By Kate Breece
HWD Public Affairs

Turf in Transition

Has your lawn gone "golden"? Are you suffering from lawn anxiety? Or perhaps have a severe case of lawn-withdrawal?

During last summer, many of us quit watering our lawns. The grass first turned pale and wane and eventually grew crispy-critter "golden."

Then some winter rains came, returning the blades to a semi-green. "Hmmmm!" we thought, "now what?" But, as summer approaches, the memory of blistering heat returns. The knowledge that our regional water supply is likely to be cut again, not to mention the rising cost of water, makes many of us reluctant to turn on the sprinklers.

Some of us might even enjoy not having to mow that front strip every week, apply the weed & feed, and replace the sprinkler heads when the neighbor's dog nibbles them down to ground level.

The good news is that there are amazingly beautiful landscape alternatives that take far less water than a lawn, use far less fertilizer, and require far less upkeep. This could be the beginning of an adventure!

Here are two eye-popping examples

Just in case you're skeptical, take a look at this first example! This area home has plenty of 'curb appeal.' Color literally spills over the curb with stands of flowering water-wise perennials, some native California poppies, and a smattering of succulents. There is a nice canopy, too. Trees give height and shade. They are a cherished part of landscapes as they help keep homes cool and protect them from that ever present SoCal sunshine.

This yard features a dry stream bed and pleasant garden artifacts in the form of decorative pots and reused utensils. The owner hand waters, so there is no automatic sprinkler system. Water use is about a third of what it would be had it been planted in turf.

The second landscape has an expansive sweep of lantana, making it extremely eye-catching. The owners chose a riot of colors and textures to keep the mower from the front yard. Walking paths and garden sculpture add interest and make for easy access when doing the small amount of maintenance that is needed to keep it looking beautiful.

This landscape has a combination of sprinklers and drip irrigation, again, using far less water than if it were turf.

Transition Garden

"Well, that's nice," we say, "but all I have now is dead grass."

That's where most of us start, and sometimes it's hard to get past that point.

So, that's why the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon (located on the grounds of Cuyamaca College, www.thegarden.org.) has a "Transition Garden" exhibit.

The sprinklers have been capped; drip lines have been run to the shrubs and trees that will remain; the "turf has been tossed," and mulch has been spread liberally over the area to keep the soil a bit moist and the essential "critters" happy. Mulch keeps the soil alive, rather than letting it turn into a baked brick which is hard to rejuvenate later.

Mulching gives us time to think. "What do I really want here?" Once we decide, we can literally do it by the square foot…. three plants here, five plants there--add the drip lines and the new "yard" begins to grow.

So, we really want to have grass... technology helps

If you just love or need turf, consider reducing the area covered by grass. For the area remaining turf, here are ways to keep your grass reasonably green and still save water.

One of the latest technologies is the "Smart" controller. These devices use weather data (historic or real time, depending on the model) to water the landscape in an efficient manner. The timers must be set and properly monitored for the best results. One of the best features is that these timers turn themselves off when it rains. Rebates are available for some models. Check www.bewaterwise.com for all the information.

Another technology that also has a rebate currently available for residential customers is the matched precipitation rotating sprinkler nozzle. These devices put water on the landscape at a lower rate than older nozzles, and produce larger "drops" so that the water actually falls more evenly on the ground and does not evaporate as quickly as with traditional heads. The use of rotating nozzles can save up to 20 percent of the water used on a lawn. Again, check: www.bewaterwise.com

Surveys available -- free service

Personalized advice about your irrigation system, is available to Helix customers free of charge. Call or e-mail: (619) 667-.6261; conserve@helixwater.org

Grass alternatives -- thyme, oregano, meadow, wild flowers?

Replacing grass with creeping thyme or creeping oregano (neither edible, but both aromatic) is an alternative that some find attractive. They work well in low to moderate traffic areas. Remember some "lawn" areas may have little or no traffic. If the only time we walk on the grass is when we mow it, the space could be used to sprout low water use plants like lavender (both the ornamental and the edible types are available and grow in this area), or lantana which spreads quickly and blooms a great deal of the year in a huge variety of colors.

There is also "the meadow" look that has become increasingly popular. The Water Conservation Garden is a good place to see how these types of landscapes play out.

The Garden's "meadow" features several different types of long grasses, some that do well being mowed occasionally, and others that do not. The Garden has salted its meadow with bulbs, so occasionally freesia pop through to give one a colorful surprise. One type of long grass, Curley Serge, is in the foreground of this photo. It has great texture and tolerates some foot traffic.

The Garden also has a lovely "wild flower bower," rife with feverfew and moss verbena. These are great examples of wild flowers that can serve as alternatives to grass in areas that get no foot traffic. Wild flower gardens can be sewn from seed or begun from potted plants. The explosion of color is delicious to the eye, and these gardens are likely to reseed themselves every year.

Grass Alternative -- Permeable Hardscape

Permeable hardscape can be alternative to turf. It lets water and oxygen perk through to the subsoil, while leaving a walkable surface. One example would be brick without mortar on sand or decomposed granite, patio blocks or flagstone surfaces without mortar. These alternatives to grass are easy to construct, good for tree roots, and help eliminate water runoff.

Permeable hardscapes come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and possibilities. It can look quite solid, or have planting space between "bricks." Treatments include plants, mulch, or leaving the area aux natural.

This area next to a garage is a good example of permeable hardscape. It is used as a sometimes-car-park. In the winter, the owner sows wildflower seeds and lets them bloom. When they die back, he clears the area and mulches it for the rest of the summer. The area around the car-park boasts bougainvillea, a massive pepper tree, lantana, succulents, and a stand of crepe myrtles, all on drip irrigation, requiring very little water.

Another garage in the same neighborhood uses a low growing, drought-tolerant groundcover that grows through a metal framework within the center of the driveway--very water permeable.

Grass Alternative -- Golden

Perhaps not the most luxurious option, but an alternative just the same, is to relax and let the grass go "golden" again this summer. That will provide another season to decide what to do with the ex-lawn.

Adventure!

Most of all we should have fun. Transforming a lawn into a different type of beauty is an exciting adventure. We may not know exactly where we will end up--we may change directions several times along the way. A plan does help in this adventure, but a plan is just that--a plan--it's on paper, not carved in stone.

Think about the endless possibilities! Check out the Nifty-Fifty list on The Water Conservation Garden website. It lists and has photos of fifty readily available water conserving plants: www.thegarden.org.

Draw up plans. Whether it's to be done square foot by square foot, or in one fell swoop, local nurseries, and even the big box stores, now have large selections of water-wise plant materials. In the past several years, area nurseries' staffs have become far more conversant with the less thirsty varieties that they stock.

Enjoy the adventure, the beauty, and the water savings!