{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-post-post-js","path":"/lawn-care/ut/firewise-landscaping-utah/","result":{"pageContext":{"wordpressPost":{"id":"43e7c0da-3068-5b54-a08d-5c74304ade47","slug":"firewise-landscaping-utah","path":"/lawn-care/ut/firewise-landscaping-utah/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Abdul Wadood is a writer and SEO specialist from India. He recently started writing about lawns and enjoys it. In his spare time, he enjoys going on trips.","name":"Abdul Wadood","id":"236127ca-c7a6-50bb-9ab7-dd3e7e3fe6d8","path":"/author/abdul-wadood/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/395f0103c8419fd32e2c021818b78121?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"65f3de7c-13d9-573a-b422-7e8ea533aaa7","name":"Utah","count":5,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ut/"}],"date":"May 15th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>Wildfires love dry weather, which is why Utah, with its arid climate, is highly prone to wildfire. In fact, it&#8217;s among the most dangerous states for wildfires in the U.S. But you can minimize the damage by adopting these fire-wise landscaping ideas for your Utah home.  In this article: 1. Prepare Your Defensible Space Photo [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>Wildfires love dry weather, which is why Utah, with its arid climate, is highly prone to wildfire. In fact, it&#8217;s among the most dangerous states for wildfires in the U.S. But you can minimize the damage by adopting these fire-wise landscaping ideas for your Utah home. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article:</p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#prepare\">Prepare Your Defensible Space</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#metal\">Use Metal or Stone Structures</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#plants\">Grow Fire-Resistant Plants</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#mulch\">Apply Fire-Resistant Mulch</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#hardscapes\">Build Hardscapes</a></li>\n</ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"prepare\">1. Prepare Your Defensible Space</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"536\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Getting-rid-of-the-dead-wood.jpg\" alt=\"Farmer removing this dead tree from the orchard and burning the smaller branches\" class=\"wp-image-15178\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Getting-rid-of-the-dead-wood.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Getting-rid-of-the-dead-wood-300x201.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Getting-rid-of-the-dead-wood-768x515.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Getting-rid-of-the-dead-wood-480x322.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Getting_rid_of_the_dead_wood_-_geograph.org.uk_-_683387.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pauline Eccles</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Defensible space is the buffer between your home and the vegetation around it. By keeping this area clear of flammable vegetation and objects, you rob the fire of the fuel it needs to maintain its destructive march.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your home doesn&#8217;t have a defensible space, it most likely won’t survive the fire, and the flames may&nbsp; spread quickly to your neighbor&#8217;s property as well. The secondary benefits of defensible space is that it can create a safe zone for firefighters to battle a blaze without endangering their lives.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>An effective defensible space consists of three zones:</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Zone 1 (Immediate Zone)</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zone 1 extends up to 5 feet from your home. If you live on a hill, increase the distance by 5 feet or more because fire travels faster uphill.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&nbsp; is how to prepare this zone.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Remove dried leaves, dead branches, and pine needles from your roof, gutters, and decks.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>You may grow fire-resistant plants within this zone, but trim and water them regularly.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trees are highly flammable. So, transplant any trees within this zone to another place.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t store firewood or any combustible materials here.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check your windows and roof for damage. If they are damaged, repair them to avoid ember penetration.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace organic mulch with stone, gravel, and pavers.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace wooden gates and fences with metal or other non-combustible materials.&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Zone 2 (Intermediate Zone)</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zone 2 begins where the first zone ends. It extends from 6 feet up to 30 feet. Here are some guidelines for this zone.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Remove diseased (dying) trees. Diseased trees tend to ignite quicker as they are drier.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prefer deciduous over coniferous trees.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure there&#8217;s at least 10 feet distance between adjacent trees.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vegetation around propane tanks is a strict no. So, if you have a propane tank within this zone, clear all vegetation around it.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prune trees up to 10 feet from the ground. Ensure a tree&#8217;s branch doesn&#8217;t exceed 1/3 of its height.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>The grass should be shorter than 4 inches. Also, water them regularly. Dry grass will catch fire easily.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Construct patios and walkways between grass and plants as they can block fire spread.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Zone 3 (Extended Zone)</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zone 3 extends from 31 feet up to 100 feet or the property line. Here are the guidelines for this zone.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Remove dead trees and plants. Generally, the more trees you remove, the better chance of your home surviving the wildfire.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can grow grass much longer in this zone, but water it regularly.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trim trees.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove debris and other dry vegetation.&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"metal\">2. Use Metal or Stone Structures</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"607\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Metal-Gazebo.jpg\" alt=\"Garden with a metal gazebo\" class=\"wp-image-15179\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Metal-Gazebo.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Metal-Gazebo-300x228.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Metal-Gazebo-768x583.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Metal-Gazebo-480x364.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1291._Peterhof._Metal_gazebo.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GAlexandrova</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wooden fences and gazebos look great, and many homeowners across the U.S. prefer them. But they are highly flammable and can quickly spread fire. So, wood shouldn&#8217;t be your first choice in Utah.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Metal and stone structures are a fire-resistant alternative to wood. They look great, are more durable, and require less maintenance. </p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plants\">3. Grow Fire-Resistant Plants</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Silvery-Yarrow.jpg\" alt=\"Silvery Yarrow plant\" class=\"wp-image-15180\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Silvery-Yarrow.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Silvery-Yarrow-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Silvery-Yarrow-768x513.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Silvery-Yarrow-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Silvery-Yarrow-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Achillea_Clavennae_-_Alpine_Flora.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PicturElements</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>The term “fire-resistant plants” is a bit of a misnomer. All plants will burn when exposed to fire. However, fire-resistant plants won&#8217;t ignite as violently.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A fire-resistant plant:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Contains low resin or sap content&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holds moisture&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grows close to the ground&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has thick leaves and loose branches&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has non-aromatic leaves&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the most <a href=\"https://extension.usu.edu/preparedness/files/Firewise-Plants-for-Utah-Landscapes.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fire-resistant plants for Utah</a>.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Silvery Yarrow (Achillea Clavennae)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sea Lavender (Limonium Latifolium)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ashy Cranesbill (Geranium Cinereum)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coral Bells (Heuchera Sanguinea)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips for growing fire-resistant plants correctly.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure there&#8217;s enough space between plants to reduce fire spread. We recommend separating shrubs by at least twice their height and trees by at least 10 feet.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Group plants in small clusters and not in masses.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove fallen leaves and branches.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water the plants regularly.&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note: </strong>If you live on a hill, leave more space between plants as fire travels faster uphill.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Slope Size</strong></td><td><strong>Tree Distance</strong></td><td><strong>Shrub Distance</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Mild slope (less than 20%)</td><td>10 feet</td><td>2 times the shrub&#8217;s height</td></tr><tr><td>Moderate slope (20% to 40%)</td><td>20 feet</td><td>4 times the shrub&#8217;s height</td></tr><tr><td>Steep slope (greater than 40%)</td><td>30 feet</td><td>6 times the shrub&#8217;s height</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mulch\">4. Apply Fire-Resistant Mulch</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"501\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/gravel-mulch-1.jpeg\" alt=\"image of gravel mulch in a lawn\" class=\"wp-image-14138\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/gravel-mulch-1.jpeg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/gravel-mulch-1-300x188.jpeg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/gravel-mulch-1-768x481.jpeg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/gravel-mulch-1-400x250.jpeg 400w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/gravel-mulch-1-480x301.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broken-stones.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sten Porse</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mulch helps plants conserve water. It can also reduce weed growth. Weeds are highly flammable and can spread fire. But choosing the wrong mulch – meaning mulch that is highly flammable – actually aids the spread of fire.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inorganic mulches like gravel, pebbles, and river rocks have great fire resistance. These mulches also look good and require little maintenance.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you prefer organic mulches, we recommend wood chips as they are the least flammable, according to a study by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. That study indicates that <a href=\"http://firesafesdcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/The-Combustibility-of-Landscape-Mulches.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">composted wood chips</a> are the least flammable mulches.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some mulches to avoid, as they are combustible.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Straw</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shredded rubber</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cedar bark</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pine bark&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pine needles</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hardscapes\">5. Build Hardscapes</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"557\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_concrete_retaining_wall_in_walnut_creek_ca_built_by_retaining_wall_experts.jpg\" alt=\"Our new concrete retaining wall in Concord, CA\" class=\"wp-image-11493\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_concrete_retaining_wall_in_walnut_creek_ca_built_by_retaining_wall_experts.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_concrete_retaining_wall_in_walnut_creek_ca_built_by_retaining_wall_experts-300x209.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_concrete_retaining_wall_in_walnut_creek_ca_built_by_retaining_wall_experts-768x535.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_concrete_retaining_wall_in_walnut_creek_ca_built_by_retaining_wall_experts-480x334.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Concrete_retaining_wall_in_walnut_creek_ca,_Built_by_Retaining_Wall_Experts.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James Easterday</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardscapes are man-made features added to a landscape design. They increase the appearance of your lawn and can also slow the spread of fire. Hardscapes include:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Retaining walls</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fences</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gazebos</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patios</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Driveways</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Walkways</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Use bricks, concrete, and metal for your hardscapes, but&nbsp; not wood. Here&#8217;s how hardscapes can help minimize fire spread.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>You can build retaining walls on a slope and grow plants in them. The plants will easily ignite if there&#8217;s no retaining wall as fire travels faster uphill.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building walkways and driveways blocks the fire from reaching grass and plants.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Larger hardscapes like patios and gazebos create a fire-resistant zone around your property. Firefighters can use them to battle fire without putting their lives in danger.&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Final Word</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Utah is hot, and it’s the <a href=\"https://hazards.utah.gov/drought/#:~:text=Utah%20is%20the%20second%20driest,aquifers%20are%20refilled%20by%20snowmelt.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">second driest state in the U.S.</a>, making it highly prone to wildfires.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s impossible to prevent wildfires from erupting, but you can minimize the damage by creating a defensible space, using metal structures, growing fire-resistant plants, applying fire-resistant mulch, and building hardscapes.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wildfires spread rapidly, and a single fire-resistant landscape can&#8217;t slow the spread. If you live in a community, involve your neighbors and encourage them to create a fire-resistant landscape too.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you want some help creating your lawn fire-resistant, </em><a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/\"><em>Wikilawn Utah lawn care experts</em></a><em> can help. We can also help you with regular lawn maintenance.</em></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Devereaux House / <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/7186916092\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ken Lund</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n","title":"5 Fire-wise Landscaping Ideas for Utah","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/1789c/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.jpg","srcSet":"/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/107df/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.jpg 320w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/293e9/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.jpg 500w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/f2cbb/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.jpg 800w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/1789c/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.jpg 960w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/c26c2/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/1dd6e/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/67b76/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.webp 320w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/8df11/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.webp 500w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/98a65/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.webp 800w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/1dd6e/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.webp 960w,\n/static/265f487891c8ff4d0e68a53dfdaadc88/3cc96/Devereaux-House-Salt-Lake-City-Utah.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"5 Firewise Landscaping Ideas for Utah","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Utah's desert climate is highly prone to wildfire, but you can protect your home with a good firewise strategy that includes fire-resistant landscaping"}},"relatedPosts":[{"node":{"id":"c4ae7810-cdc6-5cfd-825c-c620f10f37de","slug":"best-native-plants-novi","path":"/lawn-care/michigan/novi/best-native-plants-novi/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Stuart Kushner is a writer and aspiring product designer based in New York City. When he isn’t doing either, Stuart enjoys heavy metal music, exercise, and trying new food and drinks.","name":"Stuart Kushner","id":"82e51515-0cd6-5b19-a026-570eb408a24e","path":"/author/stuart-kushner/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/159400686ba92aeb1f5d3503e0246fc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"75fb394d-179e-5e85-92bb-a24a339af8a6","name":"Michigan","count":12,"path":"/category/lawn-care/michigan/"},{"id":"65c71077-8e3e-53cf-bfe2-68e1c598a700","name":"Novi","count":1,"path":"/category/lawn-care/michigan/novi/"}],"date":"April 12th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>A nice lawn is visually pleasing, but great landscaping that features attractive plants, trees and shrubs really takes your yard to the next level. And the best way to ensure they thrive in a climate as diverse as Novi’s is to use native plants that are adapted to the region. There are several key benefits [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>A nice lawn is visually pleasing, but great landscaping that features attractive plants, trees and shrubs really takes your yard to the next level. And the best way to ensure they thrive in a climate as diverse as Novi’s is to use native plants that are adapted to the region.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several key benefits to using native plants:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>They support birds, butterflies, and other pollinators, increase biodiversity and lead to a healthier ecosystem.</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Native plants adapt better to local soil conditions, meaning they don’t need as much water, fertilizer, or pesticides.</li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are less likely to become invasive species when planted in the right place.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Interested? Here are some of the best native plants for your Novi, Michigan garden.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#best\">Best Native Plants for Your Novi Yard</a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#new\">New England Aster</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#nodding\">Nodding Wild Onion</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#butterfly\">Butterfly Weed</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#swamp\">Swamp Milkweed</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#blackhaw\">Blackhaw Virburnum</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#blackeyed\">Black-eyed Susan</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#flowering\">Flowering Dogwood</a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How to Choose the Best Novi Natives for Your Landscape</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#final\">The Final Word</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best\">Best Native Plants for Your Novi Yard</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"new\">New England Aster (<em>symphyotrichum novae-angliae)</em></h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"536\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/New-England-Aster.jpg\" alt=\"Light Purple Color Flower with green background\" class=\"wp-image-13298\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/New-England-Aster.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/New-England-Aster-300x201.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/New-England-Aster-768x515.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/New-England-Aster-480x322.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/wackybadger/9518319219\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua Mayer</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>New England asters grow large, purple (or pink-purple) flowers with yellow centers, making them ideal for when you want your garden to have a splash of color. They bloom in late summer to early fall, and their flowers attract butterflies.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>This plant grows easily from seed and is moderately deer-resistant. Pinching back the stems several times helps control the height of <a href=\"https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b540\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New England asters</a> and promotes bushiness. This&nbsp; eliminates the need to stake them.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Deciduous</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight needs: </strong>Full sun</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Moist, rich, well-draining</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Medium</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"nodding\">Nodding Wild Onion (<em>Allium cernuum)</em></h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nodding-Wild-Onion.jpg\" alt=\"Small Bundle of Purple Color Flowers \" class=\"wp-image-13300\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nodding-Wild-Onion.jpg 799w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nodding-Wild-Onion-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nodding-Wild-Onion-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nodding-Wild-Onion-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nodding-Wild-Onion-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljill/10121261993\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paul Asman</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282058\" target=\"_blank\">nodding wild onion</a> isn’t a plant you can use for cooking. Instead, it&#8217;s a bulb that grows 1-2 feet tall with long grass-like foliage. Pink flowers grow from clusters between June and August, attracting pollinators. The easiest way to propagate them is to divide the bulb offsets (which allows the plant to spread).</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nodding wild onion grows in well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. You can recognize it by its scrapes hooking downward below the flower to make it seem like it&#8217;s nodding (hence the name).</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growth habit: </strong>Erect, arching</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>Six inches to 2 feet tall and 4 inches to 1 foot wide</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial, bulb</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Deciduous</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Average, dry to medium, well-drained</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water Needs: </strong>Dry to medium</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight: </strong>Full sun to partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"butterfly\">Butterfly Weed (<em>Ascelpias tuberosa)</em></h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"536\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Weed.jpg\" alt=\"Orange Color Butterfly Weed Flowers\" class=\"wp-image-13302\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Weed.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Weed-300x201.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Weed-768x515.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Weed-480x322.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/wackybadger/4553672218\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua Mayer</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>Butterfly weeds are colorful and, as the name implies, attract butterflies like a moth to a flame. It’s a durable plant that tolerates deer, drought, and dry soil. It blooms from May to August and displays from August to September.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it may be toxic, so don’t eat it. Nevertheless, if your garden needs a splash of color, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asclepias-tuberosa/\" target=\"_blank\">butterfly weed</a> is a great choice.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growth habit: </strong>Erect</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Deciduous</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight needs: </strong>Full sun to partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Average, dry to medium, well-drained soil</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Dry to medium&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential hazards: </strong>Low toxicity</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"swamp\">Swamp Milkweed (<em>ascelpias incarnata)</em></h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed.jpg\" alt=\"Pink Color Flower with the green blurry background\" class=\"wp-image-13303\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed.jpg 799w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/158105449@N02/51803934774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lydia Fravel</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>Swamps might evoke images of vines, decay, and stagnant water, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at this beautiful plant that grows there. