The Garden Column: The Low Maintenance Lawn
Thursday, November 05, 2009
By Juergen Jaenicke, MG
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)
In previous Fall issues of Beeline I discussed watering and maintaining lawns endlessly. To sum it up, unless you hire a lawn service it is a pain in the neck, the back, the knees etc. There is a better way.
It's called the “Low Maintenance Lawn.”
Why consider a low maintenance lawn? There are many reasons why someone may want to consider maintaining and/or establishing a low maintenance lawn. Some people do not want to devote a lot of time to lawn maintenance. Others are not interested in the aesthetic qualities of a well maintained lawn. Those with limited budgets may not want to spent a lot of money on lawn care. For many, the idea of a low maintenance lawn is also environmental sound. If this includes you. Then a low maintenance lawn may be your answer.
Understanding the concept: A low maintenance lawn in most cases will not have the aesthetic qualities of a bluegrass lawn under a high maintenance program, but it does not have to look like a neglected lawn either. Since you will be using minimum amounts of fertilizer and very little if any supplemental irrigation the aesthetics of the lawn will reflect this level of maintenance. Also the types of grasses which will tolorate this level of maintenance do not have the same texture and dark color typical of bluegrasses.
In adition to the normal appearance of the low maintenance lawn you must be willing to increase your tolerance level to weeds and pests. Also during the periods when temperatures are high and rainfall is minimal you must be able to tolerate a lawn which goes into summer dormancy. This mechanism of summer dormancy may cause the lawn to brown (it will NOT be dead). It may be best to stay off the lawn during this period to avoid injuring the grass.
Occasional overseeding of areas damaged by pests or other factors may be necessary since the types of grasses in a low maintenance lawn do not spread like bluegrass.
Choosing a seed mixture. The fine fescues, which include the Chewings fescues, creeping red fescues and the hard fescues, are the type most often used in low maintenance lawns. Tall fescues are another type which can be considered. Fine fescues perform well under low moisture and maintenance conditions. In addition they tolorate shade as well as full sun sites. If the site is wet, fine fescue will not perform well.
Choose a mixture which contains at least 65% fine fescues. Be sure that you have a blend of at least three improved varieties. The rest of the mixture can be made up of bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. These other grasses will eventually decline due to the low maintenance level.
When all else fails, you can always pour cement and paint it green.
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)
In previous Fall issues of Beeline I discussed watering and maintaining lawns endlessly. To sum it up, unless you hire a lawn service it is a pain in the neck, the back, the knees etc. There is a better way.
It's called the “Low Maintenance Lawn.”
Why consider a low maintenance lawn? There are many reasons why someone may want to consider maintaining and/or establishing a low maintenance lawn. Some people do not want to devote a lot of time to lawn maintenance. Others are not interested in the aesthetic qualities of a well maintained lawn. Those with limited budgets may not want to spent a lot of money on lawn care. For many, the idea of a low maintenance lawn is also environmental sound. If this includes you. Then a low maintenance lawn may be your answer.
Understanding the concept: A low maintenance lawn in most cases will not have the aesthetic qualities of a bluegrass lawn under a high maintenance program, but it does not have to look like a neglected lawn either. Since you will be using minimum amounts of fertilizer and very little if any supplemental irrigation the aesthetics of the lawn will reflect this level of maintenance. Also the types of grasses which will tolorate this level of maintenance do not have the same texture and dark color typical of bluegrasses.
In adition to the normal appearance of the low maintenance lawn you must be willing to increase your tolerance level to weeds and pests. Also during the periods when temperatures are high and rainfall is minimal you must be able to tolerate a lawn which goes into summer dormancy. This mechanism of summer dormancy may cause the lawn to brown (it will NOT be dead). It may be best to stay off the lawn during this period to avoid injuring the grass.
Occasional overseeding of areas damaged by pests or other factors may be necessary since the types of grasses in a low maintenance lawn do not spread like bluegrass.
Choosing a seed mixture. The fine fescues, which include the Chewings fescues, creeping red fescues and the hard fescues, are the type most often used in low maintenance lawns. Tall fescues are another type which can be considered. Fine fescues perform well under low moisture and maintenance conditions. In addition they tolorate shade as well as full sun sites. If the site is wet, fine fescue will not perform well.
Choose a mixture which contains at least 65% fine fescues. Be sure that you have a blend of at least three improved varieties. The rest of the mixture can be made up of bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. These other grasses will eventually decline due to the low maintenance level.
When all else fails, you can always pour cement and paint it green.