Alternative to grass - Ask Extension
Hello,For years, I had a 'lawn' composed primarily of whiplash daisy (Erigeron flagellaris). It was fabulous -- required little water and maintenance....
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Alternative to grass #622620
Asked April 09, 2020, 1:21 PM EDT
Hello,
For years, I had a 'lawn' composed primarily of whiplash daisy (Erigeron flagellaris). It was fabulous -- required little water and maintenance. I have since converted this property to a rental and my renters somehow managed to kill off the daisies.
I'm wondering if a clover/fescue or some other combination might work better? I much prefer natives, but perhaps it's time for something more familiar to folks.
I'm wondering if a clover/fescue or some other combination might work better? I much prefer natives, but perhaps it's time for something more familiar to folks.
What is your experience/advice for converting to clover or do you have a different recommendation?
Thanks!
Christine Leahy - property in Arvada
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
Thank you for your question. To help me answer it, would you let me know:
- How much sun/shade does the lawn area receive?
- How much traffic will the lawn get?
- How will it be watered (irrigation system, vs. hand)?
- What (if any) maintenance do you expect the renters will do?
Hi, Mary,
1. Full Sun (west-facing)
2. Traffic -- front yard...light traffic
3. Hand watered
4. Water, weed, occasional mowing
Thanks!
Chrisinte
Hi Christine,
Thank your answers. I am in the midst of answering a similar question from a Westminster resident, and am waiting to receive some data from Dr. Tony Koski at CSU on the performance of micro/miniclover here along the Front Range. I will respond to your question with a recommendation after I hear back from Dr. Koski. In the mean time, here is what I sent to the Westminster resident (also applies to your question)
Thank your answers. I am in the midst of answering a similar question from a Westminster resident, and am waiting to receive some data from Dr. Tony Koski at CSU on the performance of micro/miniclover here along the Front Range. I will respond to your question with a recommendation after I hear back from Dr. Koski. In the mean time, here is what I sent to the Westminster resident (also applies to your question)
The research done so far has been done by the Univ of Maryland, which has very different soil and climate conditions from the Front Range, resulting in differring turf varieties that do well. So far, there is no published information on the performance of Microclover in our area, so I have requested information on the topic from Dr. Tony Koski, the CSU Turf Specialist. With all the delays in this time of COVID-19, it may take a while to hear back from him. We still have a month or so until it is time to re-seed.
SO, my current recommendation is to wait until I hear from Dr. Koski. Here is what I can tell you about microclover from the literature:
- Microclover grows best in cool, moist climates (doesn't describe CO).
- It provides the same Nitrogen-fixing benefit as standard clover, but does not have the clumpy growth habit that results in a patchy lawn (the patchy growth of standard clover is what motivates people to apply herbicides to get rid of it).
- It can suffer winter burn or crown damage/death during cold winters with no snow cover (common in CO), leading to thinning.
- It may need to be overseeded each year.
- It may reduce the Nitrogen requirements for a lawn by about 1 lb per year.
- I have found no published evidence that it reduces a lawn's water needs significantly over good cultural care to encourage deep rooting (aeration, infrequent deep watering, 3 inch mowing height with clippings left on the lawn.
I will forward a recommendation after I hear back from Dr. Koski.
References:
- Lawns and Microclover (U MD) https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawns-and-microclover
- Microclover (U MD)– Tall Fescue Lawns in the MidAtlantic Region https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/non_HGIC_FS/TT121%20Tall%20fescue%20microclover%20lawns.pdf
- Implementing BMPs to Reduce Runoof and Lawn Fertilizer Use (U PA)
- https://plantscience.psu.edu/reduce-runoff/questions-about-microclover
- Lawn Care (CSU) https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07202.pdf