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g410\" target=\"_blank\">Swamp milkweeds</a> have small pink to mauve (or uncommonly white) flowers growing in clusters at the stem ends.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swamp milkweeds grow in medium to wet soils but surprisingly tolerate average well-drained soils. Butterflies are attracted to them for their nectar.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growth habit: </strong>Clumping, erect</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Deciduous</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight needs: </strong>Full sun</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Average, well-drained, medium to wet</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Medium to high&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential hazards: </strong>Low toxicity</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"blackhaw\">Blackhaw Virburnum (<em>viburnum prunifolium)</em></h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blackhaw-Virburnum.jpg\" alt=\"White Color with yellow polen on center\" class=\"wp-image-13304\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blackhaw-Virburnum.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blackhaw-Virburnum-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blackhaw-Virburnum-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blackhaw-Virburnum-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blackhaw-Virburnum-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_southwest/31862549884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public Domain</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>This shrub or small tree is a high-value plant for wildlife. White flowers bloom in spring, and showy red flowers bloom in fall. Its berries mature to purple-black and are edible to both humans and birds. You can use its berries in jams and preserves.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=278961\" target=\"_blank\">Blackhaw</a> thrives in full sun to partial shade and can tolerate drought. It has no serious insect or disease problems and even does well in air pollution.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growth habit: </strong>Erect, irregular, multi-stemmed, rounded</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>12 to 20 feet tall and 6 to15 feet wide</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Deciduous</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight needs: </strong>Full sun, part shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Average, well-drained, dry to medium</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Dry to medium</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"blackeyed\">Black-eyed Susan (<em>rudbeckia hirta)</em></h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"550\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-eyed-Susan-1.jpg\" alt=\"Many Yeallow Sunflower like Flower With black polens in center\" class=\"wp-image-13305\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-eyed-Susan-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-eyed-Susan-1-300x206.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-eyed-Susan-1-768x528.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-eyed-Susan-1-480x330.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://pixnio.com/media/flowers-meadow-yellowish-many-close-up#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixnio</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>Suppose you want to add a bit of sunshine to your garden. Consider planting <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277225\" target=\"_blank\">black-eyed Susans</a>. Their large yellow flowers attract butterflies, songbirds, and other pollinators.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black-eyed Susans tolerate heat, drought, and most soils (the exception being poorly-drained wet ones). They freely self-seed and usually remain in the garden during that time.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growth habit: </strong>Erect</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial, biennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Deciduous</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight needs: </strong>Full sun to partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Average, medium moisture, well-drained</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Medium</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"flowering\">Flowering Dogwood (<em>cornus florida)</em></h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood.jpg\" alt=\"White color flower with some green polens on center\" class=\"wp-image-13308\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-300x199.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-768x509.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-480x318.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flowering_Dogwood_Cornus_florida_Flower_High_DoF.JPG\" target=\"_blank\">Derek Ramsey</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flowering dogwood is quite beautiful: a gorgeous spring bloom, bright red berries (which birds and mammals can eat, but not humans), an alligator-esque bark, and leaves that turn a brilliant red in the fall. It prefers two to four inches of mulch, which keeps its roots cool and moist in the summer. It also prefers moist, organically rich, acidic soils.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the <a href=\"https://mbgna.umich.edu/native-plant-of-the-week-flowering-dogwood/\">flowering dogwood</a> is especially vulnerable to diseases, particularly anthracnose, so planting it where anthracnose infestations are present isn’t recommended.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growth habit: </strong>Ascending, pyramidal, rounded, spreading</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature size: </strong>15 to 30 feet tall, and 15 to 30 feet wide&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foliage: </strong>Good Fall</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunlight needs: </strong>Full sun to part shade&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil preferences: </strong>Moist, organically rich, acidic soils</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Medium</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\">How to Choose the Best Novi Natives for Your Landscape</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When choosing native species for your landscape, consider the amount of available sunlight, the type of soil (and how well it drains), as well as whether you have standing water.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding your location’s hardiness zone also helps determine what to plant. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.plantmaps.com/hardiness-zones-for-novi-michigan\" target=\"_blank\">Novi’s hardiness zone</a> is 6a, meaning its coldest annual temperature ranges from -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Your plants should be able to handle extreme cold.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final\">The Final Word</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can usually find <a href=\"https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/NAP/Native-Plants/Pages/NativePlants.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">native plants</a> in garden centers, so check with them. Additionally, understand where these plants come from before buying them. If they come from the wild, they can devastate the local plant populations. (Propagated plants are also healthier than wild ones.)</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you’ve picked and planted your natives, your next step is the lawn. To ensure the healthiest lawn possible, pick from one of our best grass types for Novi. Then, contact one of WikiLawn’s <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/mi/novi/\">lawn and landscaping pros</a>, and we’ll do the dirty work for you.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Photo by: <a href=\"https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-ibaji/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pxfuel</a></p>\n","title":"Best Native Plants for Novi, Michigan","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/1789c/Native-Plant-Novi.jpg","srcSet":"/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/107df/Native-Plant-Novi.jpg 320w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/293e9/Native-Plant-Novi.jpg 500w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/f2cbb/Native-Plant-Novi.jpg 800w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/1789c/Native-Plant-Novi.jpg 960w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/c26c2/Native-Plant-Novi.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/1dd6e/Native-Plant-Novi.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/67b76/Native-Plant-Novi.webp 320w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/8df11/Native-Plant-Novi.webp 500w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/98a65/Native-Plant-Novi.webp 800w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/1dd6e/Native-Plant-Novi.webp 960w,\n/static/79062ac7ac8ed2a0a68fba3c0abb6cb4/3cc96/Native-Plant-Novi.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Native Plants for Novi, Michigan | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Using native plants that are adapted to their environment gives your yard the best chance of thriving year-round. Here are some of the best"}}},{"node":{"id":"4e0d8cb2-9348-5c34-9621-9affb156fa88","slug":"best-ground-covers-yard","path":"/blog/landscaping/best-ground-covers-yard/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"John Freedman","id":"2b0fdd6b-62df-527d-a469-37ab1935839b","path":"/author/joeyjoeyfarruggio-com/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/85c5c4009d774dbcc0eacb7cae07960a?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"5bb57152-2e9b-5822-a133-bc84c122adab","name":"Landscaping","count":42,"path":"/category/blog/landscaping/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"November 8th, 2019","excerpt":"<p>Ground covers are the unsung heroes of your yard and garden. They fill in bare areas where grass won&#8217;t grow, provide us with low-maintenance areas, and give us green leaves in the winter months. They can also offer carpets of blooms that attract pollinators and bring us joy. The mastermind behind Epic Gardening, Kevin Espíritu, [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>Ground covers are the unsung heroes of your yard and garden. They fill in <a href=\"https://www.dailypress.com/dailypress/dp-mtblog-2011-04-ground_cover_the_creeping_cure-story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">bare areas where grass won&#8217;t grow</a>, provide us with low-maintenance areas, and give us green leaves in the winter months. They can also offer carpets of blooms that attract pollinators and bring us joy.</p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-container wikibox ab-block-container\"><div class=\"ab-container-inside\"><div class=\"ab-container-content\" style=\"max-width:1600px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7 Reasons to Use Ground Cover Plants</h2>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>They provide visual interest when plants and grass are dormant.</li><li>Different ground covers thrive in partial shade, full shade, or even full sun. </li><li>Low maintenance ground covers minimize the need to mow and help prevent erosion.</li><li>Drought-tolerant plants reduce the need for irrigation.</li><li>When planted under trees and in flower beds, they act as a living mulch, retaining moist soil and resisting weeds.</li><li>Ground covers provide food and shelter to pollinators and wildlife, helping to increase the biodiversity of your yard.</li><li>They hold up to foot traffic better than turfgrass, and in rock gardens, they add year-round green foliage.</li></ol>\n</div></div></div>\n\n\n\n<p>The mastermind behind <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.epicgardening.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Epic Gardening,</a> Kevin Espíritu, is a huge fan of <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/home-and-garden/tired-of-traditional-turf-try-a-grass-alternative/\">ground covers as a lawn replacement</a>. &#8220;If you have children or pets who are likely to play in your yard, you can do a blended yard,&#8221; he says, adding, &#8220;Be mindful of both your average high temps and your low temps, and pick plants that can handle both.&#8221;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you&#8217;re convinced, take a look at some of the best ground covers for sun or shade in all climates.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_SDqGc7dP9YS9F6Y3RkvK_8iO3lTYkZZZ5VNlOL6sedxdWXBAJa5RPVA6ZBfP4rVwgY6DGapir_ww-ob8xo6Y-QscKHAKscDBJmkf0xXfYAs_afx7MnbKteF8mUu2610okjWik-R\" alt=\"\"/><figcaption>The bugleweed version of ajuga. Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Flackjacket2010 (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/47543932@N08/5647870257\" target=\"_blank\">Flackjacket2010</a>,  <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CC2.0 (opens in a new tab)\">CC2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n\n<p>Bugleweed comes in dozens of varieties ranging from green to bronze, purple, and sometimes even variegated. This ornamental ground cover stands up to heavy foot traffic and is hardy to minus 40 degrees. It can thrive in full sun to part shade and presents blue-purple flowers from late spring to early summer.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This fast-growing ground cover spends months producing white flowers and is hardy all the way down to -30 degrees. Candytuft is drought-tolerant and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It&#8217;s the perfect choice for sunny slopes and rock gardens.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This perennial ground cover with chartreuse leaves is a favorite for its hardiness and attractive foliage. Creeping Jenny enjoys full sun but can tolerate part shade as long as the soil is moist. With a fountain-like growth pattern, she&#8217;s a favorite for raised flower beds and planters.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F60x8NcemcIl4tDxNhj0lfnrrohZY4EQxU2lPGir5Hb_PCrBjwPrOZw2HiuRcIgXVeOaLPzXSRaIFgAGjWeRHbVZd2I8gdtbWvHwnDXUd77Q_NEqsmUBPtUiBGpUhKG8um3oS6Xt\" alt=\"\"/><figcaption>Creeping phlox</figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n\n<p>Deer resistant and cold hardy to minus 40 degrees, creeping phlox bursts into glorious bloom in spring. Best with full sun to part shade, this 6-inch-tall superstar performs well on slopes and retaining walls.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding stunning beauty to shaded areas, deadnettle has silvery, variegated leaves, and is hardy to minus 15 degrees. This deciduous plant offers cheerful pink flowers in late spring but dies back in winter. The only precaution to take when planting deadnettle is to make sure you&#8217;re not in an area <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=11558\" target=\"_blank\">where it&#8217;s considered invasive</a>.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flowering Thyme (Thymus spp.)&nbsp;</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The thyme family offers dozens of varieties of this hardy ground cover, most of which can handle temps down to minus 20 degrees. Only 3 inches tall, most varieties don&#8217;t attract deer or rabbits. Plant in full sun and enjoy a show of pink flowers in summer. and an herb for cooking all year.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ice Plants (Delosperma cooperi)</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Uru5bSHYQ_Bl5BvRgE0FWNnd9AMwMkHYn0XKgx7l2u1wWpnJOdVJozdHyp6T2SnGnU0uzKdbxq3Nl6v9YfumhAAW6fQTy6uVa5KxuTvF1uE7gaJMbzVY0_l-N9BnstfGoPg-BENA\" alt=\"\"/><figcaption>Trailing ice plant, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Tanka Juuyo (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/13910409@N05/4779112745\" target=\"_blank\">Tanaka Juuyo</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CC2.0 (opens in a new tab)\">CC2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n\n<p>This succulent, evergreen thrives in warm climates and can&#8217;t tolerate foot traffic or temperatures below minus 10 degrees. But on sunny, well-drained slopes, it provides beautiful texture and neon-bright, flowers from mid-summer to early fall. For high-visibility blooms and solid erosion control, ice plants are hard to beat.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This drought-tolerant evergreen prefers part to full shade and is hardy to minus 30 degrees. The glossy, dark green leaves create a 12-inch tall mat of foliage that produces spiky white blossoms in late spring.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Liriope (Liriope spicata)</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This grasslike ground cover, also known as lilyturf, thrives in sun and shade (but needs moist soil) and is hardy to minus 15 degrees. Both clumping and creeping varieties erupt into spikes of purple, white, or blue flowers in late summer. Liriope makes an attractive garden edging and is good for erosion control or under trees as a substitute for grass.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Periwinkle (Vinca minor)</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8vDsC_PoUx3TzLUQu3IfExcvkoDqrJ2fWxATHrfZ9J-lI7Ot8wzZLSGGw61FF8y-VwV4xgmwMme31AaupVrYyatVrhKgQUpp7RYDNltF1M9vPDKVdsdKK62C55AkEkDUd4dkF2Kz\" alt=\"\"/><figcaption>Periwinkle. Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Kenneth Allen (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6012165\" target=\"_blank\">Kenneth Allen</a>, <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CC by-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab)\">CC by-SA 2.0</a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most popular evergreen ground covers, periwinkle, prefers moist soil in partly shaded areas. Hardy to minus 20 degrees, periwinkle is a vigorous, vining plant that may need to be cut back every so often to keep it under control.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether your goal is to cover the bare spots beneath trees or to fill the negative space in your flower beds, there&#8217;s a ground cover out there for the job. Choose wisely, and your groundcover will reward you for years to come.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Top image credit: &#8220;Ajuga reptans Chocolate Chip,&#8221; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"David J. Stang (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">David J. Stang</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CC by-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)\">CC by-SA 4.0</a></em></p>\n","title":"Best Ground Covers for Your Yard","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/1789c/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/107df/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.jpg 320w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/293e9/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.jpg 500w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/f2cbb/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.jpg 800w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/1789c/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.jpg 960w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/f605f/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.jpg 1000w","srcWebp":"/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/1dd6e/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/67b76/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.webp 320w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/8df11/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.webp 500w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/98a65/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.webp 800w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/1dd6e/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.webp 960w,\n/static/7b8928cb37101f2a439ec84a76a9602c/23e94/Ajuga_reptans_Chocolate_Chip_0zz-wikimedia-david-j-stang-ccsa40.webp 1000w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Ground Covers for Your Yard | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"f3cedee9-3f12-5780-b5e8-eb8974ca3926","slug":"diy-hydroseeding","path":"/blog/diy-hydroseeding/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"A writer by trade, Janine Caayao graduated from the University of the Philippines. She draws, plays video games, and snuggles with her cats during her free time.","name":"Janine Caayao","id":"eab2e0a9-2863-5dad-b98f-fe06c596c508","path":"/author/janine-caayao/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4577dd58c063fcc8a254c30d035fc354?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"August 7th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>Are you looking for a more efficient and cost-effective way to grow a new lawn? Hydroseeding is cheaper than laying sod and more convenient than hand-seeding; as a bonus, it grows faster, too! If you’re ready to get your hands a little dirty, you could hydroseed your own lawn instead of hiring a professional. DIY [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>Are you looking for a more efficient and cost-effective way to grow a new lawn? Hydroseeding is cheaper than laying sod and more convenient than hand-seeding; as a bonus, it grows faster, too! If you’re ready to get your hands a little dirty, you could hydroseed your own lawn instead of hiring a professional. DIY hydroseeding isn’t too complicated. Let’s go over the steps.</p>\n\n\n<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-28a5f8ad-c7f8-4b39-b723-e7605020e92f\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\"\n                    data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\">\n                    <div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\">In this article:</div></div></div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column \"><ul><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#0-what-is-hydroseeding>What is Hydroseeding?</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#1-diy-hydroseeding-tools>DIY Hydroseeding Tools</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#2-step-1-select-your-seeds-and-mulch>Step 1: Select Your Seeds and Mulch</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#3-step-2-test-your-soil>Step 2: Test Your Soil</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#4-step-3-clear-your-lawn>Step 3: Clear Your Lawn</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#5-step-4-mark-any-sprinkler-heads>Step 4: Mark Any Sprinkler Heads</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#6-step-5-grade-your-soil>Step 5: Grade Your Soil</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#7-step-6-add-topsoil-and-other-soil-additives>Step 6: Add Topsoil and Other Soil Additives</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#8-step-7-level-your-lawn>Step 7: Level Your Lawn</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#9-step-8-prepare-the-hydroseeder>Step 8: Prepare the Hydroseeder</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#10-step-9-prepare-the-slurry>Step 9: Prepare the Slurry</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#11-step-10-fill-the-hydroseeder>Step 10: Fill the Hydroseeder</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#12-step-11-spray-the-hydroseeding-slurry>Step 11: Spray the Hydroseeding Slurry</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#13-maintaining-your-hydroseeded-lawn>Maintaining Your Hydroseeded Lawn</a></li><li><a href=https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/diy-hydroseeding/#14-faq-about-diy-hydroseeding>FAQ</a></li></ul></div></div></div>\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-what-is-hydroseeding\">What is Hydroseeding?</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Also called hydraulic mulch seeding, <a href=\"http://wikilawn.com/blog/hydroseeding/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"wikilawn.com/blog/hydroseeding/\">hydroseeding</a> is simply the process of seeding with a slurry mixture of seeds, water, mulch, and fertilizer. It has a slew of benefits, such as faster seed germination and a more uniform look.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The slurry is sprayed with hydroseeding equipment or a pump. You can also buy a do-it-yourself hydroseeding kit that comes with the slurry ingredients and its own sprayer.</p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16875\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEJIS7eurc-hydroseed-lawn-patch-next-to-grass/\" target=\"_blank\">BanksPhotos</a> / Canva Pro / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.canva.com/policies/content-license-agreement/\" target=\"_blank\">License</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-diy-hydroseeding-tools\">DIY Hydroseeding Tools</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You need the following tools and materials for your hydroseeding project:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Soil test (at-home kit or sample collection kit from a lab)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hydroseed slurry materials (if not using a ready-to-spray hydroseeding kit)\n<ul>\n<li>Grass seeds</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mulch</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fertilizer</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Green dye (optional, but recommended)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tackifier (optional, but recommended for steep slopes)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hydroseeding equipment (hydroseeding machine or DIY hydroseeder)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rake and yard leveler</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Topsoil</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compost</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sulfur or lime (optional)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protective equipment (sun protection, garden gloves, close-toed shoes, face protection, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-step-1-select-your-seeds-and-mulch\">Step 1: Select Your Seeds and Mulch</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mulchy-copy-1.jpg\" alt=\"Gardener laying down mulch\" class=\"wp-image-16326\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mulchy-copy-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mulchy-copy-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mulchy-copy-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mulchy-copy-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mulchy-copy-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.canva.com/photos/MAD-fS7ofZw-woman-gardener-mulching-potter-thuja-tree-with-pine-tree-bark-mulch-urban-gardening/\" target=\"_blank\">artursfoto</a> / Canva Pro / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.canva.com/policies/content-license-agreement/\" target=\"_blank\">License</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>The very first step is planning out the specifics of your hydroseed slurry: the <strong>types of seeds</strong> you want to plant and the <strong>mulch</strong> that you’ll be using.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>It’s recommended to seed grass types that match your area’s climate: <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/cool-season-grasses/\">cool-season grasses</a> for the North and <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/warm-season-grasses-guide/\">warm-season grasses</a> down South. With hydroseeding, you can plant multiple types of grass instead of just one. Some people blend Kentucky bluegrass with tall fescue, for example.