Lawns are usually established with grasses, but other evergreen species can be used. These include chamomile (Chamaemelum nobilee), which releases a sweet, apple like scent when crushed underfoot, and is thus very useful in a sensory landscape, or as a feature in the herb garden. However such a lawn will not tolerate heavy wear. The non flowering clone Treneaguee’ is especially suitable for the establishment of a chamomile lawn as it is naturally low growing. Cotulaa’ has fern like leaves and is more hard-wearing, but will not survive temperatures below ?4 °C (25 °F). Another alternative, particularly where space is abundant, might be to establish a wild flower meadow. Simply leave some areas uncut and see what comes up, or else a wild flower meadow can be created by using one of the numerous seed mixes that are available that include a selection of wild flowers and grasses. Wild flowers prefer poorer soils, so should not be fertilized. Mowing is carried out infrequently, preferably on a sunny day after a period of dry weather. Mowings should be left on the ground to dry out, then shaken well in order to release any seed, but should not be left to break down as this will tend to raise fertility levels.

In shady yards, a grassy lawn can be particularly difficult to maintain. Grasses are best adapted to full sunlight, and in shade tend to be out-competed by a variety of plants, including mosses, Ground ivy, and other plants. These plants can combine to form a robust ground-cover that can withstand periodic mowing and some foot traffic. Mowing in such shade lawns needs to be carried out less often, since the plants grow more slowly due to the lack of sunlight. Care should be taken to not mow the lawn too close to the ground, as shady yards tend to have less dense growth, and removal of too many plants can lead to soil loss. In the most shaded yards, many people choose to forgo mowed lawns entirely and choose instead to use a ground cover that does not require mowing.