Landscape Architect Articles

Turf Grass Alternatives03-26-12 | News

Turf Grass Alternatives

Habiturf grass reportedly establishes quickly and conserves precious resources once established. The company?EUR??,,????'?????<

For water-conscious landscape contractors, there are newly developed grass species that can planted instead of traditional turf grass. Some new grass species can be planted in place of traditional turf grass that don't require as much supplemental water or none at all. One such alternative is Habiturf, a mix of native grass species that grow in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, which was developed and tested by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center www.wildflower.org/habiturf.

Habiturf grass reportedly establishes quickly and conserves precious resources once established. The company?EUR??,,????'?????<

Not only does Habiturf reportedly not need supplemental water, it also does not require mowing because of its low growth. It may grow up to six inches, but if the soil is really infertile, it might stay lower without any mowing.
If you do mow Habiturf, you need to do it less often, because it doesn't grow as quickly as Kentucky Blue grass.

Other Grass Alternatives

Sedges, grass-like plants, make good substitute for a shady lawn areas. For clients who desire a bright green lawn, landscape contractors can specify oak sedge. Oak sedge likes shady or sunny spots and grows low to the ground.
Sedges work well in Mid-west states, but certain ones, such as Pennsylvania sedge (which is native to the eastern half of the United States) may need a little more water than Habiturf.

Living Carpets

Living carpets are composed of plants that don't resemble grasses, such as wild strawberries or seedums. During certain times of the year, thyme lawns are covered with bright pink flowers and require no mowing.