bdub

We have been working (long distance) on our landscaping. The previous owners of our place had allowed brush to overtake the place. We have pared back the wilderness and are now about ready to put down some sod. My question? What kind of grass will do best? We will have a sprinkler system, but looking for low maintenence -- disease resistant. Sorta leaning rght now toward St. Augustine -- but willing to hear other ideas. I would truly appreciate the guidance and knowledge of the local experts.

Thanks Bdub

Rita

St. Augustine grass requires more water than say something like bermuda. It is more shade tolerant though, if that is a concern.

For lower maintenance, what we did when we used to live in Gainesville, FL was to adhere to the practice of not fertilizing at a high rate. The pests and diseases are more of a problem on the lush over-fertilized growth. One would of course want to keep the lawn healthy, just don't overdo it.

A mulching mower is very useful to put the blade part of the grass back on the lawn to add nutrients - don't mow short.

I do not have actual experience with growing grasses in the panhandle and have not kept up on new grass varieties so can't advise much there.

We chose not to worry about having lawn grass in SoWal, prefering to leave the palmetto, etc. I guess it depends on where you're located and the neighborhood.

Good luck!



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DuneLaker

I would let the wilderness come back and not plant any sod. Sod is probably one of the worst environmental disasters we have in South Walton. The less we have of it, the better we will be in the long run. Waste of water, too. Try to save any native plants that you have left. Palmettos can live up to 700 years and will keep your yard from eroding in the next storm or even heavy downpours. Yupon trees make an excellent shrub/tree, very little care or water and provide food and shelter for a number of animals and birds. Groundsel is another great local native plant that attacts the Monarch Butterfly in the Fall. Try not to use fertilizer or sprinklers as the runoff is very harmful to our Coastal Dune Lakes. Eastern Lake Nursery on 30A has native plants and should be able to help you out. The Southern Magnolia is a native plant. The Sand Pine is native and special to our Coastal Scrub Zone. Several oaks will serve you well such as scrub and sand oak,

TreeFrog

The previous owner of my place sodded. I'm all about low maintenance in the yard, so it has just gotten mowed, nothing else. And in just 3 years, almost every scrap of grass has died. If it's that much trouble to keep going, then it obviously isn't well-suited to the area.

Moving toward native ground cover, your friend, the Treefrog.

NoHall

Save Lake Lanier. Turn off your sprinkler!

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Beach Runner

While we were designing our house, I happened to go to one of Randy's classes at the old Gourd Garden (now Eastern Lake Nursery). He sold me on the advantages of using natural vegetation. So when our lot was cleared to build the house, we asked the contractor to minimize what he cleared. We have natural live oaks, saw palmettos, magnolias, rosemary, etc. We have no grass. We don't need a sprinkler system because that vegetation has been here for many, many years without the need for irrigation.

Our landscaping has kept the "grove" in our little piece Seagrove.

Oh, and BTW, we don't need to pay a few hundred dollars a month for lawn maintenance because our property is about as low maintenance as you can get. We do it ourselves a few times a year, throwing down pine needles and cutting out vines and overgrowth. That's it.

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a30aspice

I'm all about natural vegetation as well...that's all I've had in my yard forever. But, my dogs would sure love a little bit of grass. I'm not talking about a big lush lawn...just about a little grass in the backyard. That said, does anyone know what kind of grass survives best down here? Thanks.

TreeFrog

The little bit that survives in my yard is Bermuda.

Beach Runner

I hear ya on the grass. Thankfuly, our poodle is accustomed to pine needles (or newspapers in the garage when it's wet outside -- she refuses to potty outside when it's wet).

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bdub

Thanks for all the advice. We do still have a lot of natural vegatation around our place -- we have just pushed some of it back a bit so that we have some space around our house for kidplay. But seriously , it had gotten waaay out of control. I was almost afraid to venture into my yard!!

we have an ample supply of good water -- and sprinklers are about to be installed to keep the grass from dying off in the heat of summer. I think its coming down to a choice between St. Augustine and Bermuda. Anyone know anything about zosia (sp?)

beachmouse

As long as it gets enough water, St. Augustine thrives on benign neglect- fertilize about 2-3 times a year and it's happy. It's not the prettiest grass, but it's generally practical for a Southeastern lawn.

Andy A.

The Extension service does not recommend zosia for this area; it recommends Bermuda as it is moderately salt tolerant and drought resistent. For more info check FloridaYards.com

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Congress only does two things well...Nothing at all and overreacting.

bdub

ahhhh -- the extension service. Why didn't I think about that?

TooFarTampa

Good luck with whatever you decide. We have St. Augustine in Tampa though we are constantly fighting weeds. I can't wait to get our back yard "done" and get rid of it. (Okay, "done" means getting a pool. Not exactly a water saving feature!)

I will say that I am all for native plantings whenever possible and am glad that most of the developments bordering 30-A are going this route. The irrigation system in our Seacrest house has been broken since we bought the place four years ago, and we never bothered to fix it because the plantings there have done just fine. Xeriscaping rocks! I will go ahead and give Doodle Harris credit for this.

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Proud to practice indoctrination
at least when it comes to the GATOR NATION

scooterbug44

I am a HUGE fan of the natural yard - so much $, time, energy, and water gets wasted on a "lawn."

I thought I would miss having one, but now I can't imagine having to deal w/ all of the maintence!

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"I hate to break it to you, but this year (and probably the next few) was going to suck even if Jesus himself was president. These problems were not created overnight and they aren't going away overnight." -Jdarg

TreeFrog

Zoysia will probably need watering too much to thrive here. I have no idea how it will tolerate the salt spray from the inevitable storm.

BDub, the locals are really serious about the difficulties of maintaining a lawn. You won't believe the rate at which weeds and stuff will invade. Way, way more than what you find at home. You'll probably need to spring for a service.

Beachrunner got it right. Call Eastern Lake Nursery, tell them you want native plantings, and you can largely walk away and forget it.

Rita

. Our dog nearly overheats because we have to walk her so long because she can't find a good place to go! The little stinker hates the pine needles. Not crazy about the sand between her toes either. She'll just have to adapt.

Regarding your lawn, maybe sod half as much as you think you want and see if your kids and dogs can get by. You may be surprised!


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"Peace .... starts with the person who attempts to diffuse the tension and backs away from the inflammatory rhetoric."

scooterbug44

Why should she adapt, she's got it pretty good IMO!

__________________
"I hate to break it to you, but this year (and probably the next few) was going to suck even if Jesus himself was president. These problems were not created overnight and they aren't going away overnight." -Jdarg

DuneLaker

Our little dachsund has adapted quite nicely to "going" on native habitat. The only grass in our yard is what has invaded in spots from the neighborhood. Never water, never fertilize and it still hangs around. He actually prefers to go scout out a sandy spot near the Yupon trees.