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many types of mulch that homeowners can use in their hydroseed slurries. Each one has its own pros and cons. Here are some of these mulch types:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Paper mulch</strong> &#8211; most affordable, but not as effective</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wood fiber mulch </strong>&#8211; expensive but quite effective</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Blended mulch </strong>&#8211; mixes paper and wood fiber mulch to get the benefits of the latter at a lower cost</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bonded fiber matrix mulch </strong>&#8211; used for steep slopes and areas with heavy soil erosion</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-step-2-test-your-soil\">Step 2: Test Your Soil</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding out the condition of your soil before you plant new seeds is a good move; it will tell you if the soil needs any amendments to ensure the most optimal growing conditions for your new grass. A <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-test-and-improve-your-soil/\">soil test</a> — either from a lab or from a home testing kit — will tell you your soil’s pH level and what nutrients it has.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grass grows best in the pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. You can add lime if your soil is too acidic; add sulfur if it’s too alkaline. Any number outside of this pH range can cause your grass to grow poorly or even die.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the soil test results, you can also determine what fertilizer to add to your hydroseed slurry.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-step-3-clear-your-lawn\">Step 3: Clear Your Lawn</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it’s time to prepare your lawn for hydroseeding. The first step is clearing your lawn, as hydroseeding is most successful when applied to bare soil. Clear your lawn of existing grass (dead or alive), old plants, weeds, rocks, tools, toys, and other debris.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-step-4-mark-any-sprinkler-heads\">Step 4: Mark Any Sprinkler Heads</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you should mark any sprinkler heads around your lawn. This is especially important if you’re lugging around a heavy hydroseeding machine.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don’t have a sprinkler system but want to install one, you should do it while you’re prepping your lawn and before spraying the slurry.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-step-5-grade-your-soil\">Step 5: Grade Your Soil</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Grading-lawn.jpg\" alt=\"grading of a backyard\" class=\"wp-image-16918\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Grading-lawn.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Grading-lawn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Grading-lawn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Grading-lawn-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Grading-lawn-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEEqhgPAH4-front-or-back-yard-being-graded/\" target=\"_blank\">JulNichols</a> / Canva Pro / <a href=\"https://www.canva.com/policies/content-license-agreement/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grading the soil is simply the process of adjusting its slope to prevent rainwater and runoff from getting to your house and other structures. When grading soil, it also gets leveled.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>To prepare your lawn for hydroseeding, grade your soil 2 ½ to 3 inches below the final grade you want it to be. The final grade is how high you want your lawn to be. Afterward, fill in holes and level your lawn with a rake and/or a yard leveler.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-step-6-add-topsoil-and-other-soil-additives\">Step 6: Add Topsoil and Other Soil Additives</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is adding your soil additives: topsoil, compost, and sulfur or lime (if needed). The first two components stimulate healthy grass growth mainly because they supply your growing grass with nutrients.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Add enough topsoil and compost so that it adds about 3 inches to your lawn’s grade. Then, churn it into the existing soil.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-step-7-level-your-lawn\">Step 7: Level Your Lawn</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, it’s time to re-grade and <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-level-a-lawn/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-level-a-lawn/\">level your lawn</a> to the final grade you want it to have. It’s now ready to be hydroseeded!</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-step-8-prepare-the-hydroseeder\">Step 8: Prepare the Hydroseeder</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have a hydroseeder? Chances are that the average homeowner doesn’t have one. In that case, you have three options: renting a hydroseeder, making one yourself, or buying a hydroseeding kit in-store or online. Buying a hydroseeding kit is not a bad option if you need to seed a smaller area.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can <strong>rent a hydroseeding machine</strong> for covering large areas from equipment rental companies like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.unitedrentals.com/marketplace/equipment/lawn-landscape/lawn-equipment/hydroseeder\" target=\"_blank\">United Rentals</a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.sunbeltrentals.com/equipment-rental/lawn-landscape-and-tree/hydroseeder-400-600-gallon-rental-gasoline/0700125/\" target=\"_blank\">Sunbelt Rentals</a>, and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.macallisterrentals.com/rental/landscaping-equipment-rental/hydroseeder-rental/\" target=\"_blank\">MacAllister Rentals</a>.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;d rather <strong>make your own hydroseeder</strong>, this video tutorial will show you how:</p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hydroseeding: How to build a Hydroseeder DIY\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0nrRuVdxEHc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\n</div></figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have your hydroseeding equipment, it’s time to mix your slurry. If you have a DIY hydroseeding kit, you only need to read the instructions.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-step-9-prepare-the-slurry\">Step 9: Prepare the Slurry</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How much of each slurry component you need depends heavily on the size of the area you’ll be spraying. Typically, you’ll need 5 to 7 lbs of seed, 40 to 50 lbs of mulch, and 20 lbs of fertilizer for every 1,000 sq. ft. you’ll be hydroseeding. You’ll need enough water to fill your equipment about ¾ of the way. When in doubt, ask your materials supplier for guidance.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-step-10-fill-the-hydroseeder\">Step 10: Fill the Hydroseeder</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hydroseeding machines can vary in how they’re operated; always read the manual for specific instructions. However, you can expect this general process:</p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Fill your hydroseeder with water and let it run for 30 seconds.</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add your hydroseed slurry ingredients.</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let the ingredients combine until there are no more clumps in the hydroseed mixture.</li>\n</ol>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"12-step-11-spray-the-hydroseeding-slurry\">Step 11: Spray the Hydroseeding Slurry</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, it’s time to spray your lawn. It’s best to spray when it&#8217;s calm and cool outside, but it’s ok if it’s predicted to rain lightly that day. Wear your protective equipment before spraying, as you might be out in the sun for a while.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plan your path ahead of time to prevent you from having to step on the areas you’ve just sprayed. Keep the nozzle at least 3 inches from the ground and spray slowly and evenly throughout your lawn.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might want to overlap your slurry a little bit while you spray. This ensures there aren’t any gaps that will result in bare patches later on. You can make this easier for yourself if you add lawn-friendly dye to your slurry.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"13-maintaining-your-hydroseeded-lawn\">Maintaining Your Hydroseeded Lawn</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg\" alt=\"hydroseeded lawn picture\" class=\"wp-image-16872\" width=\"800\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg 1200w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485-300x193.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485-1024x659.jpg 1024w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485-768x494.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485-1080x695.jpg 1080w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485-980x630.jpg 980w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485-480x309.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/sue90ca/50510058302/in/photolist-2jXpfAb-awGjfS-Uxcxbd-auVnsX-bAKBoQ\" target=\"_blank\">Sue Thompson</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-ND 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations, you’ve now hydroseeded your lawn! However, this is only the beginning. You’ll need to maintain your new grass for it to grow into a healthy lawn.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few hydroseeded lawn maintenance tips:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep your lawn moist.</strong> Water your lawn twice or thrice daily in short bursts for 4 to 6 weeks. Slowly reduce the amount of water afterward over the course of a few more weeks.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Avoid walking on your lawn</strong> until it’s fully established. Minimize foot traffic for about a month, but it’s better to wait five weeks before stepping on your lawn.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mow your lawn </strong>once your new grass is 3 to 4 inches tall; this will take around 4 to 6 weeks before you can <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-mow-a-lawn/\">mow your lawn</a>.&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Add </strong><a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-choose-lawn-fertilizer/\"><strong>lawn fertilizer</strong></a> about 30 days after hydroseeding your lawn. This will give your turf the extra nutrients it needs and will promote good grass growth.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hand-weed </strong>if necessary. Ideally, you should deal with weeds before hydroseeding. Don’t use any weed killers until the grass is 3 to 4 months old.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"14-faq-about-diy-hydroseeding\">FAQ About DIY Hydroseeding</h2>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"15-what-time-of-year-should-you-hydroseed\">What time of year should you hydroseed?</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like when you’re <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/how-to-grow-grass/\">planting grass seeds</a> the old-fashioned way, the best time to hydroseed is during your chosen grass type’s growing season.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>For <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/lawn-care-the-definitive-guide-to-bermuda-grass/\">Bermudagrass</a>, <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-grow-bahiagrass/\">Bahiagrass</a>, and other <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/warm-season-grasses-guide/\">warm-season grasses</a>, you should hydroseed in <strong>late spring or early summer</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/landscaping/everything-to-know-about-kentucky-bluegrass/\">Kentucky bluegrass</a>, ryegrasses, and other <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/cool-season-grasses/\">cool-season grasses</a> should be hydroseeded from <strong>late summer to early fall</strong>.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you can hydroseed in the summer, it can be a bit more challenging as you must keep your new lawn moist for the first few weeks, and water tends to evaporate in the hot summer sun before it can soak into the soil and reach the grass&#8217;s roots.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"16-should-you-hydroseed-or-overseed\">Should you hydroseed or overseed?</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to grow new grass in a larger area, then you should hydroseed. If you’re filling in bare patches, then it’s better to <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/blog/how-to-overseed-a-lawn/\">overseed</a> the regular way. The hydroseed slurry can injure or kill your existing grass.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"17-how-much-does-professional-hydroseeding-cost\">How much does professional hydroseeding cost?</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On average, the <a href=\"http://wikilawn.com/blog/hydroseeding-cost/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"wikilawn.com/blog/hydroseeding-cost/\">cost of professional hydroseeding</a> ranges from 8 to 20 cents per square foot. The rate will depend on many factors, including your lawn’s condition and how big it is.</p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"18-diy-hydroseeding-vs-hiring-a-pro\">DIY Hydroseeding vs. Hiring a Pro</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>DIY hydroseeding isn’t too complicated and can make for an interesting project to tackle. You could save money on labor, too. However, it can be more beneficial to hire a professional because they have the knowledge and the equipment to hydroseed your lawn already. Besides, a pro will usually be more successful at hydroseeding than the average homeowner.<br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wikilawn can connect you with dependable <a href=\"http://www.wikilawn.com/\">lawn care pros</a> that can hydroseed, fertilize, and mow your lawn for you. Hire a lawn maintenance pro near you today for a lush lawn without all the work.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Image Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEE6TfmMGI-hydroseed-watering-a-new-lawn/\" target=\"_blank\">BanksPhotos</a> / Canva Pro / <a href=\"https://www.canva.com/policies/content-license-agreement/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License</a></p>\n","title":"DIY Hydroseeding: How to Hydroseed Your Own Lawn in 11 Steps","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/1789c/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/107df/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/293e9/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/f2cbb/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/1789c/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/c26c2/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/1dd6e/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/67b76/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.webp 320w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/8df11/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.webp 500w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/98a65/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.webp 800w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/1dd6e/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.webp 960w,\n/static/7fdd6619182dacdca0e5c8d06e7bb930/3cc96/Hydroseeding-lawn-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"DIY Hydroseeding: How to Hydroseed Your Own Lawn in 11 Steps | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Hydroseeding can give you the beautiful and lush lawn of your dreams. You can even do it yourself. Learn how with this DIY hydroseeding guide."}}},{"node":{"id":"d48bf529-7e32-515c-99df-8e3f40dac67e","slug":"the-definitive-guide-st-augustine-grass","path":"/lawn-care/the-definitive-guide-st-augustine-grass/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Emaley Baxter is an expert landscaper who loves writing in her free time. She enjoys research and exploring the great outdoors.","name":"Emaley Baxter","id":"c006aa66-4cfc-59dc-b3ce-5c07b0f83ff0","path":"/author/emaleybaxter/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/889dbc1c9ea88d564723019ac6c9b47b?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"April 28th, 2019","excerpt":"<p>An Overview St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), also known as ‘Carpetgrass’, is native to the Gulf of Mexico coast lines, the West Indies and Western Africa. Records from long ago have reported the presence of St. Augustine grass as a seashore pioneer along the Atlantic coasts of Africa and the Americas. Prior to 1800, the [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>An Overview</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), also known as ‘Carpetgrass’, is native to the Gulf of Mexico coast lines, the West Indies and Western Africa. Records from long ago have reported the presence of St. Augustine grass as a seashore pioneer along the Atlantic coasts of Africa and the Americas. Prior to 1800, the species was reported in Uruguay, Brazil, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the West Indies, Bermuda and South Carolina. It was even reported in Kauai, Hawaii prior to 1800. By 1840, St. Augustine grass had also been collected from Australia and New Zealand further highlighting its adaptability and utility around the world.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Characteristics and Traits of St. Augustine Grass</strong> </h2>\n\n\n\n<p>St. Augustine provides a coarser, denser ground cover than most fine textured Bermuda grasses, thus giving it the nickname ‘Carpetgrass’. It is an aggressively growing grass, yet it is still able to be controlled around its borders by edgers of various types. Because St. Augustine seldom produces viable seeds, it is most often planted via plugs, sprigs, or rolls of sod, with sod being the most desirable option available. It does require more moisture, in the soil and in terms of watering, than other turfgrass options. Therefore St. Augustine is best suited for naturally humid areas such as Florida, Texas, and other southern states with subtropical to tropical weather. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, most varieties of St. Augustine are known to be fairly shade tolerant, making it an attractive option for when turf grass is desired under large shade trees. It tolerates a wide range in soil types, but cannot withstand being waterlogged or droughty sites. In the United States, St. Augustine grass can be found from the Carolinas to Florida and westward along the Gulf Coast to Texas and in Southern and Central California. Because of its lack of winter hardiness, St. Augustine grass is restricted to areas with mild winter temperatures. Similar to bermudagrass, St. Augustine thrives in high temperature and high humidity zones, but the growth of St. Augustine is better than that of bermudagrass in cool, coastal climates. As a species, there are many cultivars and varieties to choose from that have varying pros and cons so as to be a good choice for many site conditions.</p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RqTAcxWwTkQd4iUQdLMu-_A0qY3ywERnWUDiQAzCrKz2fTMA0TCrRrATxPENMdB-ypTBhxBxE1CvyX4VbDLEWnPc4LRhKuhKn-HEH8PFvrCXoxgE_0iTgxJJO78rza7PzfYZgCVEHZuceRC95w\" alt=\"\"/><figcaption><em><strong>Photo:</strong> </em><a href=\"https://thegrassoutlet.com/shop/raleigh-st-augustine/\"><em>Source</em></a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Varieties of St. Augustine Grass and their Differences</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since St. Augustine grass has been propagated for the past 200 years, only a few strains or varieties have evolved and none have been developed (1). The following are just a few available varieties and their primary characteristics: </p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Floratam</strong> &#8211; This variety of St. Augustine grass is the only option that is not shade tolerant. For this reason it is a popular choice for Florida homeowners with their often sunny yards.</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Bitter-Blue</strong> &#8211; Is a variety that <em>is </em>a good choice for shady sections of lawn. It is also one of the more cold tolerant varieties to choose from.</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Seville</strong> &#8211; Offers a blue-green, long leaf blade with good color retention. It is also tolerant of shade, salt, and short periods of drought conditions. Another benefit of the Seville variety is that it is tolerant of the cinch bug, a common pest of St. Augustine. However, it lacks the cold tolerance that would allow it to be used beyond the southern boundaries of the Gulf Coast.</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Sapphire</strong> &#8211; Another variety that offers beautiful deep blue-green color and a softer texture than most St. Augustine varieties. It is considered suitable for warmer climates and is desirable in coastal regions for its salt tolerance along with being shade and drought tolerant.</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Palmetto</strong> &#8211; A coastal option for both warm and cooler climates is the Palmetto variety of St. Augustine grass. It can tolerate the cold better than other varieties as well and can thrive in either partial shade or full sun settings. It is one of the varieties that can resist the cinch bug.</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the advantages and disadvantages of St. Augustine Grass?</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As is often true in the horticultural world, a plant’s strongest assets can also be its worst characteristics. No turfgrass is ideal for all circumstances, and St. Augustine grass is no exception. As shown by the traits of just a few of the varieties listed above, St. Augustine grass has a variety for nearly every site condition in the southern United States. <br></p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages:</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Shade tolerant</li><li>Sun tolerant</li><li>Warm to Hot Humid Climates</li><li>Has varieties that can withstand cooler temperatures</li><li>Its dense growth habit can tolerate average amounts of foot traffic and withstand weed infestations</li><li>Quick growing in most locations</li><li>Some varieties are resistant to cinch bugs</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantages:</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Repeated foot traffic will cause wear spots</li><li>The blue-green color will turn brown in winter</li><li>Even varieties that tolerate shade will not grow as densely as they would in sun</li><li>Aggressive growth habit means it can spread quickly and must be maintained to say in desired areas</li><li>Requires monthly fertilizer and proper soil pH amendments</li><li>Must keep turf cut to 3”-4” high as cutting too short will cause grass to thin</li><li>Vulnerable to numerous lawn pests such as cinch bugs, gray leaf spot, large patch and take-all root rot</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Jlr0LSAIjx_4W_ZA7W9QLrcWBpZ31XaKq7hcktxQOslfqRtxCrC5z0tzJhVOoXDBITN9-lRN6GacUZ9c9EiQAWjyMlllnN8VVbaN9TdFBv70HQUNxLnZ94FFM1GeMLVCRiaf4SzoLPirqTjNxA\" alt=\"\"/><figcaption><em><strong>Photo:</strong> </em><a href=\"https://duda-sod.com/choose-seville-home-lawn/\"><em>Source</em></a></figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>St. Augustine Grass and Lawn Maintenance</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With warm-season grasses, month-by-month lawn care occurs on a different timetable than cool-season northern grasses that peak during fall. Saint Augustine grass is best planted in spring, after the final frost, as warm-season grasses come out of dormancy and enter prime growth. Overseeding existing turf lawns with additional St. Augustine seed can also be done at this time. </p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Basic tips for getting your St. Augustine turf lawn off to a good start:</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Plant your sod or plugs during a cooler part of the year to avoid stressing the plants.</li><li>Water your grass during the early morning hours to minimize evaporation.</li><li>Mowing is a necessary stress that all grasses are able to tolerate, but each variety has a preferred mowing height; St. Augustine’s is 3 to 4 inches.</li><li>Know which variety of St. Augustine you have in your lawn to be sure of proper care</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Still unsure of how to best care for your Saint Augustine lawn? Check out your state’s agricultural extension office for helpful tips and soil testing kits that will help you determine your best lawn care plan.<br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in the southern or warm coastal United States and your lawn needs call for a durable and wear-resistant warm-season lawn that can withstand both heat and drought, Saint Augustine may be the perfect solution providing you seasons of bright green turf grass.<br></p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:</strong><br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Duble, Richard L. Texas Coorperative Extension <a href=\"https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/staug.html\">https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/staug.html</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Still have questions about lawn care? Please visit our </em><a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/\"><em>lawn care page</em></a><em> for more information.</em></p>\n","title":"The Definitive Guide: St. Augustine Grass","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/1789c/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/107df/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.jpg 320w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/293e9/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.jpg 500w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/f2cbb/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.jpg 800w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/1789c/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.jpg 960w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/a2a79/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/1dd6e/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/67b76/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.webp 320w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/8df11/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.webp 500w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/98a65/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.webp 800w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/1dd6e/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.webp 960w,\n/static/9aabb009046f70e44b14a4dd3b82c47b/7aa54/st-augustine-grass-orlando-florida.