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Spring Is Here! Lose Your Lawn
updated: Mar 17, 2012, 9:15 AM
By Billy Goodnick
I WANT MY MUSTARD! This is supposed to be the season when the hillsides
explode with brilliant bursts yellow flowers courtesy of Sinapis hirta. It's not
there.
I've been driving the coast between Santa Barbara and Ventura a lot lately, and
looked forward to seeing the slopes come to life in early spring. But as I cruised
through earlier this week it struck me: The landscape is still dominated by last
year's parched brown stems. Wazzupwiddat?
Simple: No rain. The weather folks are saying we'll get some this weekend, but
it's looking like too little, too late for mustard season.
It's got me worried about summer and fire season. It's got me thinking about
why in the hell people still nurture useless swaths of thirsty lawn in a semi-
desert climate. I usually wait until summer to beat up on lawn lubbers and water
wasters, so pardon me while I mount my high horse a few months early.
Solution #1: Murder Your Lawn
The most effective place to conserve water is that ubiquitous emblem of civilized
SoCal living, the lawn. Sure, kids and dogs gotta play on something soft and it's
not likely you'll carpet your garden with old mattresses pulled from an Isla Vista
dumpster. But if your lawn still dominates your yard because you can't think of
anything else to do in that space, there's hope.
Can't imagine your yard without turf? I recommend reading Evelyn J. Hadden's
new book, Beautiful No-Mow Yards: 50 Amazing Lawn Alternatives. I just
reviewed it at my Fine Gardening blog, so rather than repeat myself here, let me
offer an excerpt…
"This book has it all: a compelling rationale for ignoring the siren song
of the ‘perfect' lawn, inspirational stories from gardeners and designers
enthusiastically embracing this timely trend, and step-by-step instructions for
creating easy-care, planet-friendly patches of paradise." Read the rest of the
review, and leave a comment before March 31 for a
chance to win a free copy.
Another source of fresh ideas is author, designer, nurseryman, and crusader for
lawn alternatives, John Greenlee, who is leading a nationwide charge to convert
lawns into natural meadows. Adopting his approach bestows diversity and beauty
on a garden while reducing maintenance and conserving resources. The photos
are seductive and there's lots of get-your-hands-dirty DIY info as well. Here's
another book review that will give you a
taste of what you'll find between the covers.
And if you missed my July 2011 Edhat mention of Reimagining the California
Lawn, you can get an
informative local approach from Carol Bornstein and crew.
So please don't fall into the trap of thinking that turfgrass is the essence of a
residential garden. There's plenty of great info to dispel that notion.
Solution #2: Every Drop is Sacred
I don't think it's risen to the level of an unhealthy obsession, but I'll admit that
my pulse doubles and my adrenal glands kick into hyper-drive when I see water
waste. I don't care if it's a poorly adjusted sprinkler system sending whitewater
rapids coursing down the gutter, or some lazy bonehead chasing one leaf down
a 50-foot driveway with hose; it drives me nuts. Whether due to ignorance or
indifference, there's no excuse.
If you're a do-it-yourself gardener and want to make the most of every drop,
there's free help out there. Contact your water purveyor through SBWater.org and schedule a
FREE water check-up visit with their conservation experts. For those who have
a gardening service, if you think your gardener is looking out for your checkbook
(and water karma), think again. Do not assume that just because someone
has a truck filled with mowers and blowers, they know anything about water
management. Some do, but most don't have a clue.
Solution #3: Learn Enlightened Lawn Care
Ever since I caught the horticulture bug in the 70s, my best source of information
has been the Sunset Western Garden Book. These folks are always at the
forefront of gardening information and their just-released, totally updated ninth
edition is loaded with not just the hottest new plants, but pages of planet-friendly
gardening advice, too.
If you're not ready to send your turf to its final resting place, at least take an
enlightened approach to its care and feeding. Did you know that setting your
mower to the correct height saves water? Or that adjusting your irrigation
controller to come on a couple of times for shorter periods assures that water
sinks down where the roots grow, instead of running off? Sunset's Grow Lawn
Grasses section (pgs. 676-7) has lots of water-conserving management tips.
What else do I hate about lawns? The noise, stink, and danger of power mowers.
Fiskars™ is a company that's always impressed me with their innovative,
sophisticated designs. At a recent garden show I "test drove" a manually
powered StaySharp reel mower that looks like something George Jetson might
own. It's quiet, amazingly easy to push (it's self-sharpening, so it doesn't "choke"
on stubborn blades), and the only thing you smell is the aroma of fresh baked
bread. Okay, fresh chlorophyl - even yummier! Another mowing innovation is a
powered mulching mower, which holds the cut grass in suspension long enough
to pulverize it into tiny pieces that invisibly fall back onto the lawn. These little
bits act as an insulating mulch layer, reducing evaporation from the soil and
eliminating the need for disposal.
So I guess I'll have to get this year's mustard fix from a Costco hotdog (with
sauerkraut) and hope that a lot of spring sprinkles give our gardens and native
hillsides a good drink. That way we can hold off on opening the spigot for a few
more months. But if not, you might want to turn your attention to that boring relic
that sucks up your water, money, and weekends, and take a fresh look.
----
Billy Goodnick is a nice guy who knows a lot about plants and garden stuff.
www.billygoodnick.com
gardenwiseguy.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/gardenwiseguy
www.sbwater.org/landscapeTv.htm
www.kingbeesb.com
Looking for design ideas and cool plants? Subscribe to Billy's e-mail newsletter by dropping him a line at
billygoodnick@yahoo.com
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