LAWN ALTERNATIVESCLIFTON SMITH

Why Lawn?

• Play area

• Desirable design element

• Cooling effect

• Everybody else is doing it…

Why not Lawn?

• High resource consumer• Water

• Behavioral

• Plant out of place

• 30-50”

• Nutrients

• Pesticide

• Time

• Fuel

Choose Alternatives

Alternative Lawns

• Lawn growth timing• Cool season vs Warm season

• Lawn growth habit• Spreading

• Rhizomes, stolons

• Bunch grasses

• Other factors to consider• Rooting depth

• Adaptations to climate

Water Conservative Bluegrass Varieties

• Not all bluegrass is equal

• Know your source and look for reputable suppliers

• Mixed seed is best

• 5-10% less water• 10,000 - 110,000 gallons savings

28”

Dwarf Tall Fescue

• Cool season grass

• Clump forming

• Wider leaf blade

• Deeper root system

• 20% less water• 30,000 - 130,000 gallons savings

24”

Crested Wheatgrass

• Cool season grass

• Clump forming

• Native to Utah

• Not well bred yet

• 20% less water• 30,000 - 130,000 gallons savings 24”

Blue Grama

• Warm season grass

• Clump forming

• Greens up late, goes dormant early• Late-May to early September

• Has difficulty with cool season weeds

• Not as resistant to foot traffic

• 50% less water• 75,000 – 175,000 gallons savings 15”

Buffalograss

• Warm season grass

• Spreading - stolons

• Greens up late, goes dormant early• Late-May to early September

• Has difficulty with cool season weeds

• Not as resistant to foot traffic

• 50% less water• 90,000 – 190,000 gallons savings

12”

Others?

• Dog Tuff

• Xerilawn

• RTF

• Turtleturf

• Avoid:• Bermudagrass

• Zoysia

• Creeping bentgrass

Alternatives to Lawn

• Know your needs• Durability

• Growth habit

• Exposure needs

• Height

• Maintenance• Weed control

• Deadheading

Blue FescueFestuca glauca

• Durability: High• Ankle twister

• Growth Habit: Clump forming

• Height: 6-10”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirements: Low

• Maintenance: Trim and rake through once a year

Cranesbill GeraniumGeranium spp.

• Durability: Low

• Growth Habit: Clump forming

• Height: 12-18”

• Exposure: Sun to part shade

• Water Requirement: Medium

• Maintenance: Deadheading, cut back

Creeping ThymeThymus spp.

• Many types• Woolly, Mother of, Creeping

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 3-5”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Medium to low

• Maintenance: Low

Creeping SpeedwellVeronica spp.

• Types:• Thyme-leaf, Turkish, others

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 3-5”

• Exposure: Sun to shade

• Water Requirement: Medium to low

• Maintenance: Low

Dwarf PeriwinkleVinca minor

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 3-6”

• Exposure: Sun to full shade

• Water Requirement: Medium

• Maintenance: Low

IceplantDelosperma spp.

• Durability: Low• Don’t walk on

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 2-4” tall

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Low

Ornamental StrawberryFragaria spp.

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 4-8”

• Exposure: Sun to part shade

• Water Requirement: Medium

• Maintenance: Low

PlumbagoCeratostigma plumbaginoides

• Durability: Low

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 8-12”

• Exposure: Sun to shade

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Cut back yearly

PussytoesAntennaria dioica

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 2-6”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Deadhead

SedgeCarex spp.

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Clump to spreading

• Height: 12-18” tall

• Exposure: Sun to shade

• Water Requirement: Medium

• Maintenance: May need to be cut back each year

Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 6-10”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Cut back as needed

SoapwortSaponaria ocymoides

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 6-10”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Low

StonecropSedum spp.

• Durability: Low

• Growth Habit: Spreading to clump

• Height: 4-18”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Low

Prairie WinecupsCallirhoe involucrata

• Durability: Medium

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 8-10”

• Exposure: Sun to shade

• Water Requirement: Very low

• Maintenance: Cut back each year

YarrowAchillea spp.

• Durability: High

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 18-20” unless mowed

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Low

• Maintenance: Mowing or cutting back

Fire ChaliceZauschneria (Epilobium) spp.

• Durability: Low

• Growth Habit: Spreading

• Height: 8-10”

• Exposure: Sun

• Water Requirement: Very low

• Maintenance: Cut back each year

Hardscapes

• Water saving

• Functional

• Permeability

• Heat