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The Definitive Guide: St. Augustine Grass | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"903e13c5-05b0-586e-9537-b430b6b16abb","slug":"best-native-plants-washington-dc","path":"/lawn-care/washington-dc/best-native-plants-washington-dc/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Stuart Kushner is a writer and aspiring product designer based in New York City. When he isn’t doing either, Stuart enjoys heavy metal music, exercise, and trying new food and drinks.","name":"Stuart Kushner","id":"82e51515-0cd6-5b19-a026-570eb408a24e","path":"/author/stuart-kushner/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/159400686ba92aeb1f5d3503e0246fc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"30ecf80b-c320-5679-942e-29dcd7b95c66","name":"Washington DC","count":8,"path":"/category/lawn-care/washington-dc/"}],"date":"April 18th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>So, you just installed a new lawn. What next? How about choosing plants to finish off your landscaping? But not all plants are ideal for DC’s climate, which ranges from cold and snowy in the winter to steamy in the summer. Consider going with native these nine plants that look great and are well-adapted to [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>So, you just installed a new lawn. What next? How about choosing plants to finish off your landscaping? But not all plants are ideal for DC’s climate, which ranges from cold and snowy in the winter to steamy in the summer. Consider going with native these nine plants that look great and are well-adapted to our four seasons in Washington.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The top candidates are:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Plants\">Benefits of Native Plants</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Trees\">Trees</a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Dogwood\">Flowering Dogwood</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Redbud\">Eastern Redbud</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Serviceberry\">Serviceberry</a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Shrubs\">Shrubs</a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Viburnum\">Arrowwood Viburnum</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Holly\">Winterberry Holly</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Beautyberry\">American Beautyberry</a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Cover\">Ground Cover</a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Berry\">Partridge Berry</a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Flowering\">Flowering Plants</a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Milkweed\">Swamp Milkweed</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Columbine\">Red Columbine</a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#FAQs\">FAQs</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Plants\">Benefits of Native Plants</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Native plants have adapted to the our climate, meaning they don’t need as much maintenance as non-native plants. They also come with the following benefits:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>They attract birds and other pollinators to your garden</li>\n\n\n\n<li>They don’t need as many fertilizers, pesticides, or water, saving you money</li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have a positive impact on the local ecosystems</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Trees\">Trees</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Dogwood\">Flowering Dogwood (<em>Cornus Florida</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida.jpg\" alt=\"White color Flowring dogwood\" class=\"wp-image-14002\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornus_florida_Arkansas.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Eric Hunt</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Found in gardens and yards throughout the DC area, the <a href=\"https://caseytrees.org/trees-list/flowering-dogwood/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flowering dogwood</a> is a popular and well-recognized small tree. White, showy, fragrant flowers bloom in the spring (which attract pollinators like bees and butterflies), giving way to red berries in the fall.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>While stressed, flowering dogwoods are susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew, although none are life-threatening.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hardiness zones:</strong> 5 to 9</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Grows best in partial shade but can tolerate full sun</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Medium</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> organically rich, moist, acidic soil&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration:</strong> Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>15 to 30 feet, sometimes reaching 40 feet.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Redbud\">Eastern Redbud (<em>Cercis canadensis</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pink color eastern redbud flowers \" class=\"wp-image-13882\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cercis_canadensis_texensis_Oklahoma_0zz.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">David J. Stang</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a> </p>\n\n\n\n<p>With its beautiful pink and purple spring flowers and heart-shaped leaves, the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://caseytrees.org/trees-list/eastern-redbud/\" target=\"_blank\">eastern redbud</a> is a DC favorite. It’s used as a garden accent under larger trees. Wildlife love the pods that release seeds in the fall.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The eastern redbud’s stems can come down with canker (a fungus), but pruning them eliminates the infection.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hardiness zones:</strong> 4 to 9</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun, partial sun, full shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Dry or moist soil</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Any moist, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration:</strong> Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>20 to 30 feet tall, with a 25- to 35-foot spread.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Serviceberry\">Serviceberry (<em>Amelanchier canadensis</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Serviceberry.jpg\" alt=\"image of white flowers on a plant\" class=\"wp-image-14101\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Serviceberry.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Serviceberry-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Serviceberry-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Serviceberry-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Serviceberry-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/127605180@N04/31804169230\" target=\"_blank\">Jim Morefield</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need a small tree for your garden, consider the <a href=\"https://extension.umd.edu/resource/serviceberry-early-flowering-maryland-native-tree\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">serviceberry</a>. This early flowering tree has edible fruits (similar to blueberries) and, in the fall, brilliant orange-red foliage. Its flowers provide pollen and nectar to beneficial insects and birds.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serviceberries are vulnerable to diseases, which can make their fruit inedible to people (but not wildlife). Disease severity varies from year to year, partially due to weather conditions.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hardiness zones:</strong> 4 to 8</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun, partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Acidic, moist, and well-drained soils&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration:</strong> Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>15 to 25 feet tall, with a 15- to 25-foot spread.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Shrubs\">Shrubs</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Viburnum\">Arrowwood Viburnum (<em>viburnum dentatum</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Viburnum_dentatum_3zz.jpg/800px-Viburnum_dentatum_3zz.jpg\" alt=\"File:Viburnum dentatum 3zz.jpg\"/></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_dentatum_3zz.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">David J. Stang</a>&nbsp;/ Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter the season, the <a href=\"https://shop.arborday.org/arrowwood-viburnum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrowwood viburnum</a> offers something of interest. White flowers bloom in late spring, followed by blue and black drupes (fruits) in the summer and fall, which birds and small animals love. In the fall, arrowwood viburnum turns yellow, orange, or red.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arrowwood viburnum prefers dry, moist, or wet soils and full to partial sun. It grows in an <a href=\"https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=931\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">irregular, rounded shape</a>.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun, partial sun</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Dry, moist, or wet soil</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Loam or sand&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration:</strong> Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>6 to 10 feet tall</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Holly\">Winterberry Holly (<em>Ilex verticillata</em>)</h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata.jpg\" alt=\"Red Color Winter Berry\" class=\"wp-image-13435\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Winterberry_Ilex_verticillata_%27Winter_Red%27_Cluster_3264px.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Derek Ramsey</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.5</a> </p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you’re looking for a shrub that provides beauty in the winter months, the <a href=\"https://extension.umd.edu/resource/winterberry-holly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">winterberry holly</a> is a good choice. In the fall, it loses its leaves and grows bright red berries that birds and moths love.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winterberry holly is dioecious, meaning there are male and female flowers on separate plants. The females produce berries, while the males provide the pollen the females need.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some winterberry hollies bloom earlier than others. The more overlap between male and female blooms, the better the pollination and berry production.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun, partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Moist or wet soil</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Moist, well-drained, acidic (doesn’t like neutral or basic soils)&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration:</strong> Perennial</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>6 to 12 feet tall</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Beautyberry\">American Beautyberry (<em>Callicarpa Americana</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Callicarpa_americana.jpg\" alt=\"berries on a brown stem\" class=\"wp-image-13744\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Callicarpa_americana.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Callicarpa_americana-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Callicarpa_americana-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Callicarpa_americana-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Callicarpa_americana-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Callicarpa_americana.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Korall</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>You would expect a plant with “beauty” in its name to be beautiful, and the <a href=\"https://mgnv.org/plants/native-plants/shrubs/callicarpa-americana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American beautyberry</a> delivers on that front. Lavender flower clusters appear in the summer, giving way to magenta fruit in the fall.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want the best fruit, plant the American beautyberry in full sun and dry, acidic soils. However, this shrub manages just fine in partial shade.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hardiness zones: </strong>7 to 11</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun to partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Loam, sand</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Deciduous perennial&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Low (one inch per week)</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>4 to 8 feet</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Cover\">Ground Covers</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Berry\">Partridge Berry (<em>Mitchella repens</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Partridge-Berry.jpg\" alt=\"image of red patridge berry on a plant\" class=\"wp-image-14100\" width=\"804\" height=\"539\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Partridge-Berry.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Partridge-Berry-300x201.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Partridge-Berry-768x515.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Partridge-Berry-480x322.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 804px) 100vw, 804px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/wackybadger/5910767262\" target=\"_blank\">Joshua Mayer</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another favorite of winter gardens, <a href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/mitchella_repens.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">partridge berry</a> has deep, dark-green leaves and scarlet berries. In late spring, pairs of white flowers bloom. Both flowers in each pair need pollination before a single berry appears.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Partridge berries prefer shade but accept the morning sun. When planted in the garden, they’ll form a thick ground cover and only demand you keep garden debris away from them.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun to deep shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Acidic, good drainage, moist, occasionally dry</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Moist or wet soil</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>1 to 3 inches</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Flowering\">Flowering Plants</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Milkweed\">Swamp Milkweed (<em>Asclepias incarnate</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed.jpg\" alt=\"Pink Color Flower with the green blurry background\" class=\"wp-image-13303\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed.jpg 799w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Swamp-Milkweed-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/158105449@N02/51803934774\" target=\"_blank\">Lydia Fravel</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want pollinators? Plant <a href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/asclepias_incarnata.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">swamp milkweed</a>. This plant attracts numerous beneficial insects, hummingbirds, and native bees. It grows flat clusters of pink and white flowers, and exudes a milky juice when broken.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swamp milkweeds thrive in any type of garden soil as long as it doesn’t completely dry out, especially in the spring. Because of this, it’s a great addition to a native plant garden.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun to partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Clay or loam</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Moist or wet soil</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>4 to 6 feet</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Columbine\">Red Columbine (<em>Aquilegia canadensis</em>)</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"640\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1.jpg\" alt=\"Red Columbine\" class=\"wp-image-13551\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1-300x240.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1-768x614.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Columbine_%283630187830%29.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Jason Hollinger</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Continuing with pollinator favorites, we have the <a href=\"https://mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/aquilegia-canadensisf2-l.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">red columbine</a>. Its nodding, red, bell-like flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It generally lives 3 to 5 years and doesn’t need to be divided. However, it needs sun to partial shade and dry and moist soil.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sun: </strong>Full sun or partial shade</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil:</strong> Clay, silt, or sandy soil that’s well-drained, moist, dry-ish</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duration: </strong>Perennial&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Water needs: </strong>Weekly or whenever the soil is completely dry</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mature height: </strong>1 to 3 feet</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"FAQs\">FAQs</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">When should I plant my garden in Washington, DC?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can plant perennials as early as February. If you have any annuals, plant them in April.<br/> <br/>  </p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are invasive plants?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Invasive plants are non-native plants that can cause economic, environmental, and health harm. They don’t have natural predators, produce many seeds, and grow aggressively.<br/>  <br/> </p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can I use native plants from natural areas?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It isn’t recommended, as <a href=\"https://archive.epa.gov/greenacres/web/html/faq.html\">poaching seeds and plants</a> from wild areas will deplete these areas of the seeds they need to be self-sustaining. Nurseries will raise these native plants or ensure they weren’t stolen from the wild.<br/>  <br/> </p> </div> </div>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Purchase Native Plants in Washington DC</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at your backyard. You might have some of these plants growing there. If you don’t, or if you want to buy more, the nation’s capital has plenty of nurseries to buy them, such as:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.oldecitygarden.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Olde City Garden</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://www.ginkgogardens.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ginkgo Gardens</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://jungleandloom.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jungle &amp; Loom</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://www.blackboxbotanical.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Box Botanical</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you buy your fill of native plants, your lawn is next. Outfit it with some of the best grass types in Washington, DC, to ensure the healthiest lawn possible. However, you don’t need to lift a finger, unless it’s to pick up your cell phone and call one of Wikilawn’s <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/washington-dc/\">local pros</a> to do the work for you.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Image Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/131880272@N06/30610786402\" target=\"_blank\">cultivar413</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n","title":"9 Native Plants for Your Washington DC Landscape","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"src":"/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/1789c/winterberry.jpg","srcSet":"/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/107df/winterberry.jpg 320w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/293e9/winterberry.jpg 500w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/f2cbb/winterberry.jpg 800w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/1789c/winterberry.jpg 960w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/c26c2/winterberry.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/1dd6e/winterberry.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/67b76/winterberry.webp 320w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/8df11/winterberry.webp 500w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/98a65/winterberry.webp 800w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/1dd6e/winterberry.webp 960w,\n/static/47f0c76b36a6c1043b1cf747c5768906/3cc96/winterberry.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"9 Native Plants for Your Washington DC Landscape | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Turn your DC garden into something extraordinary with these native plants that look great and are well-suited to all four seasons"}}},{"node":{"id":"afd30bf4-1b53-5f6c-b440-6142b8d21f71","slug":"low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-corpus-christi","path":"/lawn-care/tx/corpus-christi/low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-corpus-christi/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kimberly Magerl enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden. When she isn't gardening, Kimberly enjoys trying new recipes and cooking with her home-grown herbs.","name":"Kimberly Magerl","id":"bdf803c6-4d01-5c0e-88b1-1ea590340a8a","path":"/author/kimberly-magerl/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/45ebe89479badde7ee7cb5108a96462c?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"bce60eef-f246-5798-b50e-2cd265e2d7a4","name":"Corpus Christi","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/corpus-christi/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f9826dc-fc31-550e-9967-1b3bf51f2bdb","name":"Texas","count":72,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/"}],"date":"May 9th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>White sand beaches are the heart and soul of the Gulf Coast Capital. Your weekends are best spent surfing snorkeling, kayaking, or fishing, not maintaining your South Texas lawn. Whether you prefer the kid-friendly calm waters at McGee Beach or the breaking waves at Bob Hall Pier, there are low-maintenance landscaping ideas that will cut [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>White sand beaches are the heart and soul of the Gulf Coast Capital. Your weekends are best spent surfing snorkeling, kayaking, or fishing, not maintaining your South Texas lawn. Whether you prefer the kid-friendly calm waters at McGee Beach or the breaking waves at Bob Hall Pier, there are low-maintenance landscaping ideas that will cut down on your outdoor tasks so you can feel the sand between your toes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Switching to low-maintenance landscaping means spending less time and effort watering, weeding, mowing, and removing pests. In subtropical areas like Corpus Christi, where summer temperatures can soar to well over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, energy and water conservation is important.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we’ll cover:</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"#low\">8 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Corpus Christi</a></strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#plant\">Plant Salt-Tolerant Perennials&nbsp;</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#lay\">Lay Down Texas Roots With Native Plants&nbsp;</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#soft\">Soft Mulch Your Garden Beds</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#add\">Add Sustainable Hardscaping&nbsp;</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#conserve\">Conserve Water With Xeriscaping</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#mow\">Mow Less With Groundcover</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#consider\">Consider No-Mow Artificial Grass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#plants\">Plant Southern Succulents</a></strong></li>\n</ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"#faq\">FAQ About Low-Maintenance Landscaping in Corpus Christi</a></strong></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"low\">8 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Corpus Christi</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plant\">1. Plant Salt-Tolerant Perennials</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_5039631314_ddce7f9f0e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Pink colored Common Yarrow Achillea Millefolium plant\" class=\"wp-image-12753\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_5039631314_ddce7f9f0e_c.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_5039631314_ddce7f9f0e_c-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_5039631314_ddce7f9f0e_c-768x575.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_5039631314_ddce7f9f0e_c-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_5039631314_ddce7f9f0e_c-480x359.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/anemoneprojectors/5039631314\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Peter O&#8217;Connor aka anemoneprojectors</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Living near the ocean has its perks, including long walks on the beach and salty breezes. It also means local Corpus Christi water sources test high for salinity. The bright flowers you see while walking through your local store are annuals and are not always salt-tolerant. These inexpensive flowers look great, for now, and last one growing season before dying in late fall, even in Texas.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If bright blooms are your thing, consider switching out your annuals for salt and drought-tolerant perennials. Perennials have a shorter, more defined blooming season than annuals, but they survive the cold winters and re-bloom every year. Perennials are more expensive upfront. However, they tolerate extreme weather and come in many varieties, such as deer-resistant, shade-loving, and salt-tolerant types for your Corpus Christi yard.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are ready for landscaping beauty on repeat, check out some of the best <a href=\"https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/saltplants.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">salt-tolerant perennials</a> for Corpus Christi:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Baby Sun Coreopsis (<em>Coreopsis grandiflora</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Butterfly Milkweed (<em>Asclepias tuberosa</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Common Yarrow (<em>Achillea millefolium</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lantana (<em>Lantana spp.</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rock Rose (<em>Pavonia lasiopetala</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shrimp Plant (<em>Justicia brandegeeana</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of perennials:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bloom yearly</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Last 10-20 years or more</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve soil structure</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prevent erosion</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water and nutrient-efficient&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>The average cost of a perennial plant varies depending on the size and type of plant, purchase location, and whether you are having a professional handle your landscaping. If you head to your local store to purchase your own perennials, you can expect to spend between <strong>$10 to $100 per plant.</strong>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lay\">2. Lay Down Texas Roots With Native Plants&nbsp;</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue_Mistflower_Conoclinium_coelestinum.jpg\" alt=\"a close up photo of blue mistflower\" class=\"wp-image-13746\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue_Mistflower_Conoclinium_coelestinum.