LAWN ALTERNATIVESCLIFTON SMITH

Why Lawn?• Play area• Desirable design element• Cooling effect• Everybody else is doing it…

Why not Lawn?• High resource consumer

• Water• Behavioral• Plant out of place• 30-50”

• Nutrients• Pesticide• Time• Fuel

Choose Alternatives

Alternative Lawns• Lawn growth timing

• Cool season vs Warm season• Lawn growth habit

• Spreading• Rhizomes, stolons

• Bunch grasses• Other factors to consider

• Rooting depth• Adaptations to climate

Water Conservative Bluegrass Varieties• Not all bluegrass is equal• Know your source and look for

reputable suppliers• Mixed seed is best• 5-10% less water

• 10,000 - 110,000 gallons savings 28

”

Dwarf Tall Fescue• Cool season grass• Clump forming• Wider leaf blade• Deeper root system• 20% less water

• 30,000 - 130,000 gallons savings

24”

Crested Wheatgrass• Cool season grass• Clump forming• Native to Utah• Not well bred yet• 20% less water

• 30,000 - 130,000 gallons savings 24

”

Blue Grama• Warm season grass• Clump forming• Greens up late, goes dormant

early• Late-May to early September

• Has difficulty with cool season weeds

• Not as resistant to foot traffic• 50% less water

• 75,000 – 175,000 gallons savings

15”

Buffalograss• Warm season grass• Spreading - stolons• Greens up late, goes dormant

early• Late-May to early September

• Has difficulty with cool season weeds

• Not as resistant to foot traffic• 50% less water

• 90,000 – 190,000 gallons savings

12”

Others?• Dog Tuff• Xerilawn• RTF• Turtleturf• Avoid:

• Bermudagrass• Zoysia• Creeping bentgrass

Alternatives to Lawn• Know your needs

• Durability• Growth habit• Exposure needs• Height

• Maintenance• Weed control• Deadheading

Blue FescueFestuca glauca• Durability: High

• Ankle twister• Growth Habit: Clump forming• Height: 6-10”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirements: Low• Maintenance: Trim and rake

through once a year

Cranesbill GeraniumGeranium spp.• Durability: Low• Growth Habit: Clump forming• Height: 12-18”• Exposure: Sun to part shade• Water Requirement: Medium• Maintenance: Deadheading,

cut back

Creeping ThymeThymus spp.• Many types

• Woolly, Mother of, Creeping• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 3-5”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Medium

to low• Maintenance: Low

Creeping SpeedwellVeronica spp.• Types:

• Thyme-leaf, Turkish, others• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 3-5”• Exposure: Sun to shade• Water Requirement: Medium

to low• Maintenance: Low

Dwarf PeriwinkleVinca minor• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 3-6”• Exposure: Sun to full shade• Water Requirement: Medium• Maintenance: Low

IceplantDelosperma spp.• Durability: Low

• Don’t walk on• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 2-4” tall • Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Low

Ornamental StrawberryFragaria spp.• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 4-8”• Exposure: Sun to part shade• Water Requirement: Medium• Maintenance: Low

PlumbagoCeratostigma plumbaginoides • Durability: Low• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 8-12”• Exposure: Sun to shade• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Cut back yearly

PussytoesAntennaria dioica• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 2-6”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Deadhead

SedgeCarex spp.• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Clump to

spreading• Height: 12-18” tall• Exposure: Sun to shade• Water Requirement: Medium• Maintenance: May need to be

cut back each year

Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 6-10”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Cut back as

needed

SoapwortSaponaria ocymoides• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 6-10”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Low

StonecropSedum spp.• Durability: Low• Growth Habit: Spreading to

clump• Height: 4-18”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Low

Prairie WinecupsCallirhoe involucrata• Durability: Medium• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 8-10”• Exposure: Sun to shade• Water Requirement: Very low• Maintenance: Cut back each

year

YarrowAchillea spp.• Durability: High• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 18-20” unless mowed• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Low• Maintenance: Mowing or

cutting back

Fire ChaliceZauschneria (Epilobium) spp.• Durability: Low• Growth Habit: Spreading• Height: 8-10”• Exposure: Sun• Water Requirement: Very low• Maintenance: Cut back each

year

Hardscapes• Water saving• Functional• Permeability• Heat