0-Grass Landscape Named Volusia County's Garden of the Month

Hometown News Volusia named a yard that dropped turf grass entirely as its latest Garden of the Month, according to the paper's report. The recognition puts a spotlight on a design style that replaces mowed lawn with mulch, groundcovers and drought-tolerant plantings.

What Did Hometown News Volusia Recognize?

The outlet's headline describes the winning property as a "zero grass oasis." Specifics on the homeowner, the property's exact location and the judging criteria are laid out in the original write-up, not summarized here, since those details were not distributed beyond the headline in the syndicated feed. Readers who want the full account should go to the source link above.

"Zero grass oasis named Garden of the Month" — Hometown News Volusia

What Does "Zero Grass" Mean in Landscaping?

A zero-grass, or no-lawn, yard removes turf grass as the dominant ground cover. In its place, homeowners typically install native or regionally adapted plants, mulch beds, gravel paths or low groundcovers that require less mowing, less irrigation and fewer chemical inputs than a conventional lawn. The Hometown News Volusia report does not specify which plants or materials were used in this particular yard.

Why Do Local Papers Run Garden-of-the-Month Features?

Community newspapers and garden clubs across the country use monthly recognitions to point residents toward yards they can visit or copy. The practice is not unique to Volusia County. In Fannin County, Georgia, the local Master Gardeners program runs its own outreach, including a Southern bulb gardening program aimed at steering home gardeners toward plants suited to regional soil and rainfall rather than a one-size-fits-all lawn.

How Do Homeowners Start a No-Lawn Redesign?

Homeowners considering a similar switch typically begin small: replacing one section of turf with mulch or groundcover, checking whether a homeowners association or local ordinance restricts non-turf landscaping, and consulting a county Extension office for plant lists suited to local conditions. None of these steps are detailed in the Hometown News Volusia report itself, but they describe the general path most no-lawn conversions follow before a full yard overhaul.

Where Can the Full Report Be Read?

The complete write-up, including any specifics on the winning yard's plant choices and the homeowner behind the project, is available through Hometown News Volusia's original story.

Is a No-Lawn Yard Allowed Under Local Rules?

Whether a homeowner can legally remove turf grass depends on local zoning codes and, in many communities, homeowners association covenants that were written with a mowed lawn as the assumed default. Some jurisdictions have updated rules to permit native plantings and drought-tolerant groundcover explicitly; others have not addressed the question at all. The Hometown News Volusia report does not state whether the winning property required any variance or HOA approval before the turf was removed, so homeowners in Volusia County or elsewhere considering the same change should check with their own municipality or association before starting work rather than assuming the Garden of the Month designation reflects a broader local policy shift.