Posted on: June 15, 2006
Hang Up Your Mowing Boots
If lawn care isn’t your thing, here’s how to make it a more manageable task.
By Matthew M. F. Miller
CTW Features
Do you love your lawn but hate to mow it? Science appears to have the solution – a new plant-stunting process that, if perfected in turf grasses and approved for the masses, could make mowing a once-a-year ritual.
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego reports success in creating dwarf versions of plants by altering the gene that regulates their steroid hormones. The process decreases plants’ steroid production and produces versions identical to the standard plants in every way except size. A tobacco plant, for example, matured at 12 inches tall instead of the normal 6 feet. But development and approval of a genetically engineered grass is still years away, so lawn growers must content themselves with turf materials currently available. Here’s a quick look at seed, sod and some alternatives.
Seed:
• Grass seed is the cheapest way to go for your lawn. A standard box or bag of seed covers up to 1,500 square feet and costs $25 to $30 at most.
• Not just any seed will do. Of the more than 600 turf grasses available in the United States, there are right and wrong ones for your particular yard. There are 14 grass characteristics to consider, including color, texture, pest resistance, shade or sun tolerance, traffic wear and growth habit. So pick the style you want, then evaluate your yard before you shop. What you’ll likely see are blends of Kentucky blue, fescue, rye, bermuda, St. Augustine, centipede, zoysia and buffalo grasses. Package instructions will help you choose, or you can consult nursery staff, regional agricultural agencies or national sources such as the Lawn Institute and Turf Resource Center.
• Newly planted lawns must be kept wet and not walked on for about a month.
Sod:
• There’s nothing like sod for instant gratification. Unroll it and you have thick, mature grass. The catch is its cost — roughly 35 cents per square foot, or $350 for a 1,000-square-foot lawn. Like seed lawns, you must choose the right grass type, then baby it after installation. When buying, ask to see seed certification.
Alternative plants:
• Groundcovers that mimic the tidy look of a lawn include thyme and chamomile. Thyme is low-growing, aromatic, drought-tolerant and easy to maintain. Chamomile is heat-hardy, with scented, fernlike leaves and small flowers.
• Sedums, particularly Golden Carpet, have pretty but delicate leaves.
• Vinca is shadeproof and fire-resistant, with blue-violet blooms.
• Baby’s tears is lush, low-growing and spreads aggressively.
