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| Lawn Alternatives | ||||||||||||||||
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Groundcover Clover Ornamental Grasses Flowers/Shrubs Lawn Shape |
Related
pages: Xeriscape Natural lawn care Nontoxic weed control Compost and turf ecology How to reduce lawn size |
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| Large
lawns are beautiful, but the cost is high.
Fuel for power mowers, toxic emissions, fertilizers and pesticides, water consumption and your weekend time are all part of the cost of lawn maintenance. Hiring a lawn care service will save you the time and energy, but the environmental costs remain. |
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| Reducing the size of your lawn can benefit the environment while saving you time, energy and expense. And the result need not be a loss in aesthetic appeal. | ||||||||||||||||
| Here are a few suggestions to help you reduce lawn size: | ||||||||||||||||
| Groundcover These are plants which spread across the ground but do not grow tall, so no cutting is required. Areas planted in groundcover need little to no maintenance. Groundcovers are usually chosen for texture, density and how well they spread and choke out the weeds. They enhance the soil by acting as a mulch, and some groundcovers are nitrogen-fixing. |
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| Many
varieties are available, including flowering groundcovers which offer color
and add emphasis to the seasons. Although groundcovers are usually perennials
and evergreens, annuals make excellent groundcovers as well, but do require
more work each spring. Some groundcovers are edible, such as strawberries or low-growing herbs. Ever-bearing strawberries produce fruit most of the summer and tolerate marginal soils and light shade. Dwarf dogwood (also called bunchberry), and herbs like thyme and oregano work as groundcovers for limited areas. During the first year, new plantings of groundcover will require weeding and mulching, but once established, little care is needed. Groundcovers
need an edge barrier to contain them. A low brick or wood edging, or any lawn
edging which cuts down a few inches into the soil will usually be sufficient.
Your garden center can recommend local groundcover varieties and their characteristics. Pictured below, from left: Alyssum,Tapien (Verbena), Cotoneaster, Bishops Weed, Juniper. These are all perennials. |
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Clover................................................................................................................
.... ...top Clover
also works well, however, as a replacement for turf - consider the benefits:
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Commonly
available clovers are Dutch White, Yellow Blossom and Red Clover. |
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| Dutch White clover is a perennial, but acts as a reseeding annual in the Lower
South.
It is an excellent reseeder because it flowers from March through early
May. White clover germinates in 7 - 10 days, and grows to a height of 4-
8". It does need moisture at time of germination, but is drought tolerant
once established. Dutch White clover is an effective alternative to lawns because: - it is relatively low-growing, at about 4 - 8" high - tolerates low mowing well - stays green through droughty periods of summer - tolerates dog urine Clover is not durable enough for playing surfaces or high use areas. |
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Dutch
White Clover sow anytime, survives drought, grows well even in poor soil Price: $14.99 for 1.5 lbs (covers 6000sq ft) White Dutch Clover |
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| Ornamental
Grasses You can convert part of your lawn to a display of ornamental grasses. These grasses are low maintenance and grow well in most soils. They seldom require fertilizer, and have few pest and disease problems. Ornamental grasses are also drought-resistant and low maintenance. When choosing ornamental grasses for your yard, consider the characteristics of each variety. They are categorized as: |
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| Cool-season
grasses grow best at temperatures ranging from 15
to 24° centigrade ( 59 to 75° farenheit ). New growth starts as
soon as temperatures rise above freezing in spring, in temperate climate
zones. Growth slows and flowers bloom by early summer. Warm-season grasses prefer temperatures ranging from 26 to 35° C ( 78 to 95° F). New growth begins after the soil warms up to 16° C. Growth slows and flowers starrt to bloom by mid-summer, and continuing through fall. Running-growth habit: Ranging from slow creepers to agressive spreaders, running grasses are useful for erosion control on slopes or as ground cover. Clumping-growth habit: These grasses grow in tufts. They make fine specimens and are also effective planted in groups or masses. Most ornamental grasses commonly used in gardens today are clump-forming. |
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| Tips for Growing Ornamental Grasses: | ||||||||||||||||
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Sunny
location.
