FESCUE!

I try to avoid the “F” word.  As far as I’m concerned it has no place in a Florida yard.  Yes, I know it can be beautiful, but at what cost?  Grass, as most people refer to it, requires water, which is at a premium in Florida. It needs chemicals to keep it green and free of root eating bugs. Not to mention the weekly mowing and trimming necessary during the hottest months of the year.

This summer of 2011, we have been experiencing a severe drought. My lawn looks horrible, but my recently planted flowers look beautiful. This has always been my experience. So I prefer to plant more flower gardens and less lawn. I like lots of mulched or paved walkways that meander through the flower beds and take you on a journey around the yard.

 Sometimes when things are recently planted it can be hard to envision what they’ll look like a year from now, especially if you plant cuttings or small plants. The garden is a great place to practice patience!

The areas of “fescue” in my yard are minimal, but I want them tom look nice. I had/have a problem with chinch bugs, so I needed a chemical to treat it, and then I seeded the area with Bahia grass instead of St. Augustine, which may be prettier but is more prone to Chinch bugs.  Bahia grass is what is used along roadways and in commercial applications. It is cold and drought tolerant.  So far my seeds are just starting to germinate. I am using the daily showers we are finally blessed with to keep the seeds growing. Occasionally I pull the hose out to give them a drink.  Hopefully the lawn will be established by fall, and looking nice too.

What do you do for your lawn? Have you ever tried to grow some other type of ground cover in place of grass?