| Pass on the Grass - An Alternative |
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With these considerations in mind, the next step is choosing the right plants for the area’s environmental conditions. Hopkins says the No. 1 thing to look for is sun to shade ratio and where the light hits. Next, homeowners are able to find out their soil quality by taking a sample to a local garden center for analysis. Based on the results, garden center employees can help choose a soil amendment, which ideally should be something with excellent drainage. Correct drainage is described as allowing an appropriate amount of water absorption by the plant’s roots, while also permitting excess water to be drained away from the plant.
The Turf Transition
Making the transition from a conventional grass lawn to one with creeping perennials takes planning. Be sure you choose the proper plant for the area and function, and one that has plenty of availability from the local garden center. Next, determine the density of the plants. Spacing them 12 inches apart, for example will require fewer plants, but they will take a year or more to fill in and need a bit of maintenance. Spacing plants just 2 inches apart will require more plants, costing more. Deciding how dense to plant creeping perennials depends on how much money is in the budget and if instant gratification is a priority.
The next step is removing the sod, and tilling and amending the soil with high-drainage components. Once the bed is ready, consider placing a slow-release fertilizer at root level. “Do not place fertilizer directly on the plant because this will burn the foliage,” Hopkins says. To avoid hand weeding, homeowners may opt to apply a ground cloth or pre-emergent herbicide, though creeping perennials naturally inhibit weeds. For best results, plant creeping perennials even or just above the soil line, but never below. Planting below the soil line will cause water to collect and, ultimately, drown the plants, Hopkins says.
Step On It
The final step is just that -- gently step on each plant to set it in place and get it started growing. “Believe it or not, gently stepping on each new plant actually attaches the roots to the soil line. In about three days, little roots will emerge from the nodes,” Hopkins says. As with traditional lawns, the more thought, planning, effort and care that homeowners put into installing a bed of creeping perennials, the more it will pay off in the end with the long-term benefit of a beautiful, functional landscape with far less maintenance and more time to simply enjoy it.
To learn more tips on replacing grass with creeping perennials, log onto www.stepables.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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