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue_Mistflower_Conoclinium_coelestinum-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue_Mistflower_Conoclinium_coelestinum-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue_Mistflower_Conoclinium_coelestinum-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blue_Mistflower_Conoclinium_coelestinum-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Mistflower_%28Conoclinium_coelestinum%29.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Linda M Morgan</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Native Texas plants promote a healthy ecosystem and thrive in the South Texas heat and humidity while remaining cold-hardy enough to survive a surprise winter snow. They are the most low-maintenance plants you can include in your landscaping project. Native plants are hands-off and resistant to local insects and diseases.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many <a href=\"https://npsot.org/wp/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Corpus Christi native plants</a> to choose from, including:&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Indian Blanket (<em>Gaillardia spp.</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mistflower (<em>Eupatorium spp.</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Texas Persimmon (<em>Diospyros texana</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tropical Sage (<em>Salvia coccinea</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turks Cap (<em>Malvaviscus drummondii</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of native plants:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Thrive in Corpus Christi’s subtropical climate</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Require less water and fertilizer</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support a diverse ecosystem, providing food and shelter for local wildlife, hummingbirds, and pollinators</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disease and pest-resistant</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Salt-tolerant</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Like perennials, native plant prices vary widely based on many factors, including type, size, and location. On average, you can expect to spend between <strong>$15 to $50 per shrub, $5 to $50 per vine, </strong>and <strong>$200 to $1,500 per tree</strong>.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"soft\">3. Soft Mulch Your Garden Beds</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8470969805_38047bb4d6_c-1.jpg\" alt=\"A landscape with mulch added to it.\" class=\"wp-image-13651\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8470969805_38047bb4d6_c-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8470969805_38047bb4d6_c-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8470969805_38047bb4d6_c-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8470969805_38047bb4d6_c-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8470969805_38047bb4d6_c-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/atgeist/8470969805\" target=\"_blank\">Tom Britt</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mulch locks in soil moisture, reduces weeds, and protects your plants’ roots from heat. It is a loose material typically made of organic matter like compost, tree bark, and wood chips. Mulching is an inexpensive DIY job that increases the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Organic mulch is the best option for your South Texas landscape. It adds beneficial nutrients to the soil as it decomposes, but you will need to add a fresh layer annually. Inorganic mulches like gravel, river rock, and landscape glass are low-maintenance and durable, but the hard pieces ricochet off windows and siding during a hurricane.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Organic mulch for your Corpus Christi landscape:&nbsp;</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Hardwood and softwood chips</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bark</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pine needles</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leaves</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grass clippings</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mulch to avoid:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Rock, stone, lava rock</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Landscape glass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rubber mulch</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of mulch:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Increases moisture retention</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduces weeds</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protects plant roots from extreme heat</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adds curb appeal</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>According to Lowes and Home Depot, wood mulch costs between <strong>$3 to $5 per 2-cubic-foot bag</strong>. If your landscaping project requires a lot of mulch, you can often purchase it in bulk to save money.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"add\">4. Add Sustainable Hardscaping</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8145471727_f0843aa441_c-2.jpg\" alt=\"A picture showing patio of a house alongwith backyard lawn\" class=\"wp-image-12904\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8145471727_f0843aa441_c-2.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8145471727_f0843aa441_c-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8145471727_f0843aa441_c-2-768x513.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8145471727_f0843aa441_c-2-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/8145471727_f0843aa441_c-2-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/icpigallery/8145471727/\" target=\"_blank\">Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don’t have to live in Hill Country to experience hot Texas summers. No matter where you live in Texas, weekly lawn maintenance is a daunting task, and there are a million other things you would rather do. The fewer plants in your landscape design, the less time you will spend maintaining your lawn and Texas natives.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider hardscaping your backyard to add sustainable visual interest while eliminating the need for weekly maintenance. While some hardscaping ideas like loose rocks and landscape glass are best left to the inland cities of Central Texas like Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, there are still many hurricane-safe hardscaping options for your beach-city landscape.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hurricane–safe hardscapes include:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Decks</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patios</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pavers</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Garden paths</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fire pits</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hardscapes to avoid:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Pergolas</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decorative stones</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rock gardens</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water features</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Statuary</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of hardscapes:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Only require annual cleaning</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase property value&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add entertaining and outdoor living space</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water-efficient</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce soil erosion</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boost curb appeal</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardscapes don’t require maintenance at all except for an annual cleaning. They are a set-it-and-forget-it choice for garden design and don’t require watering, pruning, or mowing. Hardscapes are an expensive upfront investment, but they increase home value and curb appeal, saving you time and money in the long run.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Be prepared to spend around <strong>$7,500 for a new deck, $4,000 for a patio, </strong>and <strong>$3,000 for a flagstone walkway.</strong>&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conserve\">5. Conserve Water With Xeriscaping</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Xeriscape_garden_2014_-_2.jpg\" alt=\"A xeriscape garden with yellow and purple colored flowers in it.\" class=\"wp-image-12900\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Xeriscape_garden_2014_-_2.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Xeriscape_garden_2014_-_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Xeriscape_garden_2014_-_2-768x513.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Xeriscape_garden_2014_-_2-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Xeriscape_garden_2014_-_2-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xeriscape_garden_%282014%29_-_2.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James Steakley</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the U.S., <a href=\"https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/www3/watersense/pubs/outdoor.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">landscape irrigation</a> makes up nearly one-third of all residential water usage. Like hardscaping, xeriscaping focuses on low-maintenance landscaping with an emphasis on water conservation. This practice involves creating a beautiful home landscape that requires no watering outside of regular rainfall.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Corpus Christi native plants are a great water-wise option for xeriscaping your yard and giving your irrigation system a break. They are naturally salt-tolerant, drought resistant, and adapted to harsh Texas summers. Besides native plants, some basic steps for xeriscaping your yard include:&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Plan and hydrozone your landscape by grouping plants with similar water needs together</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soft mulch your flower beds for maximum water retention</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install smart irrigation with a rain sensor, drip lines, and automatic sprinklers</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimize turfgrass area</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blend hurricane-safe hardscaping elements into your landscape&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of xeriscaping:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Conserves water</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lowers water bills</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduces runoff</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Professional xeriscaping costs between <strong>$5 to $20 per square foot,</strong> depending on many factors like plant selection and the size of your yard. While upfront costs may seem high, you will save around <strong>$0.36 per square foot </strong>annually on water and maintenance costs.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mow\">6. Mow Less With Groundcover</h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of a beautiful asiatic jasmine\" class=\"wp-image-14151\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3-768x513.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trachelospermum_asiaticum_kz3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kenraiz</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Low-maintenance groundcover makes a great alternative to traditional warm-season turfgrass. These plants grow a few inches tall and spread quickly to fill horizontal space. Groundcovers fill areas of your lawn to mimic “grass,” while their low-maintenance needs mean less work for you.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most species still require water and the occasional fertilizer, but selecting a native Texas groundcover will ensure your new “grass” is hardy, drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and best of all, low-maintenance.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out these popular Corpus Christi groundcovers:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Asiatic Jasmine (<em>Trachelospermum asiaticum</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goat&#8217;s-foot Morning Glory (<em>Ipomea pes-caprae</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trailing Lantana (<em>Lantana montevidensis</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wedelia (<em>Wedelia trilobata</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of groundcovers:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Conserve water</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pest resistant</li>\n\n\n\n<li>No mowing required&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fewer weeds</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>According to Corpus Christi landscaping experts, <a href=\"https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/locations/corpus-christi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moon Valley Nurseries</a>, groundcover plants cost around <strong>$5 to $50 each</strong>, depending on size.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"consider\">7. Consider No-Mow Artificial Grass</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/artificial-turf-g91d792f7e_1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of artificial grass\" class=\"wp-image-14154\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/artificial-turf-g91d792f7e_1280-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/artificial-turf-g91d792f7e_1280-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/artificial-turf-g91d792f7e_1280-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/artificial-turf-g91d792f7e_1280-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/artificial-turf-g91d792f7e_1280-1-480x319.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://pixabay.com/de/photos/kunstrasen-sportrasen-rasen-1711556/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>The grass is always greener when the grass is artificial turf. The Brady Bunch helped put synthetic grass on the map, and its popularity has waxed and waned over the years. Synthetic grass is eco-friendly, comes in a variety of colors and styles, and is essentially an outdoor carpet.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artificial grass is virtually maintenance free, and thanks to technological advancements, it is hard to tell fake grass from real grass in most cases. Unfortunately, it is expensive to install and there is some debate that it renders your soil unusable in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of artificial grass:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>No maintenance other than occasional cleaning&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pest free</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduces water consumption&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Professional artificial grass installation costs between <strong>$5 to $20 per square foot</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plants\">8. Plant Southern Succulents&nbsp;</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"536\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/moss-rose-purslane-g1d08f2e8c_1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of moss rose plant\" class=\"wp-image-14156\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/moss-rose-purslane-g1d08f2e8c_1280-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/moss-rose-purslane-g1d08f2e8c_1280-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/moss-rose-purslane-g1d08f2e8c_1280-1-768x515.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/moss-rose-purslane-g1d08f2e8c_1280-1-480x322.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://pixabay.com/de/photos/kunstrasen-sportrasen-rasen-1711556/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drought-resistant succulents like cacti and agaves may seem better suited to the dry inland cities of Central Texas. However, Corpus Christi’s unique <a href=\"https://www.plantmaps.com/hardiness-zones-for-corpus-christi-texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA zones</a>, 9a, 9b, and 10a, are well-suited for salt-tolerant succulent varieties.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Succulents love arid climates, and some varieties are highly salt tolerant and thrive in coastal regions with polluted or acidic soils thanks to thick leaves or trunks. They prefer to be left alone and work well for xeriscaping a landscape for water conservation. Succulents come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are incredibly low-maintenance.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Succulents need:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Deep, infrequent watering</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Good drainage and air circulation</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full sun</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Well-drained soil low in organic matter</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warm temperatures</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Popular salt-tolerant succulent varieties for Corpus Christi include</strong>:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Glassworts (<em>Salicornia</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moss Rose (<em>Portulaca grandiflora</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Velour (<em>Aeonium velour</em>)&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>White Hair Agave (<em>Agave albopilosa</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of succulents:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Drought-resistant</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Diverse shapes and sizes</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adaptable&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>The price depends on the size and type of succulent and ranges from <strong>$10 to $75 per plant</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">FAQ About Low-Maintenance Corpus Christi Landscaping</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Are Texas wildflowers salt-tolerant plants?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Experts know little about the <a href=\"https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/55/7/article-p1119.xml\">salinity tolerance</a> of most Texas native wildflowers. Most are hardy, heat and drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance once established. If you want to include wildflowers in your Corpus Christi landscape, check out these salt-tolerant varieties that may or may not be native:<br/><br/>• Common Cordgrass (<em>Sporobolus anglicus</em>)<br/>• Eelgrasses (<em>Zostera spp.</em>)<br/>• Marsh Samphire (<em>Salicornia europaea</em>)<br/>• Sea Aster (<em>Tripolium pannonicum</em>)</p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How often should I water succulent plants?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Succulents thrive in the Corpus Christi area. Typically, water your succulent plants once per week when it has not rained. </p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is artificial grass pet-friendly?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There are many types of artificial turf, including pet-friendly turf, that are specially designed for your furry family members to be stain and odor resistant and easy to clean.</p> </div> </div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"professional\">Professional Corpus Christi Landscape Maintenance</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hurricane season creates the best surf, but it also wreaks havoc on your Corpus Christi landscape. Check out our list of the best hurricane-resistant landscaping ideas to combine with your low-maintenance landscape, so you can reclaim your weekends and spend more time at the beach.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Better yet, stop wasting your time on lawn maintenance. Consider letting Wikilawn hook you up with a <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/tx/corpus-christi/\">local landscaping company</a> that can handle all of your lawn care needs so you can get back to the beaches of the Gulf Coast Capital.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Image Credit: Butterfly Milkweed / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/wackybadger/22667699043\" target=\"_blank\">Joshua Mayer</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n","title":"8 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Corpus Christi, TX","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4943960149439601,"src":"/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/1789c/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/107df/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.jpg 320w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/293e9/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.jpg 500w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/f2cbb/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.jpg 800w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/1789c/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.jpg 960w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/c26c2/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/1dd6e/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/67b76/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.webp 320w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/8df11/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.webp 500w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/98a65/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.webp 800w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/1dd6e/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.webp 960w,\n/static/8ea63ecc208af3cac153704c12bfff1f/3cc96/22667699043_850a3344d7_k-2.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Corpus Christi, TX | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Spend more time at the beach with these low-maintenance landscaping ideas for Corpus Christi, including the estimated cost of each."}}},{"node":{"id":"88363ff6-453b-50cf-a17a-315dae0586a8","slug":"grass-vs-turf-what-do-the-nfls-best-teams-play-on","path":"/lawn-care/grass-vs-turf-what-do-the-nfls-best-teams-play-on/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Jackie Greene is a blogger, gardener, and nutrition enthusiast. She enjoys creating organic meals for family and friends using the fresh ingredients she produces from her backyard homestead.","name":"Jackie Greene","id":"fb5923e1-833b-5d9b-808e-ded0e62c0bc4","path":"/author/jackiegreene/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2c1121209a3ebfbe0a7e941d102b2971?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"September 8th, 2018","excerpt":"<p>In a 2017 Washington Redskins season filled with the team’s typical humiliations — being swept by their rival Dallas Cowboys, blowing a 15-point lead to New Orleans with less than three minutes left in the game — one of the NFL’s most moribund franchises added a new point of disgrace: players blasting the condition of [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"<p>In a 2017 Washington Redskins season filled with the team’s typical humiliations — being swept by their rival Dallas Cowboys, blowing a 15-point lead to New Orleans with less than three minutes left in the game — one of the NFL’s most moribund franchises added a new point of disgrace: players blasting the condition of their home stadium’s grass.</p>\n<p>“It probably doesn’t look like a professional NFL field should,” said Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins after he spent a Thanksgiving game slipping all over FedEx Field shoddy-looking Latitude 36 Bermuda Grass.</p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_871\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-871\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-871\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/redskins-field.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/redskins-field.jpg 620w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/redskins-field-300x155.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" /><p id=\"caption-attachment-871\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">FedEx Field during the Thanksgiving game (courtesy of 247 Sports)</p></div></p>\n<p>With the resignation of a World War 1 soldier going over the top, Cousins indicated the problem would only get worse as the season went on.</p>\n<p>“If you think the field is rough now on Thanksgiving, we’ve got two more home games in mid-to-late December, and that’s probably gonna be a bigger challenge,” he warned on 106.7 The Fan’s “Grant and Danny” program.</p>\n<p>Former Redskins players echoed Cousins’ comments on social media, calling for a switch to artificial turf.</p>\n<p>For long-suffering Redskins fans, “TurfGate” became yet another reason why the team has floundered under owner, Dan Snyder. Changing the playing surface, some argued, might help restore the franchise to its former glory.</p>\n<p>An hour up I-95, the Baltimore Ravens have a very different perspective. In 2016, the team ditched the synthetic turf it had used for 13 years in favor of natural Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass – and the players couldn’t be happier.</p>\n<p>“That grass was phenomenal,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk told baltimoreravens.com. “I’m very pro-grass. My knees feel better after practice, and there was good traction all night.”</p>\n<p>“I love the field,” running back Terrance West agreed. “It makes the cuts easier and I like it.”</p>\n<p>Field conditions across the NFL will always vary due to climate and human logistics, so it’s natural that players may have different perspectives on what surface type best sets them up for success. But what does the data say?</p>\n<p>We calculated the winning percentage from each team over the last 10 seasons, including the current one, and divided them into two categories based on their home stadium: natural grass and artificial turf.</p>\n<p>Hybrid systems like GrassMaster that use real grass reinforced with artificial fibres are included in the natural grass category. An example of this type of playing surface can be found at the Green Bay Packers’ famed Lambeau Field.</p>\n<p>For teams like the Ravens that switched playing surfaces during the 10-year period, we counted each playing surface as a separate team. And ties are considered losses because this is football, dang it, not soccer.</p>\n<p>Which surface reigns supreme in recent history? With a winning percentage of .525, teams that play their home games on artificial turf handily beat their natural grass counterparts, who have a combined winning percentage of .474.</p>\n<p><strong>Top Five Teams (Natural Grass)</strong></p>\n<p>1. Steelers (.662 winning percentage)<br />\n2. Packers (.625)<br />\n3. Broncos (.575)<br />\n4. Eagles (.556)<br />\n5. Panthers/Cardinals (.537)</p>\n<p><strong>Top Five Teams (Artificial Turf)</strong></p>\n<p>1. Patriots (.768)<br />\n2. Ravens, 2008-2015 (.601)<br />\n3. Saints/Falcons (.593)<br />\n4. Colts (.568)<br />\n5. Seahawks/Cowboys (.550)</p>\n<p>It’s no surprise that the Patriots stand head and shoulders above the rest, even after they had to replace their synthetic turf this season after player complaints. Their absurd .768 winning percentage single handedly raised the combined turf teams’ combined average up nearly two points.