Why do we care so much about lawns in America?
In most markets, flawed products fall out of the running when better products are introduced; in few others products are purposely flawed in order to retain customers due to repairs, replacements, and maintenance. No matter where it is sold in the US, short-grass lawns are sold with inherent flaws: often the climate is too dry, and the lawn needs to be watered often, or there will not be enough Nitrogen, Phosphorus, or Potassium. Or it grows too fast and needs to be trimmed often, and other times it grows too slow and is choked out by other plants and weeds. Now I hope no-one is shocked to find that lawns offer very little unique value, with the exception of HOA compliance or trying to sell a property, lawns tend to be primarily a cash sink with no practical returns. Practical returns are obviously not the only reason we may be motivated to have lawns, as they do hold social and aesthetic value, but even then conventional lawns often fall behind other options.
Other than grass, lawns can be:
One common alternative to grass-only lawns is the usage of native plants, which are easier to maintain, support native wildlife, and (when done right) can look good. That bit on supporting native wildlife is important, as many animals and insects depend on native species for food and shelter, plus the reduced need for pesticides means that there is less damage done to native animals and insects. The aesthetic cherry on top is that desirable insects (like butterflies) and birds are typically attracted to native plants and can bring a nice pop to your yard.
Often grass is viewed as the only option for groundcover, but there are plenty of types of groundcovers which can fit a variety of uses and needs. For purely aesthetic purposes one may opt for low-growing flowers, or maybe long willowy grass, mosses, vines, ornamental grasses, or succulents. In cases where yards are used by children or pets, most of the aforementioned groundcovers still work, but may require more maintenance (for example, dog waste is toxic to many plants, and needs to be removed regularly). Alternative groundcovers, especially native ones, are often cheaper to maintain due to lower water use, less demanding fertilizer needs, and a less frequent need of trimming. It should be noted that in some areas landscaping liners/fabric may be needed to prevent unwanted plants from growing, which can be expensive or time consuming to install.
In areas with little precipitation or an especially harsh climate, a yard full of plants isn’t always the right move, but a type of landscaping called “xeriscaping” might. Xeriscaping relies on reflective/light colored materials as a form of groundcover, as well as vegetation with low water needs. Xeriscaped yards are cheaper to maintain, from both a financial and environmental perspective, as the reduced water use does more than save water: it also decreases the amount of potentially harmful runoff
Not everyone has a choice, and not everyone wants to change
Now it is important for me to recognize that not everyone can go without lawns, and in the cases where they truly are non-negotiable, there are still partial measures that can be taken. Many of the costs that come from lawns can be at least partially offset by proper selection of the type of grass, these different types being represented by their needs (usually soil type, nutrient and water appetite, and pest resistance). Cheaper seeds/sods may not be accustomed to your climate, and more expensive ones could save you the money from extra water and fertilizer. It is also important to make sure that your lawn actually needs what you give it; many areas have naturally high levels of nutrients that you find in fertilizers, and by applying more to your lawn is a waste of your money and a danger to nearby waterways. By testing your soil or getting estimates (which you can do in the US here), you can purchase fertilizer which contains only the nutrients you need (these are represented by numbers like 2-3-4, each number correlating to amounts of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, in that order) . Another thing you can do to reduce the cost of your lawn is to mow it correctly, and though it varies from type to type, all grasses have ideal trim length and frequency which you can adhere to for an easier and cheaper time maintaining it.
