7 Alternatives To Muddy Yards
Nobody likes dealing with mud. It’s annoying to step into, and you always track it everywhere. It’s even worse if you have a pet or a kid who either doesn’t care or doesn’t have full impulse control and gets mud all over the house.
Fortunately, you don’t actually need a muddy, dirty yard. There are alternatives that you can have instead.
1. Plants
A few plants can help reduce the mud in your yard.
Consider planting creeping plants. Creeping plants stay close to the ground and cover everything. Unlike grass, though, they cover more, so there’s less mud for you to deal with. The only problem is that they’re fragile, so you can’t really walk on them.
You could also plant a rain garden, which diverts rainwater towards rain-loving plants. They can be a hassle to upkeep, but they help keep things from getting too muddy.
You can plant some trees near often-muddy areas. Trees absorb water better than grass.
You might also consider simply overseeding your grass to cover more mud.
2. Gravel, Wood Chips, Etc.
There are many things you can spread over your yard to reduce mud.
Gravel and wood chips both do a good job. They aren’t blown away easily and fit in well with the environment. The downside is that gravel can sink into the mud and make things muddier, while wood chips can be toxic if eaten by pets or young children. And either might hurt a dog’s feet.
You can also go with mulch, which tends to be less muddy than regular dirt. It makes a good fertilizer, too. Too much mulch can cause the grass to decompose, though.
Dry leaves and straw both cover mud well. The problem is that both can present fire hazards and both are blown away easily by wind.
3. Stones
You can create a stone path so you don’t need to walk over mud in the first place. Make sure you add sand to level the soil before placing stones. And don’t use a slippery material for the path, or you might fall over into the mud on a rainy day.
You can also use decorative stones over muddy areas to prevent the mud from getting too out of control. Solid strategic placement can be very helpful.
4. Concrete
To eliminate mud permanently, you can cover the entire area with concrete. This can be tricky to set up, though – ensure you don’t cause more drainage problems when installing it.
Improperly installed concrete can cause water to pool in your neighbor’s houses or other parts of your home. The concrete must be the correct grade to work for you.
5. Patio
Why leave yourself with a boring yard when you can install something with some functionality? A patio could be a fantastic place for you and your family to hang out outdoors without mud ruining your day.
You can install an entire deck or create a simple smooth concrete patio. You might want a gazebo installed as well.
6. Lime
Quicklime and hydrated lime are one fast way to get rid of a muddy yard. Lime absorbs water very quickly, so you can use it to dry up your muddy yard swiftly.
Lime can be dangerous in the hands of someone that’s never laid it down before, though, so be careful. Lime mixed with water can cause chemical burns quite easily.
7. Artificial Grass Yards
To solve your mud problems once and for all, you can replace your grass with an artificial grass yard. That way, you can keep the benefits of grass with none of the hassles.
Artificial grass yards have come a long way and look nearly indistinguishable from natural grass. But you don’t need to mow this grass nor worry about any maintenance other than hosing it down every once in a while.
Artificial grass yards don’t need to be watered, meaning you save on your water bills. And if you have pets, you can get drainage systems, so you don’t need to worry about waste buildup.
And it’s not just mud that you won’t have to worry about – artificial grass yards are also resistant to pests. Overall, it’s a great alternative to a muddy yard.
FAQs
How do I make my backyard not muddy?
You might be experiencing a drainage issue that a professional could fix. You could also replace muddy soil with gravel, concrete, or even get an artificial grass yard.
What can I put down in my muddy yard for dogs?
Artificial grass yards for dogs have no mud for your pet to track around the house. You can even get one with a drainage system, so you don’t need to worry about your dog’s messes.
What is the best low-maintenance landscaping?
Artificial grass yards are low maintenance, needing only you to hose them down every once in a while.
Conclusion
Most people associate yards with mud, but this is not something you need to live with. You have many options for less muddy yards. Call Greenland if you need artificial grass installation, and have a cleaner yard in no time.