</p>\n<p>On the flip side, the Browns’ debacle of a decade not only earned them last place with a truly wretched .237 winning percentage, but dragged the entire winning percentage of the natural grass teams down two points.</p>\n<p>Removing those two outliers and you have a more even matchup: .507 for teams with natural grass home fields versus .491 for teams playing on artificial turf.</p>\n<p><strong>Worst Five Teams (Natural Grass)</strong></p>\n<p>Browns (.237 winning percentage)<br />\nJaguars (.325)<br />\nBuccaneers (.368)<br />\nRaiders (.387)<br />\nRedskins (.400)</p>\n<p><strong>Worst Five Teams (Artificial Turf)</strong></p>\n<p>1. Rams, 2008-2015 (.304)<br />\n2. Lions (.406)<br />\n3. Bills (.425)<br />\n4. Jets (.468)<br />\n5. Texans (.487)</p>\n<p>The data also doesn’t always tell the full story. For examples, the Steelers have often succeeded in spite of their frequently criticized field, most infamous for the “mud punt.”</p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/x7DTNEa2E7w\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" align=\"center\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\"></span></iframe></p>\n<p>And players come down strongly in favor of natural grass. An NFL Players Association poll taken in 2010 showed that 89.7% said artificial turf is more likely to shorten their career, 89.1% said they are more sore after playing on that synthetic surface, and 82.4% said fake grass is more likely to contribute to an injury. However, players also voted the frequently muddy grass in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field the worst in the NFL.</p>\n<p>Of the four teams remaining in this year’s NFL playoffs, the Eagles and Jaguars play on natural grass (GrassMaster hybrid surface and Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass, respectively) while the Patriots and Vikings use turf to maintain playing conditions throughout their cold winters (FieldTurf and UBU Speed Series S5-M).</p>\n<p><strong>Home Field of the Last 10 Super Bowl Winners</strong></p>\n<p>2017: ?<br />\n2016: Turf (Patriots)<br />\n2015: Grass (Broncos)<br />\n2014: Turf (Patriots)<br />\n2013: Turf (Seahawks)<br />\n2012: Turf (Ravens)<br />\n2011: Turf (Giants)<br />\n2010: Grass (Packers)<br />\n2009: Turf (Saints)<br />\n2008: Grass (Steelers)</p>\n<p>It’s been a rough decade for teams that use natural grass, and it’s not certain to get better soon – this year’s betting line is predictably skewed toward the turf duo, with Tom Brady the odds-on favorite to bring a sixth ring back to New England.</p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Updated <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/SBLII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SBLII</a> futures:</p>\n<p>Patriots +120<br />\nVikings +175<br />\nEagles +700<br />\nJaguars +800</p>\n<p>Via BetOnline <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DaveMasonBOL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DaveMasonBOL</a></p>\n<p>— OddsShark (@OddsShark) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/OddsShark/status/952715359580315648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2018</a></p></blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></p>\n<p>But after a Divisional Playoff weekend that saw the Minneapolis Miracle and Blake Bortles outshining Ben Roethlisberger, it’s clear that anything can happen.</p>\n<p><strong>Data Sources:</strong><br />\n<a href=\"https://www.pro-football-reference.com\">https://www.pro-football-reference.com</a><br />\n<a href=\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/sports-turf/nfl-stadiums-turf-or-grass/\">https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/sports-turf/nfl-stadiums-turf-or-grass/</a><br />\n<a href=\"https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/10/01/nfl-stadium-turf-grass-rankings\">https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/10/01/nfl-stadium-turf-grass-rankings</a><br />\n<a href=\"https://turfprossolution.com/which-nfl-stadiums-have-artificial-turf/\">https://turfprossolution.com/which-nfl-stadiums-have-artificial-turf/</a><br />\n<a href=\"http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-ask-farmer-20171111-story.html\">http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-ask-farmer-20171111-story.html</a></p>\n","title":"Grass Vs. Turf: What do the NFL’s Best Teams Play On?","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5753846153846154,"src":"/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/1789c/jets-cowboys-game.jpg","srcSet":"/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/107df/jets-cowboys-game.jpg 320w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/293e9/jets-cowboys-game.jpg 500w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/f2cbb/jets-cowboys-game.jpg 800w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/1789c/jets-cowboys-game.jpg 960w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/a2a79/jets-cowboys-game.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/1dd6e/jets-cowboys-game.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/67b76/jets-cowboys-game.webp 320w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/8df11/jets-cowboys-game.webp 500w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/98a65/jets-cowboys-game.webp 800w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/1dd6e/jets-cowboys-game.webp 960w,\n/static/a7ff125c5e31491394f31666ec1c1c50/7aa54/jets-cowboys-game.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Grass Vs. Turf: What do the NFL’s Best Teams Play On? | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"d9cce5a6-995d-5a53-bba2-372ecd6563c2","slug":"low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-phoenix","path":"/lawn-care/az/phoenix/low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-phoenix/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Most comfortable with soil under her fingernails, Amanda has an enthusiasm for gardening, agriculture, and all things plant-related. With a master's degree in agriculture and more than a decade of experience gardening and tending to her lawn, she combines her plant knowledge and knack for writing to share what she knows and loves.","name":"Amanda Shiffler","id":"458fa7a4-b709-56ae-8d79-9dc400e34ff1","path":"/author/amanda-shiffler/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0048ef20c97263b5f26951aa210d62c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"7fc32475-4c73-58a8-996f-8b8d79ba2450","name":"Arizona","count":12,"path":"/category/lawn-care/az/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"90f74182-5f0d-5dd3-8d32-576a5a21d01d","name":"Phoenix","count":12,"path":"/category/lawn-care/az/phoenix/"}],"date":"April 17th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>When you live in Phoenix, you don&#8217;t want to spend weekends taking care of your lawn in the scorching Sonoran Desert. Yet at the same time, no one wants a patch of bare earth surrounding their house. You&#8217;re in the right place if you’re trying to find a balance between low-maintenance and curb appeal. We’ve [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>When you live in Phoenix, you don&#8217;t want to spend weekends taking care of your lawn in the scorching Sonoran Desert. Yet at the same time, no one wants a patch of bare earth surrounding their house. You&#8217;re in the right place if you’re trying to find a balance between low-maintenance and curb appeal.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>We’ve come up with a list of low-maintenance landscaping ideas to create a beautiful yard while reducing the time you spend outside maintaining it!</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#xeriscaping\">Xeriscaping</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#succulents\">Succulents</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#native\">Native Plants</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#perennials\">Perennials</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#hardscapes\">Hardscapes</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#covers\">Ground Covers</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#artificial\">Artificial Turf</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#mulch\">Mulch</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"xeriscaping\">1. Xeriscape Your Yard</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping-Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg\" alt=\"Xeriscaping at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona\" class=\"wp-image-13526\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping-Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping-Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping-Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping-Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping-Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desert_Botanical_Garden_Phoenix_Arizona_17.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simeon87</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xeriscaping is a popular landscaping trend in Western desert climates, so chances are you’ve heard of the idea if you’ve lived in Phoenix for any length of time. But if you haven’t heard of it, it’s an adaptive landscape design that uses little or no water beyond natural rainfall.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many homeowners love a <a href=\"https://extension.usu.edu/washington/gardening/landscapes/xeriscape\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">xeriscape</a>&#8216;s environmental sustainability and its benefits. Here are some general ideas:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Group plants with the same water requirements together in a process known as <a href=\"https://landscape-water-conservation.extension.org/grouping-plants-into-hydrozones/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hydrozoning</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use organic matter and mulch to retain soil moisture&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steer away from turfgrass, or choose a drought-tolerant type</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plant native, drought-resistant plants&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>If necessary, use an efficient sprinkler system such as micro or drip irrigation coupled with a rain sensor</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fill in open spaces with pavers, decorative rocks, or other hardscape elements&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t be discouraged if you can’t transform your entire landscape with xeriscaping in one fell swoop. Start small by replacing one flower bed with a decorative rock garden accented with succulents or replacing a thirsty non-native tree with a cactus. As you can, continue with the change until your entire yard doesn’t need supplemental water.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of xeriscaping:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Saves time on watering your lawn and garden</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduces your water bill&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conserves precious water resources&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>It costs about <strong>$5 to $20 per square foot </strong>to xeriscape. However, it is estimated xeriscaping saves you about $0.36 per square foot yearly in watering costs.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"succulents\">2. Choose Desert-Friendly Succulents</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"498\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Succulent-Garden.jpg\" alt=\"plants and rock in a succulent garden\" class=\"wp-image-12166\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Succulent-Garden.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Succulent-Garden-300x187.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Succulent-Garden-768x478.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Succulent-Garden-400x250.jpg 400w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Succulent-Garden-480x299.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://pxhere.com/en/photo/115504\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PxHere</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding cacti and other succulent plants is a great way to make your landscaping low-maintenance. <em>FYI: cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.</em></p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/cacti-and-succulents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Succulents</a> are plants that have adapted to desert life and low rainfall amounts by storing water in their stems and leaves. Many types have thick, fleshy leaves or engorged stems filled with sap that hold moisture, but not all do. One of the best parts (depending on how you look at it) is that most succulents hate wet soil and will die if you try to water them.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, succulents come in a fantastic variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to fit every landscape design.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of succulents:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Incredibly drought tolerant</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thrive naturally in Arizona’s desert climate</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thousands of varieties to choose from&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>The price of succulents depends on the size and type of plant, ranging from <strong>$5 to more than $100 per plant</strong> at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot. Saguaro cacti can run anywhere from <strong>$100 to $4,000 or $5,000, </strong>depending on the size and number of arms.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"native\">3. Rely on Arizona’s Native Plants</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Firecracker-penstemon.jpg\" alt=\"Firecracker penstemon plant\" class=\"wp-image-13529\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Firecracker-penstemon.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Firecracker-penstemon-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Firecracker-penstemon-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Firecracker-penstemon-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Firecracker-penstemon-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/4412909502\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matt Lavin</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another great low-maintenance landscaping option is to include plants native to the Sonoran Desert in your landscape. Native plants have always been in an area and weren’t introduced from somewhere else. They have adapted to thrive in the local desert over time so that they can flourish in your yard with little care.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many <a href=\"https://agriculture.az.gov/plantsproduce/native-plants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arizona native plants</a> for you to choose from, but here are a few popular ones:&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Tufted evening primrose (<em>Oenothera caespitosa</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Firecracker penstemon (<em>Penstemon eatonii)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert fairy duster (<em>Calliandra eriophylla</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert willow (<em>Chilopsis linearis)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert ironwood<em> (Olneya tesota)</em></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note: For more information on the best native plants for Phoenix, check out our article.</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of native plants:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Naturally adapted to thrive in Arizona&#8217;s climate</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use less water than non-natives</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Require less fertilizer than non-natives</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rarely have insect problems</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide shelter, nectar, and food for wildlife, including birds and pollinators&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Help to preserve local natural ecosystems&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>How much you spend depends on the exact type and the plant size, but ballpark prices are <strong>$600 to $3,000 for a new flower bed</strong>, <strong>$25 to $50 per new shrub</strong>, or <strong>$150 to $3,000 per new tree</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"perennials\">4. Make Your Life Easier With Perennials</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blanket-Flower.jpg\" alt=\"Blanket Flower plants\" class=\"wp-image-13530\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blanket-Flower.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blanket-Flower-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blanket-Flower-768x513.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blanket-Flower-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blanket-Flower-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/14541836927\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USFWS Mountain-Prairie</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plants are designated as perennials or annuals, depending on their lifecycle. Annuals with beautiful, colorful flowers are commonly seen at big box stores and garden supply centers. But they only live for a single season and die after they flower, and temperatures drop in the winter.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perennials, however, can withstand the cooler winter temperatures and bloom year after year. Since they last for several years, or even decades, they require considerably less maintenance than annuals that need replanting yearly. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Great heat-tolerant perennials for Phoenix:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Blanket flower (<em>Gaillardia grandiflora</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert globemallow (<em>Sphaeralcea ambigua)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desert marigold (<em>Baileya multiradiata)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hyssop (<em>Hyssopus officinalis</em>)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perky sue (<em>Tetraneuris acaulis)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blackfoot daisy (<em>Melampodium leucanthum)</em></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of perennials:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bloom yearly</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some will last for decades without replacement&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>The cost of perennial plants varies widely depending upon the type of plants you choose, where you purchase them, and if you plant them yourself or hire a landscape contractor to do the work. If you go the DIY route, expect to spend about <strong>$10 to $60 per plant</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hardscapes\">5. Opt for Hardscapes Over High-Maintenance Softscapes</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rock-Garden-Wall.jpg\" alt=\"Rock garden with big stones and scattered plants\" class=\"wp-image-13531\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rock-Garden-Wall.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rock-Garden-Wall-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rock-Garden-Wall-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rock-Garden-Wall-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=165046&amp;picture=rock-garden-wall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public Domain Pictures</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>A low-maintenance landscape with minimal flowers will reduce the time you spend sweating in the garden. However, a low-maintenance yard doesn’t mean a dull, empty space without any visual interest. You can easily create an oasis with hardscaping elements.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardscapes are features in your yard that aren’t green, living things. They are permanent, unchanging, man-made structures. The following offer limitless options for designing a space you’ll love while boosting curb appeal.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Stone or concrete patios</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decorative boulders</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stone pavers</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rock gardens</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Garden pathways&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fire pits&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Custom built pergolas&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Composite material decks</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The best part about hardscapes is they don’t require maintenance like turfgrass and plants. You don’t have to worry about mowing, fertilizing, watering, or weeding, thus cutting down on the time you spend caring for your landscape. However, the initial costs can be expensive, but you’ll save in the long run.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of hardscapes:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Only need occasional cleaning</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cut down water usage</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many hardscapes increase home value</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Expect to spend approximately <strong>$2,500 to $6,000 for a new patio</strong>, <strong>$5,000 to $11,000 for a new composite deck</strong>, <strong>$250 to $3,000 for a new fire pit</strong>, or <strong>$2,000 to $9,000 for a new pergola</strong>. Stone paver projects cost about <strong>$10 to $30 per square foot </strong>to install, depending on the type of stone.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"covers\">6. Switch to Ground Covers</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Creeping-Red-Thyme.jpg\" alt=\"Creeping Red Thyme\" class=\"wp-image-13532\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Creeping-Red-Thyme.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Creeping-Red-Thyme-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Creeping-Red-Thyme-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Creeping-Red-Thyme-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Creeping-Red-Thyme-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Creeping_red_thyme.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Own Herby talk thyme</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>I get it. Sometimes you want to look out the kitchen window and see a thick green carpet of grass. How about switching that traditional turf out for a low-maintenance ground cover? You’ll still get a look similar to a green lawn while saving yourself from mowing grass in the scorching sun.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ground covers are a group of plants that usually only grow a few inches tall. Once planted, they spread quickly to fill in space and can create the look of a lawn.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>These heat-loving, <a href=\"https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/xeriscaping-ground-cover-plants-7-230/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">drought-tolerant ground covers</a> are great for Phoenix.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Carpet sedum <em>(Sedum lineare)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creeping thyme <em>(Thymus spp.)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blue catmint <em>(Nepeta x faassenii)</em></li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amethyst in snow <em>(Centaurea montana)</em></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that ground covers are still plants, so they may need irrigating and will benefit from occasional fertilization to keep them looking their best. They are still much less work than grass, though.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of ground covers:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>No mowing required</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fewer weeds and pests than turfgrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use less water than a traditional lawn</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many ground covers thrive without fertilizer&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Replacing your turf with ground cover costs <strong>$3.50 to $12.50 per square foot</strong>, depending on the type of ground cover plant you choose. Expect to spend more if you need to remove your existing grass.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"artificial\">7. Install No-Maintenance Artificial Turf</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1.jpg\" alt=\"Artificial grass and concrete stairs in front yard\" class=\"wp-image-12783\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1-768x575.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1-480x359.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickbastian/4120928604\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nick Bastian</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-ND 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the idea of a living ground cover still sounds like too much work, yet you still want to see green, consider installing artificial turf. Don’t worry! Your yard won’t look like a football field! Artificial turf has made significant advances, and some styles are designed to look like specific grass types. With a bit of research, you can choose something that is hard to tell that it isn’t real grass!&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artificial turf is great in many ways, but let’s take a minute and talk about the downsides. First, artificial turf is expensive to install, and it can damage the soil underneath it, which may have adverse effects. However, some <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24467230/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies</a> show the environmental impact is no more significant than those associated with traditional turfgrass.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of artificial turf:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>No maintenance besides occasional cleaning&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li>No pest or disease problems</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cut down water usage&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>Professional installation of artificial turf costs anywhere from <strong>$5.50 to $19 per square foot, </strong>depending on the type you choose and your yard’s shape.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mulch\">8. Mulch Your Plant Beds</h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"478\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Plants-with-Mulch.jpg\" alt=\"Plants in the middle of a lawn with mulch around them\" class=\"wp-image-13534\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Plants-with-Mulch.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Plants-with-Mulch-300x179.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Plants-with-Mulch-768x459.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Plants-with-Mulch-480x287.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://pxhere.com/en/photo/861363\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PxHere</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most homeowners are familiar with mulch and use it in their landscapes. Mulch is a loose material spread on the ground to help retain soil moisture, keep weeds at bay, and protect the plant’s roots from temperature extremes. Using it in planting beds is an easy, inexpensive way to reduce maintenance needs.