Lawn Substitutes
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- Drought Resistant Lawn Substitute
- What Nitrogen-Fixer Will Out Compete Grass?
- Lawn Substitute in Alaska
- Dichondra Lawn Substitute
- Lawn Substitute
- I Want to Find a Replacement for a Grass Lawn
- Lawn Alternatives
Asked by Anonymous on April 19, 2011
Drought Resistant Lawn Substitute
I live on 7 1/2 acres in Los Angeles. My home is an east coast looking home with an expansive lawn. I’m considering clover because it is drought resistant and needs little fertilizing. I’m having a tough time picturing what five acres of clover would look like and haven’t found any such photos on the Web (acres of clover in front of a home). Might you have some photos to share?
What other drought resistant lawn alternatives (that look close to being lawn) would you suggest? They need to be safe for the local fauna to eat. Of the recommendation you have, how often (and for how long) should they be watered?
ANSWERS

Nikki
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
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Asked by Chantelle on May 13, 2011
What Nitrogen-Fixer Will Out Compete Grass?
I live in a windy, semi-arid location. I have a big lawn of hardy grass. I want to replace much of it with organic food production. I have dug up areas of grass, planted natives and laid carpet down around them, but the grass keeps growing back. Are there any nitrogen fixing plants which might help me beat back the grass? If not nitrogen fixing, then what other plants might help?
ANSWERS

Heather
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
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Asked by Anonymous on May 30, 2011
Lawn Substitute in Alaska
I live in Anchorage, Alaska and have a VERY shady backyard. I was wondering what options there are for a lawn substitute that would do well in the shade and survive through the winter. Do you have any suggestions?
ANSWERS

Nikki
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
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Asked by Anonymous on July 1, 2011
Dichondra Lawn Substitute
I live in Perth, western Australia and have a very sandy soil. Eighteen months ago, when I planted my Dichondra lawn substitue, I mixed a blend of cow and sheep manure into the soil to give the grass a good start. It worked well, but now my grass looks like it could do with a good feed. Could you please let me know what fertilizer I should apply to it?
ANSWERS

Nikki
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Generally, most turf grasses are fed at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of turf. Feed dichondra one-half this strength. If choosing manure, opt for composted manure.
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Asked by Anonymous on July 21, 2011
Lawn Substitute
Southern California at 400 sq. ft. — there must be more recommendations. I was a landscape contractor for over 20 years and just looking for some suggestions, flowers a must.
ANSWERS

Heather
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
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Asked by DebNeed11 on August 25, 2011
I Want to Find a Replacement for a Grass Lawn
I moved into a new home in a new subdivision (June 2011). Grass sod was put down. What I thought would be nice grass has turned out to be weedy and full of crabgrass. I will be speaking to the builder. I’m just wondering if I should take this opportunity to try something different. Since I’m really not fond of grass, is there something I could put in place of the grass that would look like grass but would be very, very slow growing grass or even artificial grass (something like astro turf)?
ANSWERS

Heather
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
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Asked by Anonymous on November 3, 2011
Lawn Alternatives
I have a yard that is costing a fortune to water. It is now all lawn. What can I do on the cheap to change it over without taking the lawn itself out? Will clover seed takeover the lawn if I plant it in the lawn? It is in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. I need possible alternatives that are reasonable and it is a large lawn. I am retired and hope to find ways to maintain the yard with things that don’t cost much to do.
ANSWERS

Nikki
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
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