Give me ideas

[Anthony5]

My house with its amenities stands in the middle of a 1 rai plot and is surrounded by approx 800 sqm of nicely manicured lawn.

Guess what.............I'm sick of it and want to get rid of that lawn.

Out of the window and from pictures it all looks nice and green, but when you come closer it will look different. You never get it perfect, or the weather is too hot or it is too wet, but always you will have spots somewhere that look awful.

It is a never ending job, mowing every week, feeding and irrigating.

Other than the niece view on it, it's useless, because children these days don't play on the lawn, and they also shouldn't be able to since it will be wet most of the time.

If you don't keep it wet it will die.

So I have made up my mind and it has to go, or at least the biggest part of it.

The problem is, what I'm gonna replace it with.

So please give me ideas, with pictures if possible, how I could replace it with something virtually maintenance free and still looking nice.

Keep in mind, it isn't a lawn the size of a handkerchief that I need to redesign, but a full 800 sqm.

[lopburi3]

Jungle type trees/shrubs - makes great cooler as well as bird haven. You can let it grow or do whatever work you want on it.

[Morakot]

How about a Japanese rock garden?

All you need to do is raking the stones to your heart's content.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Morakot

[Anthony5]

How about a Japanese stone garden?

All you need to do is raking the stones at your heart's content.

Thanks for the suggestion, but a bit too grey in my opinion, look for something more colorful.

Lopburi's idea about the jungle trees is also good, but they still should be surrounded by something, and which probably would be small pieces of lawn, where the trees then make it more complicated to keep the lawn neat and tidy.

I like things neat and tidy, but I hate the time that usually get in it.

[Naam]

japanese garden, setup estimate 1.5 to 1.8 million Baht for 800m² (and much more expensive depending on your taste) plus a fulltime employee (besides a qualified gardener) to pick leaves off the gravel 8 hours daily, 7 days a week. we had that fancy idea 10 years ago but then settled for lawn, bushes, trees and a pond. today we regret quite often that we were cowards then.

[weegee]

Anthony5....I am devastated to hear you say this, after all the effort and expense you have gone to in the past to have the good lawns...

Do, as Lopburi suggests...Plant a few trees around that help give shade (but not too much). I did and the lawn and the trees work well together.

You dont need an actual jungle, just trees that are very tall and dont kill off the grass under them....

The lawn will love it and the trees will take care of the dampness to an extent...

[lopburi3]

Actually most trees will be dropping a lot of leaves so do not believe lawn is viable or really needed and weeding would not be required with more natural growth - no reason you can not wear slippers when outside.

[weegee]

Actually most trees will be dropping a lot of leaves so do not believe lawn is viable or really needed and weeding would not be required with more natural growth - no reason you can not wear slippers when outside.

I have to agree on that .....Yes leaves become a problem at a certain time of the year....But I personally enjoy having both together..

There is and has been some beautiful birds in the yard during migration season....and thats a bonus for sure. At present the iridescent Kingfishers are back again and something to be seen....before the trees...very little of this.

[johng]

It is a never ending job, mowing every week, feeding and irrigating.

get some sheep,goats or rabbits.

[Morakot]

a fulltime employee (besides a qualified gardener) to pick leaves off the gravel 8 hours daily, 7 days a week.

You are supposed to do this only once a day and observe the changes throughout the day.

You might even be able to dispense with your morning yoga or Tai Chi session, as you gracefully move the rake in acrobatic fashion yourself and clear your mind in the flow of the movement.

[bankruatsteve]

I can't think of anything that doesn't take at least some maintenance. How about planting a few different types of wild flower? Or, maybe a slow growing type of hedge that you could design into a maze.

[weegee]

Anthony5....do you have a ride on mower? Even if you have a small lawn area, a small and i mean small ride on mower makes life very easy...it would surprise you.

I found one for sale here in Thailand, reasonable priced and suites a small area....and it's a Zero turn type. Have you thought of this ?