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to <a href=\"https://extension.psu.edu/mulch-a-survey-of-available-options\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mulch</a>, there are many different options, including some organic and some inorganic. Organic mulches offer a more traditional look, but products like woodchips and pine straw must be replaced as they break down over time. When they decompose, they do add nutrients to the soil, which is a benefit. Gravel and rubber nuggets are great inorganic options because they have a long lifespan.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advantages of mulch:</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Reduces weeds in plant beds</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Retains soil moisture to cut down on irrigation needs</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adds a finishing touch to your landscape</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estimated cost: </strong>The cost of mulch varies depending on the type. When buying by the bag, expect to pay <strong>$2 to $5 per 2-cubic-foot bag </strong>for wood mulch. Rubber mulch runs <strong>$7 to $10 per 0.8-cubic-foot bag</strong>. Landscape rock differs a lot more in price, ranging from <strong>$5 to $45 per 0.5-cubic-foot bag</strong>. (<em>Pricing based on products at Lowe&#8217;s and Home Depot).</em> You can buy it in bulk to save money if you need a lot of mulch.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professional Help for Your Low-Maintenance Phoenix Landscape</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Living in the Arizona desert doesn’t mean spending hours and hours taking care of grass or having a dusty, dry patch of dirt for a lawn. Many different low-maintenance landscaping options will give you a beautiful yard, even in Phoenix! Hopefully, this helps give you some great ideas on creating a space you love that doesn’t require all your free time.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>But we also understand that even a few minutes outside in the hot summer sun can feel miserable. If you’d rather hire someone to do the work, check out the services our </em><a href=\"http://wikilawn.com/lawn-care/az/phoenix/\"><em>local lawn care pros</em></a><em> offer in Phoenix and surrounding areas.</em></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Desert Botanical Garden / <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desert_Botanical_Garden_Phoenix_Arizona_1.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simeon87</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p>\n","title":"Low-Maintenance Landscaping Tips for Phoenix, Arizona","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/1789c/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/107df/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg 320w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/293e9/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg 500w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/f2cbb/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg 800w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/1789c/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg 960w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/c26c2/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/1dd6e/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/67b76/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.webp 320w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/8df11/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.webp 500w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/98a65/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.webp 800w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/1dd6e/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.webp 960w,\n/static/6d7d8a5b0ecb29f0f544a0ec9c7652d6/3cc96/Desert-Botanical-Garden-Phoenix-Arizona.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Low-Maintenance Landscaping Tips for Phoenix, Arizona | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"You don't have to melt in the Arizona sun to have a great yard. Get an amazing yard without much effort with these low-maintenance landscaping ideas"}}},{"node":{"id":"d17a6fcf-a5ba-5a16-82b3-5c16154e8f51","slug":"best-grass-seed-utah","path":"/lawn-care/ut/best-grass-seed-utah/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Beck Carter","id":"3b38b422-934a-5aae-81e6-7a8844634ab1","path":"/author/beck-carter/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/faa5e8711d89766a0fe69560b04f52b1?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"65f3de7c-13d9-573a-b422-7e8ea533aaa7","name":"Utah","count":5,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ut/"}],"date":"May 17th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>Utah features a stunning array of mountains, plateaus, natural arches, sand dunes, and basins. Homeowners here will want a lawn that is just as beautiful as their state, and that starts with choosing the best grass seed for Utah. Utah sits primarily in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b, meaning cool-season grasses thrive throughout the state. But [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>Utah features a stunning array of mountains, plateaus, natural arches, sand dunes, and basins. Homeowners here will want a lawn that is just as beautiful as their state, and that starts with choosing the best grass seed for Utah.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Utah sits primarily in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/\" target=\"_blank\">USDA Hardiness </a>Zone 6b, meaning cool-season grasses thrive throughout the state. But which cool-season grasses? Below, we’ll break down the best grasses for your Utah lawn, including a warm-season grass option for those in southern Utah.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article:</p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#kentucky\">Kentucky Bluegrass</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#tall\">Tall Fescue</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#fine\">Fine Fescue</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#perennial\">Perennial Ryegrass</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#buffalograss\">Buffalograss</a></li>\n</ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kentucky\">1. Kentucky Bluegrass</h2>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"543\" src=\"http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg\" alt=\"Backyard featuring Kentucky bluegrass\" class=\"wp-image-13245\" srcset=\"http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg 800w, http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard-480x326.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"((min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px)) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn</figcaption></figure></div>\n\n\n<p>Kentucky bluegrass is one of the <a href=\"https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/TURF/TURFSPECIES/kenblue.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most widely used</a> turfgrasses in the United States. This grass type is a dense turf that recovers well from <a href=\"https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/grasses/kentucky-bluegrass/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stress</a>. Kentucky bluegrass can tolerate cold temperatures as well as moderate shade. This species is susceptible to disease and is often mixed with perennial ryegrass to improve its resilience.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification: </strong>Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by: </strong>Rhizomes</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended mowing height: </strong>2 to 2 ½ inches</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tall\">2. Tall Fescue</h2>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tall fescue grown in a lawn\" class=\"wp-image-14117\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_bea9f90f09_o-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://flic.kr/p/6TnBzS\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Lavin</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tall fescue is another common lawn grass here. It is coarse-textured and resistant to weeds and <a href=\"https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/grasses/tall-fescue/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diseases</a>. This grass type is considered low maintenance due to its ability to handle drought and its infrequent mowing needs. Like other cool-season grasses, it does well in cool climates. However, it may not survive <a href=\"https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/TURF/TURFSPECIES/tallfesc.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">extreme winters</a>.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification: </strong>Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by: </strong>Bunch-type</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance:</strong> High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended mowing height: </strong>No higher than 3 inches</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fine\">3. Fine Fescue</h2>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue.jpg\" alt=\"image of Festuca rubra - red fescue\" class=\"wp-image-14612\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/48190048297/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Lavin</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fine fescue is actually a collection of <a href=\"https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/texas-turfgrasses/fine-fescue/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">four turfgrasses</a>, including creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, sheep fescue, and hard fescue. This turfgrass is known to be <a href=\"https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/planting-and-maintaining-fine-fescue-lawn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">low maintenance</a> compared to more common grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass. Fine fescue typically requires less frequent mowing, watering, and fertilizer.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification: </strong>Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by: </strong>Bunch-type, rhizomes (creeping red only)</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended mowing height: </strong>2 to 3 inches<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"perennial\">4. Perennial Ryegrass</h2>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass.jpg\" alt=\"A close up pic of perennial ryegrass beside a road\" class=\"wp-image-12527\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/48101863006\">Matt Levin</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perennial ryegrass is often confused with Kentucky bluegrass due to its similar color, texture, and density. This turfgrass is often used for <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/grasses/perennial-ryegrass/\" target=\"_blank\">overseeding </a>to maintain color in the winter. Perennial ryegrass can handle heavy<a href=\"https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/TURF/TURFSPECIES/perrye.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> foot traffic</a> although it struggles in the shade.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification: </strong>Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by: </strong>Bunch-type</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended mowing height: </strong>1 to 2 inches<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"buffalograss\">5. Buffalograss</h2>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Buffalograss.jpg\" alt=\"green buffalograss in a lawn\" class=\"wp-image-14801\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Buffalograss.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Buffalograss-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Buffalograss-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Buffalograss-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Buffalograss-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">]Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/52141576746/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Lavin</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our only warm-season grass on this list, buffalograss stays green in <a href=\"https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/turfgrass-cultivars-for-utah#:~:text=Buffalograsses%20are%20native%20to%20the,much%20of%20the%20fall%20season.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">summer</a> with much less watering than other grasses. For homeowners in southern Utah, where the USDA hardiness zone is <a href=\"https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8a</a> in some areas, this may be a better option. Buffalograss survives <a href=\"https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/texas-turfgrasses/buffalograss/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">drought </a>and cold temperatures, but because it is a warm-season grass, it is dormant in the fall.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buffalograss does not handle shade or high altitude well. Buffalograss is considered low maintenance once established due to infrequent mowing and fertilizing needs. However, growing buffalograss from seeds can be a <a href=\"https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/buffalograss-lawns-7-224/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">long process</a>.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification: </strong>Warm-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by: </strong>Stolons</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended mowing height: </strong>1 to 2 inches</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the best grass type for a low-maintenance lawn?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Tall and fine fescue grasses are great for low-maintenance lawns.</p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the best grass type for a pet-friendly lawn?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Homeowners with pets will want a grass type with high urine tolerance and a good ability to handle foot (or paw) traffic. On this list, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass are all pet-friendly options.</p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the best grass type for shady areas?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Fine fescue grasses are great choices for shady lawn areas.</p> </div> </div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do it yourself or contact a pro&nbsp;</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can purchase bags of grass seed from your local home improvement store and seed your lawn yourself. If you’d rather not wait too long for the grass to develop, you can purchase sod instead. This will allow you to lay an entire pre-grown lawn that will have established roots in just a few weeks.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Too busy heading out to the Great Salt Lake or Bryce Canyon for some summer fun? Have a pro do the work for you and come home to a brand-new lawn. For help with all of your outdoor chores contact <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/\">Wikilawn’s lawn care</a> professionals for help.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Image Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Utah Lawn</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\">CC0 1.0</a></p>\n","title":"Best Grass Seed for Your Utah Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/1789c/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpg","srcSet":"/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/107df/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpg 320w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/293e9/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpg 500w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/f2cbb/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpg 800w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/1789c/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpg 960w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/c26c2/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/1dd6e/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/67b76/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.webp 320w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/8df11/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.webp 500w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/98a65/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.webp 800w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/1dd6e/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.webp 960w,\n/static/307399f55b2d7ab0e64de8c816e301ac/3cc96/Pleasant_View_Utah_City_Hall.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Grass Seed for Your Utah Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Having a great lawn starts with choosing the right grass. These five grasses thrive in Utah's unique climate, provided that you care for them properly"}}},{"node":{"id":"0636b7c9-4161-5503-8091-e0c7443180df","slug":"best-grass-types-virginia","path":"/lawn-care/virginia/best-grass-types-virginia/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Based in the south of France, Jeffery holds a master of science degree from the International University of Monaco. His hobbies include hiking, cycling, and traveling across Europe.","name":"Jeffery Keusseyan","id":"75c05140-c87e-540a-8d34-da174527f4cc","path":"/author/jeffery-keusseyan/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/12a7b239a959b7f6feee4e4b9495d63f?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"ddd20ffd-f767-55d6-8823-27520167ef7e","name":"Virginia","count":20,"path":"/category/lawn-care/virginia/"}],"date":"April 30th, 2023","excerpt":"<p>Virginia is known for its hot summers and moderately cold winters, so you may often choose to stay home and relax in your own backyard. Whether it’s playing lawn games or having a family barbecue, it won’t be as memorable on a brown, grim-looking turfgrass. By examining the best grass types for Virginia, the only [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>Virginia is known for its hot summers and moderately cold winters, so you may often choose to stay home and relax in your own backyard. Whether it’s playing lawn games or having a family barbecue, it won’t be as memorable on a brown, grim-looking turfgrass. By examining the best grass types for Virginia, the only words to describe your lawn will be healthy and luscious green.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with having several plant hardiness zones, Virginia is divided into 5 regions that include Piedmont and Tidewater. It also lies in the transition zone, so there’s never one definitive answer to which grass seed will thrive in your area. Northern parts of the state are more suitable for cool-season grasses, while cities in the Coastal Plain area are better suited for warm-season grasses. The upcoming section will highlight the best types of grasses for every major part of your beloved state.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we will cover</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#warm\">Warm-Season vs Cool-Season Grasses</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#best\">Best Grass Types for Virginia</a></strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#tall\">Tall Fescue</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#zoysiagrass\">Zoysiagrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#kentucky\">Kentucky Bluegrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#bermudagrass\">Bermudagrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#perennial\">Perennial Ryegrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#st\">St Augustinegrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#centipedegrass\">Centipedegrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#fine\">Fine Fescue</a></strong></li>\n</ol>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#central\">Best Grass Types for Central Virginia</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#northern\">Best Grass Types for Northern Virginia</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#faq\">FAQ About Virginia Grass Types</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#choose\">Choose Grass and Plant Varieties for Your Virginia Landscape</a></strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"warm\">Warm-Season vs Cool-Season Grasses</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With a wide variety of grass types to choose from, it is important to distinguish between warm- and cool-season grass. Here are some of their main differences:</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Warm-season grasses</strong> thrive when temperatures range from 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter, warm-season grasses will turn brown and become dormant. They have low frost-tolerance, enjoy high temperatures, and require less water than cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses include Zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and St Augustinegrass.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cool-season grasses</strong> thrive when temperatures range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They are able to tolerate frost, lower light, and lower temperatures than warm-season grasses. They can stay green throughout the winter, especially in transition zones like Virginia. Cool-season turfgrasses include tall fescue, creeping red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best\">Best Grass Types for Virginia</h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tall\">1. Tall Fescue</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass known for its adaptability to a wide range of climates. It is suitable for northern and southern transition zones. This grass type germinates quicker than other cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass. Additionally, tall fescue has a deep root system, giving it a superior heat and drought tolerance. One downside to this grass is that it grows in clumps, limiting its capacity to self-repair when damage occurs.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4646\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tall fescue</a> grass can thrive in almost every region across the state, such as <strong>Piedmont</strong>, <strong>Northern Virginia</strong>, <strong>Coastal Plain</strong>, and <strong>Southwestern Virginia</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong><strong> </strong>Produces short rhizomes but has a bunch-type growth habit</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>Moderate to<strong> </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>:</strong> Frequent mowing. Does not produce significant thatch.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set mowing height to 2 inches when grass reaches 3 inches tall.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>Tolerant of most diseases when properly maintained.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 5.5-6.5</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Adapted to a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers fertile clay soils with good drainage.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"zoysiagrass\">2. Zoysiagrass</h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4.jpg\" alt=\"Green color zoysiagrass\" class=\"wp-image-14251\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emeraldzoysia1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russbach </a>/ Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a> </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of all the warm-season grasses, zoysiagrass is one of the best in tolerating cold temperatures. With several species and cultivars available, it is a suitable turfgrass for transition zones. It may establish slower than some other warm-season grasses, but will eventually form a dense carpet of grass beneath your feet. You can overseed zoysia lawns with cool-season ryegrass for a green winter color. Overall, this grass type is perfect for families who enjoy lawn games and plenty of backyard activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can plant this grass seed anywhere in Virginia except for the <strong>Valley and Ridge</strong> region and <strong>Blue Ridge Mountains</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong> Warm-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong><strong> </strong>Stolons and rhizomes</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>Moderate to High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>High, but recovers slowly from damage</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>:</strong> Low nitrogen fertilization requirements, although, it’s prone to thatch build-up.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set mowing height between 1 and 2 inches.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>Good disease tolerance overall</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 6-6.5</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Well-draining, some cultivars more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kentucky\">3. Kentucky Bluegrass</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kentucky bluegrass is a self-spreading, sod-forming grass that is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to walk on barefoot. With an aggressive growth habit, it has an excellent capacity for self-repair. This makes Kentucky bluegrass an excellent choice for lawns that need to endure heavy foot traffic. This cool-season grass is not a good fit for shady lawns, so you might want to consider another shade-tolerant grass such as fine fescue.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/grasses/kentucky-bluegrass/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kentucky bluegrass</a> is a great choice for homeowners in <strong>Northern Virginia</strong>, <strong>Piedmont</strong>, and the <strong>Blue Ridge Mountains</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong><strong> </strong>Rhizomes</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate mowing frequency and high fertilization needs.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set mowing height between 2.5 and 3.5 inches.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease:</strong> Moderate to high; prone to several diseases, such as dollar spot, leaf spot, necrotic ring spot, summer patch, and stripe smut.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 6-7.5</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Performs best in well-drained, heavy soils with high fertility.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bermudagrass\">4. Bermudagrass</h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-3.jpg\" alt=\"Green Color Bermudagrass\" class=\"wp-image-14253\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-3.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-3-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-3-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/scotnelson/15467067276/in/photostream/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scot Nelson</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC0 1.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/bermudagrass/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bermudagrass</a> has the fastest growing rate of all warm-season grasses. This helps it recover quickly from damage. Bermudagrass is more sensitive to cold than zoysiagrass, and flourishes in sites with full sun and good drainage. Overall, this turfgrass has excellent wear, drought, and salt tolerance.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>It’s important to mention that bermudagrass is not a good fit for shady lawns. If you need a shade-tolerant grass that tolerates foot traffic, zoysiagrass might be the better choice.