This response is specific to Minnesota and may or may not apply to your area. There are some lawn mixes that are low maintenance and need to be mowed only twice a year. You may need to check with your city regarding a mowing height variance if you only mow twice a year. Seeding is best done between mid-August and mid-September for best results. Here is a site to check on for these low-maintenance grasses: http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/YGLNews/YGLN-Dec0100.html. The other alternative is to plant ground covers such as fleeceflower (Polyganum cuspidatum compactum) or goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria), with or without some shrubs. Here is a link to more information on ground covers for rough sites: http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1114.html. If you are in a southern location and want to avoid grasses, go online and read or print (individual pages possible) "Selecting Landscape Plants" at http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p0666.pdf This guide has options for most all categories, ground covers to large trees. As a last resort, you could hire someone to plant and maintain the area for you.

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