Black Bamboo

Replacing Lawns with More Unusual Ground Covers

More and more people are discovering that they have many more options than to simply fill in their yard space with tried-and-true lawn grass. Indeed, there can be distinct advantages to utilizing more unique and striking forms of ground cover. Many kinds of ornamental grasses require less maintenance. Once they're established, they need only an annual trimming and feeding, and little or no watering. They don't require treatments with herbicides or pesticides. What's more, they can grow in difficult areas where a typical lawn will usually fail: steep banks, places in heavy shade, and very dry or moist soils. Some can endure being tread upon just as well as lawn grass can. All grow quickly, in a dense carpet that covers the soil and foils the growth of weeds.

There are a few approaches one can take in transitioning from a conventional lawn to a non-conventional ground cover. We can begin by planting ornamental grasses in places where an existing lawn is declining. We can overseed onto the lawn, or else transplant young plants directly onto the grass.

If nothing is actively growing in the yard, we can simply remove whatever sod and weeds are there. It's a good idea to spread organic matter, like composted soil, and fertilizer (of equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), dig or till it into the soil, and then level it with a rake before sowing any seeds. The best time to grow ground covers is in the fall, so that the roots can grow and establish themselves during the cool part of the year. In areas that experience very cold winters, however, one should plant in spring so that the grasses will have a very long growing season.

The most beautiful effects can be achieved by filling an area with a combination of a few species of grasses and some flowering perennials. In this way, we simulate the natural conditions that exist in wild prairies and meadows. We can even embellish our creations with small spring-blooming bulbs like blue squill, spring starflower, and dwarf iris. Tall ground covers, like Indian grass, big bluestem, barberries and ceanothus, do well in areas that receive at least 30 inches of rainfall a year. Shorter types, like little bluestem and blue grama, fare better in drier areas. Western wheatgrass and buffalo grass require very little water at all. Sunlight is another consideration. Bearberry, dwarf coyote brush, and various types of ceanothus prefer sunny areas, whilst rhododendrons, azaleas, wintergreen, ferns and partridgeberry are all able to thrive in shady areas.

Our landscapes will look most natural if grasses comprise about 70% of the ground cover. 2-4 types of grasses and 8-12 varieties of wildflowers will make for a balanced and eye-pleasing combination. Other complimentary flowers for such a natural landscape could include seaside daisy, golden aster, and California poppies. If you live in the Southeast, consider mingling little bluestem and tickle grass with Mexican evening primrose. In the Southwest, wine cup, perky Sue, and desert marigolds mingle well with blue grama and buffalo grass. Be wary of pre-packaged prairie lawn seed mixtures, as these can oftentimes contain non-native and invasive species of plants.