Are traditional lawns a thing of the past…
I just read the most interesting trend for lawns. Here are some things that are happening instead of your traditional grass lawns. Many homeowners have decided to investigate green alternatives, stating a carpet of classic grass too taxing on such resources as time, water and money. Others don’t want to use chemical fertilizers and weed killers and prefer to provide a habitat for more diverse fauna than a monoculture lawn supports.
A quick fact about grass you may not know is most lawns in North America are not adapted to North American conditions, and therefore need more care to flourish here. Kentucky Bluegrass, you think that would be from Kentucky. It’s from Europe.”
Since the pandemic began, for example, sales of one of the lawn proxies, Wildflower Farm’s Eco-Lawn, have more than doubled. Here are some ideas to devote at least part of your yard to popular alternatives and cut down on lawn care.
Some new home owners have stated after buying a home with nearly 3 acres of lawn. “The first time I mowed, it literally took me four hours on a sit-down mower.” Three years later, they have decided to swap out most of their acre-plus front lawn for a meadow of wildflowers.
Not all deviations from the classic lawn require that you pull up your current carpet. Before it was vilified by herbicide producers in the 1960s, clover was prized in lawns as a species that pulls nitrogen from the air into the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer. Microclover, now widely available, is a smaller-leafed version of Dutch white clover that grows only 4 to 6 inches high. Via overseeding, it can be easily added to your existing lawn.
Another alternative that doesn’t demand a blank canvas are fescue Grasses. Over two to four years, annual overseedings of Wildflower Farm’s Eco-Lawn, a hard-wearing fescue blend, will convert your traditional lawn to a grass like look. It takes time and patience but definitely works, says many experts. Once established, the fescues are drought tolerant and need little fertilizer: Their deep roots find moisture and nutrients where other species don’t reach. Slow-growing fescues require fewer mows, and if left unshorn, their thin blades flop over in silky mounds. If you’re looking for a more traditional look. Ecological landscape designer Jodie Cook, admires the classic green, though in her area she would recommend low-water UC Verde Buffalograss.
The last non conventional type of lawn talked about in the article was moss. A home owner noticed that moss grew like gangbusters on his shaded property, which suffers very wet springs and dry summers. He spent three years transforming a 5,000-square-foot section into an arena of moss. He put the grass out of its misery with organic weedkiller, allowing moss that cropped up naturally to fill in, then covered bald spots with species bought from mosseries. He weeds deeply twice a year and waters for five minutes a day when needed. He stated “The great thing about moss is that the leaves are typically one cell thick, and water—even a heavy dew—almost instantly penetrates [them] via osmosis.” Unlike grass, which can become “a goner” in dry August heat, the moss stays green year round. It also requires no mowing or fertilizer, as it takes its nutrients from the air.
If you are considering a change, autumn is a prime season to undertake one of the following options. The article advised visiting your local garden center to determine what species have the best chance in your area; what thrives in one zone might shrivel in another. Consider starting with a pilot plot to gauge how your choice pans out. Best of luck in how ever you choose to care for your lawn.
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