Contrary to popular belief, your entire lawn does not have to consist of one type of grass or turf. Just mix it! In fact, single species landscapes, aka monocultures, are an oddity in nature mainly because maintaining one requires constant and expensive vigilance.
Why not allow nature to take its course? Multiple species of forbs and grasses growing together increase the likelihood of having a green landscape.
But before you rework your lawn, there are some important factors to consider.
- Sunlight – How much does your current lawn get? Full sun in the front? Filtered light in the back? Think buffalo grass for full sun and St. Augustine for filtered light. Both have similar mowing height requirements, about 3-4 inches.
- Watering requirements – Buffalo grass and St. Augustine have very different watering needs, less than half an inch versus 3/4 inch of water per week.
- Irrigation system schedule – Set your controller according to the turf type. Overwatering will kill buffalo grass and can cause disease in St. Augustine.
If nothing else, adding hardscape or getting creative with ground cover are terrific, water-saving ways to add interest to your landscape. As always, follow our newsletter recommendations and adjust to what works best for you and your landscape.
By Cynthia Barsun, Guest Author
