Soft landscaping or hard?

By Alex Brooks

What's better, lawn or pavers?

Lawns manicured to perfection by the Victa lawnmower and accessorised with a Hills Hoist may enter the history books as relics from our housing past. Water shortages, high density living and the desire to turn backyards into outdoor rooms where we relax and entertain - rather than mow and maintain - are to blame.

Boyd Design landscape designer Boyd Oakes says the days of large expanses of lawn in the backyard are over. “Our lifestyles have changed too much,” he says.

“These days the kids are more likely to be inside on the computer with the parents working hard to pay for the house and the cars and everyone wants to come home and relax. We want to bring the outdoors in and the indoors out and the best way to do that is with pavers softened with plantings.”

Landscape architect Sarah Prior says lawn has plenty of benefits, though – it is soft underfoot, will keep a yard several degrees cooler in summer time and is easy to install now that turf arrives by the roll on the back of a truck, ready to lay like carpet.

“I would definitely go for a paved area over a grassed area in a small courtyard but grass is better over large spaces,” she says. “Although, I’d recommend plantings and ground covers rather than turf for most gardens. The watering and the maintenance can be a bit much.”

Hardy ground covers and drought-tolerant plantings can be lower maintenance than turf, which requires regular watering and mowing. “Sir Walter is the best turf in my opinion,” Prior says, although lawn alternatives such as native violets (Viola Bederacea), baby tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) or kidney weed (Dichondra repens) which don’t require mowing can also be used.

Lawn comes into its own when there is plenty of foot traffic and the kids need a place to play. “I have to say, the only people that insist on lawns these days are country types who have been raised on farms and believe in playing sports with their kids in the backyard,” Oakes says. “In those instances, I usually design a small lawn area which can be paved over later when the kids have grown out of the lawn.”

The softness of lawn underfoot, the ability to create sweeping curved edges and grass’s ability to stand up to being stomped all over make it the perfect choice for outdoor play areas.

“If lawn is to be used, I always suggest palmetto, a soft leaf buffalo. This is sun and shade tolerant, hard-wearing and unlike couch grass, the lawn grows from the top and is far easier to maintain,” Oakes says. “Whilst couches require less water, they do require more maintenance as the roots spread first and then sprout up in garden beds.”

Both designers say that pavers are more practical in a garden and can be softened with plantings or the addition of stone borders or mulch. “A lot of people tend to think it has to be a choice between pavers or grass, but I find you can blend the soft and the hard surfaces to create a usable and interesting outdoor space,” Oakes says.

Oakes lays pavers on a sand bed that has been covered with weed mat, to ensure the surface is still partly permeable. Pavers can also be laid in such a way as to channel rainfall into nearby garden beds, maximising water where it is most needed – on plants rather than lawn.

“Lawns tend to be very thirsty and while most people seem to think water shortages are a government issue, it’s important to be mindful of how we can use water best,” Oakes says. “With the water crisis, lawn is fast becoming a less desirable option. Creative use of colour and texture for paved areas saves water, time and money.”

Grass: the advantages

• soft underfoot and perfect for kids to play on
• great for large expanses of land
• permeable and absorbs rainwater
• keeps a garden cooler by a few degrees on hot days

the disadvantages

• requires mowing, weeding and fertilising
• easily ruined by dogs
• can be difficult to grow in shady places or under trees
• may not take heavy foot traffic

Pavers: the advantages

• Creates a functional outdoor surface that can be used for dining, sitting and relaxing
•  Perfect for creating paths and terraces
• Can be laid to channel water into nearby garden beds
• Virtually no maintenance if installed correctly

Disadvantages

• Can be a more expensive material to buy and install than turf
• Clay or stone pavers absorb the sun and reflect back the heat on a hot day
• Needs to be softened with plantings and clever outdoor design
• Must be laid properly on a sand or concrete bed