Most grasses prefer a sunny area, especially the
more brightly colored varieties. Water new plantings. Drought-resistant grasses still require watering while getting established. Space generously. When planting, allow room between clumps for movement. Trim. Clump grasses can be cut back with a shears each spring to allow for fresh new growth. Grasses which turn brown in winter (deciduous) can be cut back to a few inches of the ground. Evergreen grasses, however, should not be cut back too drastically. Divide. Clump grasses may need to be divided if they get too big or have die-back in the center of the clump. Use a pointed spade (or a hand trowel for smaller clumps) to cut larger divisions; pull apart by hand into smaller sections. Be sure to water replanted divisions. |
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Flower
& Shrub Beds
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| Grass
Clippings: Ideal for use as mulch, whether green or dry.
Too thick a layer, however, will cause the clippings to mat together and
reduce air flow. Use in layers of an inch or less, or mix with other mulch
material such as straw or leaves. Bark: Can be a bit acidic for flower beds, but bark is commonly used for larger plantings, such as trees and shrubs. Lime can be added to reduce acidity if required. Leaf Mold: A thick layer of leaves will help retain soil moisture and prevent root exposure and surface drying. Maple and Alder leaves are best, as they return nitrogen to the soil during decomposition. Large leaves, however, tend to mat together; they work best when dried and shredded. Leaf mulch will need to be renewed periodically, usually once a year. Sawdust: Coarse sawdust works as a mulch, and the light color of sawdust helps reflect heat. Check the source of the sawdust - chainsaw sawdust contains oil. Sawdust from certain wood species, such as cedar, may be too acidic for good growing conditions. Avoid using thick layers of sawdust, as it tends to clump together and block air and nutrients. Straw: A good light-coloured mulch, which will reflect heat away from the soil. Straw, as opposed to hay, contains fewer seeds which could sprout in your soil. Seaweed: If you have access to seaweed, it makes an excellent mulch and soil additive. Seaweed shrinks considerably on drying, so use a thick layer and cover with grass clippings. This will retain moisture and reduce shrinkage of the seaweed, which can otherwise leave bare spots for weeds to poke through. Seaweed is also a deterrent to slugs. |
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.....Plant
in raised beds.
Raised
beds will not only
look good by highlighting your plantings, they'll provide a good edge
barrier from the lawn, and a deterrent to ground pests. Raised beds will
also contain your soil from erosion and make best use of your water and
fertilizer. |
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| Lawn Shape | ||||||||||||||||
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When
planning how to reduce the size of your lawn, lawn shape should be considered.
Maintenance can be reduced and simplified by designing the lawn areas in
continuous, easy-to-mow swaths. By eliminating corners, mowing becomes quicker and easier. Corner areas can be replaced with shrub or flower plantings. |
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In
the example to the right, the dark green shaded areas are plantings of
low-maintenance shrubs, groundcover or even small xeriscapes. Although only about 25% of the original
lawn area is given over to these plantings, the time and energy saved
in cutting the lawn is almost 50%.
Continuous swaths, with no corners. |
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"Islands"
in the lawn, such as trees or flower beds will slow down the mowing; better to
have one or two large islands than a number of smaller ones. Trees will
do better with bark mulch or ground cover planted beneath, as grass will
compete with the tree roots for nutrients. Trees
with low-lying branches can have ground cover planted beneath,
so the person mowing doesn't have to duck below. |
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Large
Lawns and Golf Courses |
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| Online Sources - plantings and supplies for lawn alternatives: | ||||||||||||||||
Natural, organic lawn and garden supplies An online source for natural lawn and garden products, natural pest control, nontoxic weed control. To visit the Garden's Alive site, click here |
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Corn
gluten - a natural alternative to 'weed n feed' products Looking for a non-toxic way to kill weeds in your lawn? Corn gluten acts as a natural "pre-emergent" - it inhibits seed germination by drying out a seed as soon as it cracks open to sprout.Corn gluten is safe, effective and even adds nitrogen to your soil. Visit our page on corn gluten for more info. |
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Ground
covers - low-maintenance way to reduce lawn size |
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| Accugrow™
Soil Test Kit You can easily perform a soil test whenever the need arises -- and get immediate results. This kit includes test strips that measure pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; activating solution; a mixing vial and soil scoop. Booklet explains how to identify soil types, how to analyze test results and correct soil imbalances for garden plants, lawns and potted houseplants. Price: $39.95 AccugrowT Soil Test Kit |
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