil they will form roots and can spread up to a meter.

Zoysia matrella Petting Grass
If you’re a bit of a softie, then this one is for you. It’s also known as velvet grass and grows into fine mounds that reach about 10cm in height. It's very slow growing so it doesn't need mowing, just the odd clip or trim once it's established. Avoid planting in high traffic areas because it takes a long time to recover. Ideal spots are between pavers, at the edge of rockeries, under feature trees, or on slopes that are hard to plant into. Allow about 20 to 30cm spacing for best coverage. Once established, it can handle dry heat, humidity, light frost, as well as full sun or part shade.

Dichondra Kidney Weed
Another ground cover that can be used between pavers, is native Dichondra repens. It works well in both full sun and shade, so you can grow it under trees to create a beautiful textured blanket and add interest to the ground level. In a sunny spot, the silvery grey exotic Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ is a lovely trailing plant, perfect for draping over rockeries.

Herbs Thyme and Oregano
Herbs are a great option for a sea of green and provide a more sensory experience. They're also relatively cheap, fast growing, useful and aromatic. Many varieties of thyme have a groundcover habit and are happy in welldrained sunny spots. Creeping thyme, Thymus serpyllum cv. has much smaller leaves and forms roots as it spreads over the ground. Over the summer months it gets covered in little white flowers, which is just perfect for attracting pollinators. There are even varieties of oregano that provide a functional and fragrant groundcover. So, big, small, sunny or shady, in almost any garden you can create a nomow sea of green!

Filmed on Dharug Country | Dural, NSW
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