The one I have found is smaller than the one in the photo....

[Crossy]

How about letting the grass become a meadow, cut it long with the mower then have something that grazes to keep it under control.

Geese work well, lay eggs, act as guard creatures and add fertilizer

[happy Joe]

Rockery and great clay basin full of lotus and small fish.

Fed by gutters every downpour.

A mosquito killer lamp illuminates the whole of a pale wan light.

Mosquitoes are caught. They regularly fall into the water nourishing fish.

Fish shit fueling clay soil fertilizer for beautiful flowers heady perfume.

And you spend a pleasant time observing this beautiful natural microcosm of self-sufficiency.

[Anthony5]

Anthony5....do you have a ride on mower? Even if you have a small lawn area, a small and i mean small ride on mower makes life very easy...it would surprise you.

I found one for sale here in Thailand, reasonable priced and suites a small area....and it's a Zero turn type. Have you thought of this ?

The one I have found is smaller than the one in the photo....

I don't have a ride on mower, but a honda self traction.

Takes only about 3 hours to complete mowing and cleaning up, so no big deal, but it is that you can't pass on it for a week.

Also what my biggest pet peeve is that you put so much labor in it, and can't get it perfect mainly due to the poor soil conditions and extreme climate.

Because of the high clay content in my soil it also isn't possible to make use of the lawn, because it stays wet all day, and that bothers me a lot.

[Anthony5]

Rockery and great clay basin full of lotus and small fish.

Fed by gutters every downpour.

A mosquito killer lamp illuminates the whole of a pale wan light.

Mosquitoes are caught. They regularly fall into the water nourishing fish.

Fish shit fueling clay soil fertilizer for beautiful flowers heady perfume.

And you spend a pleasant time observing this beautiful natural microcosm of self-sufficiency.

That looks very nice, and I have considered this many times. My only issue with this is, the worst part of my lawn is behind and right side of the house. The front and left part are acceptable.

But that is also where my pool is located, so I think it will look a bit stupid to have a pond next to a pool.

If the worst part of the lawn had been at the front, I would have resorted to a pond earlier, I think

[weegee]

Anthony5....do you have a ride on mower? Even if you have a small lawn area, a small and i mean small ride on mower makes life very easy...it would surprise you.

I found one for sale here in Thailand, reasonable priced and suites a small area....and it's a Zero turn type. Have you thought of this ?

The one I have found is smaller than the one in the photo....

I don't have a ride on mower, but a honda self traction.

Takes only about 3 hours to complete mowing and cleaning up, so no big deal, but it is that you can't pass on it for a week.

Also what my biggest pet peeve is that you put so much labor in it, and can't get it perfect mainly due to the poor soil conditions and extreme climate.

Because of the high clay content in my soil it also isn't possible to make use of the lawn, because it stays wet all day, and that bothers me a lot.

The post above yours is tops....thats an alternative.

With a ride on, I do 2 rai at my place and then over 1 rai at MIL's house next door....all in 45mins. with the Honda push Mower...about 4.5 hrs and not good fun.

PM me and I will try to attach a photo of this top little machine to you...If I cant attach, I will let you know where to find the photo on another site.

[weegee]

Rockery and great clay basin full of lotus and small fish.

Fed by gutters every downpour.

A mosquito killer lamp illuminates the whole of a pale wan light.

Mosquitoes are caught. They regularly fall into the water nourishing fish.

Fish shit fueling clay soil fertilizer for beautiful flowers heady perfume.

And you spend a pleasant time observing this beautiful natural microcosm of self-sufficiency.

Congrats Happy Joe....something to be proud of mate...enjoy.

[Don Mega]

how bout a huge jelly wrestling pool ?

[Naam]

a fulltime employee (besides a qualified gardener) to pick leaves off the gravel 8 hours daily, 7 days a week.

You are supposed to do this only once a day and observe the changes throughout the day.

