IF NOT A LAWN, THEN WHAT?
Suppose you decide you don’t want to get a into the lawn rat race.
There are several alternatives to grass, some—like paving the front yard with cement and painting it green—less appealing than others. The first that comes to mind is:
GROUND COVER
The old standbys—ivy,pachysandra, periwinkle, juniper, etc.—are useful, especially in shady or steep spots where grass won’t grow. But here’s what you have to do to establish them: the soil must be cultivated “deeper than for bedding plants” (Wise Garden Encyclopedia).