What Is a Tapestry Lawn and Is It Right For Your Garden?

A lush lawn has long been the status symbol of suburbia, But the good news is that new landscape trends are emerging that put a focus on sustainable lawn care that’s good for the environment and your weekend schedule. Enter: the tapestry lawn, which relies on lush, textured ground cover made up of wild grasses, herbs, wildflowers, and low-growing plants that combine to create a vibrant, living quilt.

If you’re someone who’s looking for a way to reduce your lawn’s water usage, attract wildlife, and add a bit of charm to your garden, a tapestry lawn could be the perfect solution. Below, we’re rounding up everything you need to know about cultivating your own tapestry lawn, including which USDA zones are best suited and how to get started.

What Is a Tapestry Lawn?

Think of a tapestry lawn less like a formula and more like a way of life—there isn’t one singular combination of plantings that makes it work; rather, it can be tailored to your lawn, environmental needs, and aesthetic desire.

“A tapestry lawn is a low-lying planting design, typically comprised of several groundcover plant species that boast some degree of walkability,” says Kevin Lenhart, Yardzen’s design director, who adds that typically, tapestry lawns use species that tolerate the occasional mowing but don’t require the weekly care that a traditional lawn needs.

“A well-planned tapestry lawn also uses plants with similar water requirements so that irrigation can be applied uniformly. Opting for low-water species is one way tapestry lawns can make for a more environmentally responsible alternative to lawns,” he adds.

The blend of plants works together to suppress weeds, encourage biodiversity, and even attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it a win for both your yard and the environment.

Where to Grow a Tapestry Lawn

Just like different types of grass are best suited to certain regions (i.e. Kentucky blue grass in cold-weather areas compared to salt-tolerant Bermuda grass in warm coastal locations), various iterations of tapestry lawns can be tailored to your locale for the best chance at success.

“Tapestry lawns have it easiest in moderate climates that are not too hot or too cold, and not too wet or too dry,” says Lenhart. “You can stack your odds by choosing native species and other climate-adapted plants that tolerate a broad range of conditions and are known for both hardiness and easy care.”

How to Grow a Tapestry Lawn

Choose the Right Plants

“Creating a successful tapestry lawn takes some planning upfront,” says Lenhart, who emphasizes proper plant selection and site prep as key components to success. “You’ll want to make sure you choose plants that have the appropriate light, water, and climate tolerance, so they’ll be easy to grow and care for.”

Remove Weeds and Add Quality Soil

Once you’ve landed on the right low-maintenance plants for your tapestry lawn, you’ll want to prep the site, making sure to remove any weeds you notice and invest in a thick layer (at least six inches) of quality soil that’s rich in nutrients. 

Plant Your Plugs

From there, you can plant your tapestry lawn using plugs, which typically establish themselves and spread quickly. If you’ve already got a less-than-stellar lawn in place, you can till the ground and add some supplemental nutrients (like compost or worm castings) before adding your plant plugs, which will eventually overgrow the remainder of your grass.

Maintain a Consistent Schedule

From the start, do your best to keep everything on the same watering and feeding cadence, which will minimize your care requirements in the long term. “Opting for native species, which tend to survive without any added fertilizer or much care, also helps to reduce maintenance needs, particularly when compared with lawns, which are about as high maintenance as planting gets,” adds Lenhart. 

The end result? A visually stunning and environmentally friendly “lawn” that will stand out from the crowd and ensure you’re the envy of the neighborhood—and a favorite hangout for any pollinators who come by for a visit.