You might even be able to dispense with your morning yoga or Tai Chi session, as you gracefully move the rake in acrobatic fashion yourself and clear your mind in the flow of the movement.

i could also shift my daily evening tango and waltz hours with the old lady to the early mornings (when it's not too hot) wearing spiked shoes to pick up the leaves and as a finale drag her in circles around the house to rake the gravel. do you think that would work?

or would rumba and bossa nova give better results?

[Naam]

Anthony5....do you have a ride on mower? Even if you have a small lawn area, a small and i mean small ride on mower makes life very easy...it would surprise you.

I found one for sale here in Thailand, reasonable priced and suites a small area....and it's a Zero turn type. Have you thought of this ?

The one I have found is smaller than the one in the photo....

why does this chap have a lawn mower? where's the lawn?

[wpcoe]

or would rumba and bossa nova give better results?

Hey, now here's an idea for a "fusion" style of Japanese Zen plus Abstract Moderne: A *Roomba* modified to rake the garden!

[weegee]

Anthony5....do you have a ride on mower? Even if you have a small lawn area, a small and i mean small ride on mower makes life very easy...it would surprise you.

I found one for sale here in Thailand, reasonable priced and suites a small area....and it's a Zero turn type. Have you thought of this ?

The one I have found is smaller than the one in the photo....

why does this chap have a lawn mower? where's the lawn?

Yeah....but you want to see it now. That photo was taken during the drought period previously.

[mrbojangles]

Have you thought about raising some areas, creating spaces i.e. pergola or sala, water features, rockeries etc etc. You could have a nice path from the house that goes over a small bridge over a pond and leads on to a nice Thai Sala for instance. 800sqm of lawn is a blank canvas

[Morakot]

a fulltime employee (besides a qualified gardener) to pick leaves off the gravel 8 hours daily, 7 days a week.

You are supposed to do this only once a day and observe the changes throughout the day.

You might even be able to dispense with your morning yoga or Tai Chi session, as you gracefully move the rake in acrobatic fashion yourself and clear your mind in the flow of the movement.

i could also shift my daily evening tango and waltz hours with the old lady to the early mornings (when it's not too hot) wearing spiked shoes to pick up the leaves and as a finale drag her in circles around the house to rake the gravel. do you think that would work?

or would rumba and bossa nova give better results?

Great! I think you take the idea of a concept garden to a new level! Who needs a rock garden if you can have that much fun.

I'd say Charleston for banter, but waltz and tango is cool too.

Edited September 13, 2015 by Morakot

[Anthony5]

Have you thought about raising some areas, creating spaces i.e. pergola or sala, water features, rockeries etc etc. You could have a nice path from the house that goes over a small bridge over a pond and leads on to a nice Thai Sala for instance. 800sqm of lawn is a blank canvas

Great idea and will look tremendous without doubt, but wouldn't that be even more work to maintain than the lawn of which I want to get rid?

[Bulldozer Dawn]

subdivide and turn your problem into a profit

[IMHO]

Some ideas:

Tennis court

Badminton court

Petanque court

Putting green / mini golf (using astro turf given your aversion to grass)

Sala / Gazebo

Fish / Lotus pond

Any of these will reduce the amount of lawn you need to upkeep, you could also make some nice foot paths between them to even further cut down on the amount of lawn to maintain

[mrbojangles]

Have you thought about raising some areas, creating spaces i.e. pergola or sala, water features, rockeries etc etc. You could have a nice path from the house that goes over a small bridge over a pond and leads on to a nice Thai Sala for instance. 800sqm of lawn is a blank canvas

Great idea and will look tremendous without doubt, but wouldn't that be even more work to maintain than the lawn of which I want to get rid?

Unless you concrete or astro turf the lot, anything you do will require some sort of maintenance. However, rockeries and smaller areas means you can maintain it by just doing a bit at a time instead of having to do it all in one go, like mowing.