Lawn Rangers Till To Kill

Killing your lawn benefits the environment and the pocketbook

© 2010 Wendy Dager

Many of us share fond memories of playing tag on the front lawn, running through sprinklers in the summer, or trying not to fly too far off the end of that bright yellow Slip ‘n’ Slide.

Today, with persistent drought conditions throughout Southern California and more folks trying to find economical, environmentally-friendly replacements for the traditional lawn, native plants and low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grasses are gaining in popularity.

Incentives for removing water-wasting lawns are now being given by some water companies to customers who choose to install low water-usage landscapes. For instance, rebates are offered by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD). The EBMUD’s WaterSmart Residential Lawn Conversion offers qualifying residential customers 25 cents per square foot up to $1,000. The CCWD’s Pilot Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program will give qualifying residential customers 50 cents per square foot up to $500 and nonresidential customers up to $5,000. (Customers must meet guidelines. For more information: http://www.ebmud.com/for-customers/for-residential-customers/conservation-rebates-and-incentives/watersmart-residential-l and http://www.ccwater.com/conserve/lawnrebate.asp.)

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has gotten in on the act as well, and is currently offering incentives up to $2,000 for turf removal. (For more information: http://socalwatersmart.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=102.)

“Turf removal” is a kinder, gentler way of saying “killing your lawn,” yet there are a growing number of proponents of this form of murder, which requires a game plan, including identification of the type of turf, then a strategy for its demise.

For instance, cool season grasses such as Marathon and Bluegrass—which stay green in the winter—are fairly easy to kill. Rototilling is recommended, as long as there are no rhizomatous weedy grasses involved, but you can also smother cool season grass with mulch. Organic mulches, such as redwood bark, not only smother the grass but also break down, enriching the soil.

Rototilling is not recommended for warm season grasses such as Bermuda or St. Augustine. Hand-removal, though difficult, is the best way to get rid of it.

There are those who advise using black plastic sheeting to kill lawns, but S&S Seeds does not recommend this method as it will increase the soil’s temperature and deprive it of oxygen. It can also reduce the amount of beneficial fungi needed for the health of root systems.

There are a number of herbicides to choose from when it comes to ending it all. However, as far back as 1997, the LEAF-let suggested its readers follow the medical principal of “do no harm” when dealing with chemical versus nonchemical solutions.

In the article “Chemical and Nonchemical Options” (http://www.albrightseed.com/weedcontrol.htm), we said, “Modern movement toward more chemical-free weed control has focused on reducing or eliminating chemical herbicides, though many of these products are valuable and, used properly, are safe. In certain efforts, such as with turf replacement or preparation for planting in a wild area, herbicides may be the only reasonable option.”

It’s always best to use caution and consult an expert, such as one of our staffers at S&S Seeds.

When replanting grasses after your lawn’s passing, S&S Seeds has two strong candidates that have shown great performance as an alternate turf: Native California Bentgrass (Agrostis pallens) and Native California Molate Red Fescue (Molate Fescue). These can be used as a solid stand or blended together, and, either way, will meet project objectives by using less water and requiring less maintenance.

For more information about native plants, seeds and other products, visit our Web site at http://www.ssseeds.com or call us at (805) 684-0436. All our products come with an extra ingredient at no extra cost—40+ years of experience!

S&S Seeds Recommends Native California Bentgrass Agrostis pallens Native bentgrass is a slower-growing robust plant with medium blades Establishes well on most soil types Grows in full sun and filtered sunlight Aggressive creeping growth habits which result in a dense sod Native California Molate Red Fescue Molate Fescue A native California selection of Red Fescue-bunch fine-leaved creeping/clumping grass Performs well on many soil types and areas such as hillsides, meadows and slopes Excellent shade tolerance Suitable for most bioswale conditions Fine-bladed and attractive green color with minimal dormancy Call 805-684-0436 to order today!

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