Planting a Drought Tolerant Lawn

Whether you live in a location that does not get a lot of water or you just want to be more water-conscious with your landscaping, here are some tips to create the lawn of your dreams without using high levels of water. Most people assume that a drought-tolerant landscape has to look like a gravel desert scene, with lots of cacti, or a heavily paved area with no lawn. We are here to show you that you can have a perfectly drought-tolerant garden, without a desert theme, and a beautiful lawn! Here are the basics for how to make this happen:

Lawns are the biggest thing that people tell you to get rid of when planning a drought-tolerant landscape. People normally opt to replace it with a plastic lawn alternative, succulents, or a brush meadow look. Now these are not bad options (other than plastic grass, we don't support this option for linens to landscapes) but if you are someone who loves your lawn, we're here to tell you, you don't need to do away with it! The key here is to go with a drought-tolerant lawn. This can be in the form of ground covers like dymondia or creeping thyme, or you can have a more traditional lawn look by using native grass or a fescue mix. We will walk through each option now:

Ground covers are an excellent option for a lawn if you are not attached to heavy play or use in the area. Their flowers are a great attraction for pollinators, supporting the local bee population. Ground covers are soft and beautiful when flowering, generally require the least amount of water, and often need very little maintenance. However, ground covers cannot support heavy traffic, they are not level enough for games such as croquette or golf, and they do not give you the traditional "lawn-like look." The other caveat to ground covers occurs if you have little kids or a bee allergy, it may be best to go in a different direction because they are extremely pollinator-heavy in the spring.

Native grasses are wonderful because they help bring back animals native to the area and support the natural ecosystem. They give a soft, meadow-like look, and are often no-mow, meaning less maintenance while still maintaining a more lawn-like appeal than ground covers. Native grasses require little water, but you will need a good drip irrigation system for the summer months. They also tend to be 'seasonal' in the sense that they go dormant in the summer. Generally, the grasses turn a light brown in the summer which can be a turn-off for many people who want year-round green. In California, we see these types of grasses green from November to June. These grasses support moderate play, but may not be as soft in the summer months, they do not attract pollinators.

Lastly, and probably the most desirable if you want to stick with a 'traditional' lawn. This option is a blend of some of the most drought-tolerant fescues. These grasses look and feel exactly like a regular lawn. They can be mowed to look manicured or left to grow tall and meadow-like. They are usually a very rich dark green and can support heavy play. The fescue mixes also do not go dormant in the summer, so you will be able to maintain a beautiful green year-round. However, these lawns are the least drought-tolerant of the three options, though still conserve 75% less water than a traditional lawn. They are relatively heat-tolerant but must be mowed short in the summer if you want to minimize water usage during the dry months. We found these lawns do not need to be watered at all during the rainy season. Finally, these lawns do require more soil amendment during installation than the other two options, as the fescues are not as hardy in sandy or heavy clay soils. This will require slightly more capital upfront when

Selecting a drought-tolerant lawn can be a daunting process, but knowing the pros and cons of each option will help you determine the best selection for your needs. The most important thing about this article though, is that you absolutely DO NOT have to tear up your dreams of having a lawn to be environmentally conscious. We hope you feel more confident about your water-conscious endeavor, but if you are still nervous about making the right selection, don't hesitate to book a consultation call with us to help you make your decision.