Beyond Grass. Alternatives for the Traditional Lawn

Beyond Grass. Alternatives for the Traditional Lawn

Author: Golden Acre Home and Garden July 23, 2023 Duration: 41:33

There are SOOOO many ways to design your ideal garden and this includes your grass. We know folks who looove a manicured lawn and take pride in caring for it all season long. I mean, there's an entire sub culture on YouTube dedicated to lawn mowing videos. On the flip side, we also know folks who prefer low maintenance and perhaps not to keep a lawn. Both are right answers and this is a judgement-free zone. Your yard, your preference. We have a whole lawncare episode featuring Shelley Vance of Scott's Canada exploring the traditional lawn that you should absolutely check out next. Find that link down below! But, if you're reading this right now, then chances are you're seeking an alternative. Lawn alternatives have been picking up in popularity over the past few years, and we think you'll be surprised at all the different options there are to fit your lifestlye and budget. 

 

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In this weeks episode ....

  • 00:00 | Introduction
  • 04:00 | Sedum Turf
  • 08:40 | Clover
  • 10:20 | Chickweed
  • 11:40  | Seasonal Considerations 
  • 13:20 | Artificial Options
  • 16:40 | Thoughts on Artificial Turf
  • 25:20 | Alternative ways to cut the lawn?!
  • 34:00 | Future of Garden Centres and Choice
  • 37:40 | Question of the Week
  • 40:40 | Next Week....  

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Have a question or a comment for the Helpful Gardeners?

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  • or find our question of the week every Tuesday on our Instagram

 

Thank you so much for supporting the podcast and for making the world a more planty place. Please subscribe, leave a rating or review and listen in for new gardening discussions. - Colin and Brandi


Ever find yourself staring at a wilting houseplant or a patch of backyard dirt, unsure where to even begin? That's the exact spot where The Helpful Gardeners finds its footing. This isn't a lecture from a distant expert; it's a conversation between two people who genuinely love turning spaces into places. Colin brings his certification and decades of hands-in-the-dirt knowledge from working in all sorts of climates, while Brandi comes at it with a beginner's curiosity and the willingness to ask the questions you might be thinking yourself. Each episode of this podcast from Golden Acre Home and Garden feels like pulling up a chair in a friendly, sunlit shed. You'll hear practical, real-world advice on everything from landscaping fundamentals and seasonal garden tasks to keeping your indoor jungle thriving. They tackle specific problems, share successes and failures, and break down complex topics into manageable steps. Released three times a week, this regular dose of guidance aims to build your confidence, whether you're cultivating a windowsill herb garden or planning a major backyard overhaul. Tune in for the kind of relatable, grounded chat that makes the whole process feel less like a chore and more like a rewarding discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 189

The Helpful Gardeners
Podcast Episodes
What's Your Garden's Microclimate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:15
Ever wondered why a plant does amazing in one part of your yard and fail in another part of it? It might not be the plant itself! This week we’re breaking down how to map out "microclimates"—those sneaky little pockets w…
Cancel Your Shovel For 'No Dig' Gardening [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:23
So, you’re scrolling through your feed, and you keep seeing this term: No-Dig Gardening. What is that? Are you just supposed to lay your plants on top of the soil and let nature figure it out? It's actually a returning c…
How Your Garden Outwits, Outplays, and Outlasts to Survive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:43
Have you ever felt like your houseplants are stuck in slow-mo, or maybe your garden suddenly decided to sprint toward the finish line? It turns out plants aren’t just sitting there—they are actively hitting "pause," "pla…
Delegate This Garden Task to Lasers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:02
Ever dreamed of pointing a finger at a dandelion and having it simply disappear? This week on the podcast, we’re ditching the back-breaking hoeing and messy herbicides for something way cooler: high-powered thermal energ…
This ones for the Kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:43
Oh, to be in the mind of a child. This weeks 'question period' is going to the kids as Colin shares some fun nuggets from kids at Holy Trinity School in Calgary, AB. Things like: "Why do you like plants" to "why do plant…
4 New Gardening Shows You Can't Miss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:56
While we eagerly wait for warmer weather in the garden, get ready to swap your garden shears for the remote. From Zach Galifianakis getting weird with vegetables to the GOAT himself, David Attenborough, celebrating a cen…
What's Your Garden's 'Return on Investment'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:58
The world of gardening has definitely shifted since 2020. We went from "panic-planting" anything that would grow to finding our "new normal," and now in 2026, we’re all about the Garden ROI - Return on Investment. With t…
To Ask or To Ghost? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:17
It's Spring—you’re digging through the shed, ready to tackle those first dandelions, when it hits you. Your favorite weeder is missing in action. Then you remember—you lent it to Robert back in July. It’s been eight mont…
Garden Tools Are Getting Passports?! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:22
In an increasingly connected world that's full of choice, do you ever wonder how your soil or garden tools are made, transported, and go once their time is up? Well, the EU is getting ready to introduce the Digital Produ…
Backyards aren't as "back" as they used to be.. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:24
Ever feel like the world is watching? Between real estate drones and Google Maps, our backyards aren't as "back" as they used to be. We garden for a thousand reasons: the crunch of a homegrown carrot, the scent of Lilacs…