The Drought And California Lawns
If you are like many California homeowners, your lawn is sacred. You have put hours of labor into keeping it watered, fertilized, and mowed, but during a prolonged dry spell and mandated water restrictions, you cannot give it the care you would like. To prevent a horrible case of the dying grass blues, you should consider taking up your old lawn and putting down native sod to create a drought-resistant lawn. Contact a local outlet, such as California Sod Center, for further assistance on the following choices:
Native Sod
In 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown ordered a 25% cutback on water consumption. Since using copious amounts of water on your lawn is often not an option, you may choose to have Californian native sod laid to replace your old water-guzzling lawn. Native grasses and shrubs will naturally use less water and still keep your lawn looking great. Since California frequently has problems with adequate rainfall, relying on native grasses is the logical and practical thing to do.
Grass Varieties
Your choice of grass will depend on your lawn's particular needs. You may have a high-traffic, low shade lawn or a low-traffic, high shade one. Zoysia grass, buffalo grass, and St. Augustine grass tolerate drought conditions well. Other possible choices are June grass, western fescue, and bent grass. Consulting with a landscaping expert is recommended so that you can find the perfect variety for your lawn's unique needs.
St. Augustine Grass
This variety is native to the gulf coasts and is found in southern and central California. It thrives on high temperatures but also tolerates cooler ones. It is a lush, dark green grass that, when healthy, crowds out most weeds. Although it is more drought tolerant than many other grass types, it still requires some irrigation during dry spells. Until recently, St. Augustine grass was only spread through planting grass plugs or by natural propagation, but now St. Augustine grass seed has been developed, making it possible for you to seed your lawn instead of laying sod.
Whatever type of grass you choose to plant, it will require some moisture. However, choosing a native grass gives your lawn a much better chance of surviving the current California drought and possible future ones as well. The only way to consistently have a bright green lawn in California these days is to have it painted as some desperate residents are doing. The better solution is to lessen your lawn's imperfections by going native and foregoing the spray can.