Why not Lawn?
• High resource consumer• Water
• Behavioral
• Plant out of place
• 30-50”
• Nutrients
• Pesticide
• Time
• Fuel
Alternative Lawns
• Lawn growth timing• Cool season vs Warm season
• Lawn growth habit• Spreading
• Rhizomes, stolons
• Bunch grasses
• Other factors to consider• Rooting depth
• Adaptations to climate
Water Conservative Bluegrass Varieties
• Not all bluegrass is equal
• Know your source and look for reputable suppliers
• Mixed seed is best
• 5-10% less water• 10,000 - 110,000 gallons savings
28”
Dwarf Tall Fescue
• Cool season grass
• Clump forming
• Wider leaf blade
• Deeper root system
• 20% less water• 30,000 - 130,000 gallons savings
24”
Crested Wheatgrass
• Cool season grass
• Clump forming
• Native to Utah
• Not well bred yet
• 20% less water• 30,000 - 130,000 gallons savings 24”
Blue Grama
• Warm season grass
• Clump forming
• Greens up late, goes dormant early• Late-May to early September
• Has difficulty with cool season weeds
• Not as resistant to foot traffic
• 50% less water• 75,000 – 175,000 gallons savings 15”
Buffalograss
• Warm season grass
• Spreading - stolons
• Greens up late, goes dormant early• Late-May to early September
• Has difficulty with cool season weeds
• Not as resistant to foot traffic
• 50% less water• 90,000 – 190,000 gallons savings
12”
Others?
• Dog Tuff
• Xerilawn
• RTF
• Turtleturf
• Avoid:• Bermudagrass
• Zoysia
• Creeping bentgrass
Alternatives to Lawn
• Know your needs• Durability
• Growth habit
• Exposure needs
• Height
• Maintenance• Weed control
• Deadheading
Blue FescueFestuca glauca
• Durability: High• Ankle twister
• Growth Habit: Clump forming
• Height: 6-10”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirements: Low
• Maintenance: Trim and rake through once a year
Cranesbill GeraniumGeranium spp.
• Durability: Low
• Growth Habit: Clump forming
• Height: 12-18”
• Exposure: Sun to part shade
• Water Requirement: Medium
• Maintenance: Deadheading, cut back
Creeping ThymeThymus spp.
• Many types• Woolly, Mother of, Creeping
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 3-5”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Medium to low
• Maintenance: Low
Creeping SpeedwellVeronica spp.
• Types:• Thyme-leaf, Turkish, others
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 3-5”
• Exposure: Sun to shade
• Water Requirement: Medium to low
• Maintenance: Low
Dwarf PeriwinkleVinca minor
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 3-6”
• Exposure: Sun to full shade
• Water Requirement: Medium
• Maintenance: Low
IceplantDelosperma spp.
• Durability: Low• Don’t walk on
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 2-4” tall
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Low
Ornamental StrawberryFragaria spp.
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 4-8”
• Exposure: Sun to part shade
• Water Requirement: Medium
• Maintenance: Low
PlumbagoCeratostigma plumbaginoides
• Durability: Low
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 8-12”
• Exposure: Sun to shade
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Cut back yearly
PussytoesAntennaria dioica
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 2-6”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Deadhead
SedgeCarex spp.
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Clump to spreading
• Height: 12-18” tall
• Exposure: Sun to shade
• Water Requirement: Medium
• Maintenance: May need to be cut back each year
Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 6-10”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Cut back as needed
SoapwortSaponaria ocymoides
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 6-10”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Low
StonecropSedum spp.
• Durability: Low
• Growth Habit: Spreading to clump
• Height: 4-18”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Low
Prairie WinecupsCallirhoe involucrata
• Durability: Medium
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 8-10”
• Exposure: Sun to shade
• Water Requirement: Very low
• Maintenance: Cut back each year
YarrowAchillea spp.
• Durability: High
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 18-20” unless mowed
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Low
• Maintenance: Mowing or cutting back
Fire ChaliceZauschneria (Epilobium) spp.
• Durability: Low
• Growth Habit: Spreading
• Height: 8-10”
• Exposure: Sun
• Water Requirement: Very low
• Maintenance: Cut back each year