Wave® Petunias - Choose from vibrant pinks to deep purples, or go lighter with white or silver. Wave Petunias spread quickly to fill large areas - up to 4 ft. (1.2 m)! Tidal Wave® Petunias will grow hedge-like so they work well along a fence or to create height in the back of a garden. Keep them evenly moist, but no need to deadhead.

Landmark™ Lantana - Vibrant blooms in yellows and pinks cover dark green foliage. This variety is bred especially for landscape uses, spreading up to 2 ft. (60 cm). With all-season color, this heat-tolerant variety also attracts butterflies.

3. To get away from a lawn that looks like a big green square, create winding walkways with focal points that feature flowers along the way. The choices below are also suitable for home-grown cut flowers.

Melody™ Dahlias - With gorgeous, long-lasting blooms, Dahlias are a must-have for any garden. Melody™ series varieties grow 18 to 24 in. (45 to 60 cm) and feature stunning colors like the coppery orange of Swing. Create a focal point by planting Melody Dahlias around a garden statue or sundial.

4. Reduce the overall area of your lawn by creating large gardens under trees or oversized container gardens.

Fiesta™ Double Impatiens - A particularly vigorous variety with large double blooms, Fiesta Double Impatiens zap bursts of color in shadier locales. If it's too difficult to plant close to the base of a tree, consider creating a 1-ft. (30 cm) perimeter of cedar mulch, then prepare a garden bed beyond that. For best results, plant impatiens 6 to 10 in. (15 to 25 cm) apart and fertilize every two weeks. Many people plant one solid color, but for something different, intermix groups of pinks, reds and corals. There's a huge range of color in this series.

All the plants and flowers mentioned here are available under the Simply Beautiful® brand name. Look for this collection only at independent garden centers. You can find a list of retailers at www.simplybeautifulgardens.com along with more information about all the plants available.

One last note about choosing flowers and plants over lawn: every year, flowers allow you to change your mind and experiment with new colors, new plants and new techniques. It's never a bore 'cause there's always more!

The Simply Beautiful® collection from Ball Horticultural Company is available exclusively at independent garden centers. Developed from superior plant genetics, the collection provides great gardening results with minimum fuss. Find local retailers, plant information and gardening tips at www.simplybeautifulgardens.com

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