Tips for Choosing and Maintaining Your Lawn

Whether you have recently bought a newly constructed home with no existing lawn or you are looking to replace the lawn you have in the home you already own, choosing that new lawn can be a daunting task.

Many simply choose based on the “look” of the lawn without any thought given to what it will take to maintain that lawn.  In some cases when homeowners sadly discover the financial and time commitment needed for proper maintenance, the beautiful new lawn is allowed to deteriorate over time.

Simply put, some types of grasses require more frequent watering and cutting; more fertilizer; and more weed killer than other types.  For the wealthier homeowner the solution is to simply hire a professional lawn maintenance service.  Before you select a grass for your lawn you need to consider the maintenance costs.

High maintenance lawns require seasonal fertilizations, usually combined with weed and pest control additives.  Some grasses grow faster than others, requiring more frequent mowing.  Finally, there are issues with watering – both with the cost and the availability.  Water costs are increasing and some areas of Australia impose watering restrictions on homeowners, making it very difficult to maintain high maintenance lawns during drought conditions.

As alternatives to traditional grass lawns, many homeowners are turning to lower maintenance natural or native grasses and groundcovers.

Native grasses -- like weeping grass or wallaby grass, need little fertilizer, substantially less water, and mowing as little as 4 times a year – provide a lawn that will look similar to high maintenance traditional grasses.  Take the time to do some online research as well as to visit local garden centers to learn about these alternative lawns.  You’ll be glad you did.  Their biggest disadvantage is that they take a longer period to establish, making early weed control an important requirement.

Another alternative to traditional lawns is the use of groundcovers.  Groundcovers are low growing plants that once fully established can completely replace a traditional lawn.  They are by far the most eco-friendly lawn as they require no mowing and some varieties are drought resistant and require almost no fertilizer.

Once again, you will need to do extensive research before selecting an appropriate ground cover.  For areas with significant variation in seasonal temperatures, not all groundcovers remain green during colder periods.  Perhaps the biggest concern is the ability to walk and play on the groundcover you select.  If you have dogs or children this is an important consideration.  However, there are many groundcovers available that actually look more attractive than lawns and are fully functional.

There are some disadvantages you need to think about before replacing an existing lawn with either native grasses or groundcovers.  First, you will have to completely remove the existing lawn.  Most homeowner and even professional landscapers choose to simply rotor-till the existing sod into the soil and start over.  With grasses you will need to fight the weeds until the native grass takes complete control of the lawn.

But as beautiful and versatile as groundcovers may be, weed control will always be an issue.  Few groundcovers provide a solid cover, allowing tiny spaces where floating weed seeds can land and grow.  Despite the fact that you may have to invest a little time in pulling stray weeds, groundcovers are definitely worth your consideration.