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Eco Lawn near The Coast #761123

Asked July 11, 2021, 2:22 PM EDT

Hello, We live in Bandon, close to but not right on the coast. We are close enough to the water that we can hear the surf and it never seems to exceed 75 degrees. Conditions being what they are, I am reluctant to do a lot of watering. In past years I watered the lawn a couple times a week and the only visible result was a BIG water bill. But right next door they have a lawn that they seldom mow and never water and it stays green year around. I have not been able to find any one who can tell me what this lawn is. It seems to be colonizing our lawn, but it will probably take a long time to take over. Can you make a recommendation of a commercially available seed to over seed our existing lawn? Wandering around the Internet I find seed like Pearl's Premium and your website mentions Water Warden, but any specific info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I have attached photos. Thanks, Victor Giudici

Coos County Oregon

Expert Response

Hard to tell from the photo.  It looks like it could be St Augustine grass (a warm season grass).  This may go dormant and brown some if it gets cool enough in the fall/winter.  If this does work into your lawn, you may want to overseed in the winter with perennial ryegrass (cool season grass) to keep it green.   

The Water Warden mix should be a good choice for overseeding your lawn as it tolerates drought and foot traffic.    You might also consider an eco lawn, an alternative to a conventional lawn.   

Oregon State Extension publication "Practical Lawn Care for Western Oregon" - https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1521.pdf

Page 4 - Alternatives to conventional lawns contain a mix of grasses and flowering plants such as white clover, yarrow, and others.

Here is another Oregon State Extension discussion on low maintenance turf - https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/beaverturf/low-maintenance-turf    

It suggests a couple sources of seed mixes - Nichols Garden Nursery, Philomath OR and PT Lawn Seed in Portland.

Bill Hutmacher Replied July 14, 2021, 11:45 AM EDT

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