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can successfully grow this grass seed if you live in <strong>Piedmont</strong>, <strong>Northern Virginia</strong>, <strong>Tidewater</strong>, and <strong>Southwestern Virginia</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong> Warm-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Stolons and rhizomes</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Low; thrives in full sun</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> High&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> High&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>:</strong> Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set the mowing height between 0.5 and 1.5 inches for hybrid Bermudagrass cultivars. Mow common Bermudagrass down to 1.5 to 2.5 inches.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>Good resistance to disease, although diseases are common; low resistance to insects</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 6-6.5</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Tolerates most soil types</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"perennial\">5. Perennial Ryegrass</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Perennial ryegrass is best adapted to regions with moderate temperatures throughout the year. It has the highest wear-tolerance of any cool-season grass, with the ability to tolerate heavy foot traffic. This grass species has a rapid germination rate, which makes it ideal for overseeding warm-season grasses. When winter creeps in, overseeding will help extend your lawn’s green period.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your family occasionally enjoys a few rounds of BucketBall, <a href=\"https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/TURF/TURFSPECIES/perrye.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">perennial ryegrass</a> is a great option for your lawn. The <strong>Piedmont</strong> and <strong>Tidewater</strong> regions are the only parts of Virginia where this grass seed cannot thrive.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong><strong> </strong>Has a bunch-type growth habit</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>: </strong>High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate mowing and fertilization requirements. Thatch is not significant.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set mowing height to 1.5 to 2.5 inches</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>High. Common diseases include gray leaf spot, red thread, and leaf spot/melting-out.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> Can grow in soils with a pH between 5 and 8, but prefers between 6 and 7.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Prefers good drainage and fertility, but can tolerate some poor drainage.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"st\">6. St Augustinegrass</h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass.jpg\" alt=\"Green Color St Augustine Grass\" class=\"wp-image-14256\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass.jpg 1024w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass-980x735.jpg 980w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/St-Augustinegrass-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr-070906-8535-Stenotaphrum_secundatum-habit-Kula_Ace_Hardware_and_Nursery-Maui_%2824264673843%29.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forest &amp; Kim Starr</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 3.0 US</a> </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being the least cold-tolerant of all the warm-season grasses, St Augustinegrass grows best in areas that are not exposed to long periods of cold temperatures. It has an aggressive growth habit, but can easily be controlled around borders and flower beds. If you have a shady backyard, this species is the most shade-tolerant of all the warm-season grasses.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/st-augustinegrass/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">St Augustinegrass</a> has a fair tolerance to salt, making it suitable for the <strong>Coastal Plain</strong> area. It cannot thrive in any other part of Virginia, particularly the north, as it is very susceptible to winter injury.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong><strong> </strong>Warm-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Stolons</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate. It is the most shade tolerant warm-season grass.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate to High</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>: </strong>Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set the mowing height between 3.5 and 4 inches.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>Moderate to high<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 6-7.5</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; doesn’t tolerate soil compaction.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"centipedegrass\">7. Centipedegrass</h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2.jpg\" alt=\"Green Color centipede grass\" class=\"wp-image-14257\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Centipedegrass-2-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centipede_Grass.JPG\" target=\"_blank\">James Becwar</a> / Wikimedia Commons / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC0 1.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Centipedegrass is commonly known as “lazy man’s grass”, mainly because it requires less mowing and maintenance than other warm-season grasses. This grass species is not very wear-resistant and cannot withstand heavy foot traffic. Unlike other warm-season grasses, <a href=\"https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/centipedegrass/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">centipedegrass</a> is unable to compete with other species, so overseeding with ryegrass is not recommended.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to St Augustinegrass, you can grow this grass seed only if you reside in the <strong>Tidewater</strong> region.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong> Warm-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Stolons</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance:</strong> Moderate&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance: </strong>Moderate</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance:</strong> Low</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height:</strong> Set the mowing height between 1 and 2 inches.</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>Good resistance to diseases and insects</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 5-6</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Acidic, infertile, at least moderately good drainage (very dense, clay soils produce poor results)</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fine\">8. Fine Fescue</h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fine fescue is one of the most fine-textured turfgrasses available. It has lower maintenance requirements than Kentucky bluegrass. If you decide to leave this grass unmowed, it will help create an attractive, dune-like appearance. It comes in a variety of species, including creeping red and chewings fescue. Taking the lead as the most shade-tolerant cool-season grass, fine fescue is a great choice if you have sycamore trees shading the lawn.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/planting-and-maintaining-fine-fescue-lawn#:~:text=Fine%20fescues%20are%20the%20kind,intended%20for%20general%20lawn%20uses.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fine fescue</a> is often mixed with tall fescue to enhance performance in shady areas. If you live in the <strong>Valley and Ridge</strong> or <strong>Piedmont</strong> regions, fine-leaf grass seeds will be a suitable option for your lawn.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Classification:</strong><strong> </strong>Cool-season grass</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Creeping red fescue spreads by rhizomes, while other fine fescues are bunch-type grasses, such as Chewings, hard, and sheep fescues.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shade tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate to High, depending on species</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drought tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Moderate to High, depending on species</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foot traffic tolerance</strong><strong>:</strong> Low to Moderate, depending on species</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintenance needs</strong><strong>: </strong>Low fertilizer and mowing needs&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mowing height</strong><strong>:</strong> Set mowing height between 2.5 and 4 inches, depending on species.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Potential for disease: </strong>Moderate. Common diseases include red thread, leaf spot, dollar spot, summer patch, and powdery mildew.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil pH:</strong> 6-6.5</p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Soil type: </strong>Will not perform well in wet soil conditions. Prefers drier soils and tolerates a wide range of soil types and fertility.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"central\">Best Grass Types for Central Virginia</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/central-virginia/best-grass-types-central-virginia/\">best grass types for Central Virginia</a> include:&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Tall fescue</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perennial ryegrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kentucky bluegrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fine fescue</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zoysiagrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bermudagrass</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"northern\">Best Grass Types for Northern Virginia</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"http://wikilawn.com/lawn-care/va/northern-virginia/6-best-grass-types-for-northern-virginia/\">best grass type for Northern Virginia</a> include:&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Tall fescue</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perennial ryegrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kentucky bluegrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fine fescue</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zoysiagrass</li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bermudagrass</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">FAQ About Virginia Grass Types</h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the best grass seed you can get for your lawn in Tidewater?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"> Zoysiagrass is a great choice of turfgrass for your backyard in Tidewater. It is a warm-season grass with the ability to tolerate shade, drought, and heavy foot traffic. It performs well during the colder months and resists weed growth, with the only downside being that it recovers slowly from damage.    </p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Which grass type grows best in Shenandoah Valley? </strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"> Tall fescue is an incredibly versatile grass that can grow in nearly every part of Virginia. Being a cool-season grass, it is a perfect fit for Shenandoah Valley. Even if temperatures rise higher than usual, tall fescue has deep root systems that make it drought- and heat-tolerant.  </p> </div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the best shade-tolerant grass for Northern Virginia?</strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">One of the good things about cool-season grasses is that they can be planted in mixtures. Given Northern Virginia’s climate, this approach is preferable than choosing one specific type of grass. For a great mixture of grass seeds that can tolerate cold temperatures, shade, and heavy foot traffic, the following types are recommended: <br/> • Kentucky bluegrass<br/> • Perennial ryegrass<br/> • Fescue such as creeping red</p> </div> </div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"choose\">Choose Plant and Grass Varieties for Your Virginia Landscape</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We each want something different out of our backyard. Some homeowners wish to limit outdoor chores with a low-maintenance lawn, while more active families tend to enjoy plenty of lawn games and barbecues. Depending on your personal preferences, you should choose the right type of grass or seed mix that will meet your needs.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to turfgrass, there are more ways to spruce up your backyard and create the ultimate outdoor space. Consider <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/virginia/low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-virginia/\">low-maintenance landscaping ideas</a> for your lawn, including <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/virginia/best-native-plants-virginia/\">Virginia&#8217;s native plants</a> and hardscaping features. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of how low-maintenance your lawn is, it may still require the occasional mowing, pruning, or aerating. Looking for a Virginia <a href=\"http://wikilawn.com\">lawn care pro near you</a>? We have trusted lawn care pros in <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/va/chesterfield/\">Chesapeake</a>, <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/va/arlington/\">Arlington</a>, <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/va/virginia-beach/\">Virginia Beach</a>, <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/va/norfolk/\">Norfolk</a>, and <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/va/chesterfield/\">Chesterfield</a>, and many more cities across the state.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Photo by: <a href=\"https://pxhere.com/en/photo/775029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PxHere</a></p>\n","title":"8 Best Grass Types for Virginia","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/1789c/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.jpg","srcSet":"/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/107df/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.jpg 320w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/293e9/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.jpg 500w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/f2cbb/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.jpg 800w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/1789c/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.jpg 960w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/c26c2/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/1dd6e/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/67b76/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.webp 320w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/8df11/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.webp 500w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/98a65/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.webp 800w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/1dd6e/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.webp 960w,\n/static/70eab4f5dc1afa3569fb7145117651d5/3cc96/Best-grass-type-for-virginia.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Best Grass Types for Virginia | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"With various species to choose from, let’s explore the best grass types for Virginia, and how to maintain a healthy turfgrass in the transition zone."}}},{"node":{"id":"640aaca0-f358-50b5-9950-34e42b2022df","slug":"dallas-residents-how-to-start-an-herb-garden-in-your-kitchen","path":"/lawn-care/tx/dallas/dallas-residents-how-to-start-an-herb-garden-in-your-kitchen/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Wikilawn","id":"706a455e-0b9c-56ea-aeed-4f411c6c1973","path":"/author/wikilawn/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fd0301960c52ded452e0b5fc145cb264?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"f27be613-d60f-50d6-bb69-080e785141e0","name":"Dallas","count":20,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/dallas/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f9826dc-fc31-550e-9967-1b3bf51f2bdb","name":"Texas","count":72,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/"}],"date":"July 3rd, 2019","excerpt":"<p>Growing an herb garden in your kitchen window is a simple task for Dallas, TX residents. Herbs have been used for centuries to flavor food and for medicinal purposes. Dishes wouldn’t taste the same without herbs to create unique flavor combinations. Learning how to start an herb garden in your kitchen is surprisingly easy. Most [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>Growing an herb garden in your kitchen window is a simple task for Dallas, TX residents. Herbs have been used for centuries to flavor food and for medicinal purposes. Dishes wouldn’t taste the same without herbs to create unique flavor combinations. Learning how to start an herb garden in your kitchen is surprisingly easy. <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most herbs grow exceptionally well in Dallas, TX, so you could start the herbs inside and put them outside later if you wanted. Some people like to have herbs inside and outside! <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spring is the best time of year to start indoor herb gardens! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started! </p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Finding the Right Spot for Your Herb Garden</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A majority of the herb plants you could grow desire full sun, and that is the trickiest part about growing herbs inside. You need to find a spot in your kitchen that receives enough sunlight. Herbs prefer six to eight hours of direct sunlight. <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people find that a south-facing windowsill has the best exposure for maximum sunlight. You can get suction cup window shelves if your windows lack a windowsill or there is no space for a table. <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you’re unable to find an appropriate location in your house, you’ll either have to pick a few herbs that tolerate less sunlight or hang a grow light in your kitchen. You can find small grow light setups for relatively cheap that could set right on your kitchen countertop! <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people prefer to grow herbs inside because you can move the plants around! When you grow them outside, they’re stuck in the ground, but you can move them from window to window, if you wanted, to ensure they receive the right sunlight. Indoor herbs often receive ample sunlight! </p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Temperature Matters Too</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only does sunlight matter, but temperature does as well! Herbs need to be kept between 65 and 70 degrees, which is perfect for most homes. Take care when you place your herb in the windowsill. Hang a thermometer there a few days before you place your herbs there. You want to make sure the window sill or whatever area you select is the ideal temperature! </p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Herbs Grow Well in Dallas, TX </strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to the climate in Dallas, TX, you can grow a lot of herbs! If you plan to always keep them indoors, you could grow anything, but it’s a good idea to make sure the herbs you do plant grow well in your climate. That way, if you decide you want to transplant it outside, you can! <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some herbs you might want to grow in your Dallas, TX indoor herb garden include:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Basil</li><li>Parsley</li><li>Oregano</li><li>Rosemary</li><li>Lavender</li><li>Thyme</li><li>Chives</li><li>Cilantro</li><li>Dill</li><li>Aloe Vera</li><li>Sage</li><li>Yarrow </li><li>Mint</li><li>Lemon Grass</li><li>Fennel</li></ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can’t find a window or location that receives full sunlight, <strong>shade-tolerant herbs for Dallas, TX residents include</strong>:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Parsley</li><li>Thyme</li><li>Oregano</li><li>Lemon Balm</li><li>Marjoram</li><li>Lemon Verbena</li><li>Fennel </li></ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for Starting an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Try Heirloom Plants </strong></h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Heirloom varieties are often the hardiest varieties. Look for heirloom plants that thrive in a climate similar to Dallas, TX. Head to a local farm and fleet stores to see what varieties local farmers might sell. These plants are adapted to your area and will give you the best results.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make Sure You Pick a Container with Drainage</strong></h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All of your containers should have drainage holes and a saucer. If you do pick a sealed pot, place rocks at the base of the pot along with some vermiculite in the soil. These will increase the drainage in your sealed container. It’s best to pick containers with drainage if possible. </p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Use The Right Potting Mix</strong></h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An indoor herb garden needs a potting soil mixture that has additional drainage. The label should tell you that it’s appropriate for indoor garden plants. If the soil is too heavy, try adding some perlite or vermiculite to the mixture. <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should look for a potting mixture rather than a potting soil. A mixture is lighter and has an aerator like perlite already added to it. If you can’t find the mixture, then just adapt the soil to work!<br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever you do, don’t go outside and use the dirt from your outside garden. It seems like a smart idea, but the soil in your Dallas, TX garden is going to be too compact for indoor growing. It won’t hold onto water for as long, leading to insufficient root growth. Plus, you’ll bring in insects and parasites found outside. Not a good idea! </p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Water and Fertilize Properly </strong></h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You don’t have to water and fertilize too much. Doing so is just as harmful as not doing enough! Mark when you fertilized and watered your plants so you don’t overdo it, or you can create a schedule. More inside plants die because of excessive water and fertilizer than not enough! <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>To determine if your herb needs water, test the soil by placing your finger into it. If it’s dry two inches below the surface, then it’s time to water. The top of the soil dries out first. Watering too soon doesn’t encourage the roots of the herbs to grow deeper into the pot searching for water. A healthy root system creates a healthy plant, so that’s your goal. </p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Harvest Your Herbs Correctly</strong></h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don’t harvest your plants until they’re matured for the first time. Then, never harvest more than one-third of the plant at any given time. Make sure that one third grows back before you harvest again. <br></p>\n\n\n\n<p>It’s a good idea to look up each herb you intend to grow and learn about its specific pruning needs. Herbs grow best when pruned properly. You’ll be surprised out large and rapidly they can grow in the right conditions! </p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Grow an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All Dallas resident should have an indoor herb garden in their kitchen! It’s incredibly easy! Your first step is to find out what location receives the most sunlight. Then, decide what herbs you want to grow and prepare your containers. Plant your herbs and wait for them to mature. Before you know it, you’ll have fresh herbs in all of your dishes! </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need lawn care advice? Check out our <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/lawn-care/tx/dallas/\">Dallas lawn care</a> guide for helpful tips and tricks.</p>\n","title":"Dallas Residents: Here&#8217;s How to Start an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/1789c/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/107df/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.jpg 320w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/293e9/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.jpg 500w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/f2cbb/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.jpg 800w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/1789c/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.jpg 960w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/b56d2/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.jpg 4086w","srcWebp":"/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/1dd6e/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/67b76/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.webp 320w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/8df11/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.webp 500w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/98a65/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.webp 800w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/1dd6e/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.webp 960w,\n/static/cf1e9b44c324675e0378a18eda1501d3/002d3/herb_garden_lawnstarter1.webp 4086w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Dallas Residents: Here's How to Start an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"4d8001f5-0137-51a7-b839-9893bea14c48","slug":"best-grasses-northeast-ohio","path":"/lawn-care/oh/best-grasses-northeast-ohio/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nick Crawford is a blog writer based in Philadelphia. He enjoys writing just as much as he enjoys reading a good book, cooking, and working out in his spare time.","name":"Nick Crawford","id":"5213edde-9943-5767-a5ae-163493ecfae5","path":"/author/nick-crawford/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7ce3281d49bd9eb99cb1c4f0200247d3?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f8c37b8-25e8-5e78-8d84-fa2b0ffd84d3","name":"Ohio","count":23,"path":"/category/lawn-care/oh/"}],"date":"May 1st, 2023","excerpt":"<p>With its long, snowy winters and hot summers, Northeast Ohio can be a tough climate for people, animals and plants – lawns included. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a show-stopper of a lawn, though. You just have to choose the right grass and take care of it properly. So, keep that in mind when [&hellip;]</p>\n","content":"\n<p>With its long, snowy winters and hot summers, Northeast Ohio can be a tough climate for people, animals and plants – lawns included. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a show-stopper of a lawn, though. You just have to choose the right grass and take care of it properly.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, keep that in mind when planting grass in Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, or any of the other areas near Lake Erie. If you do, you’ll want to be familiar with these four types of grass, all of which make for an excellent Northeast Ohio lawn.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article:&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Grass\">Cool-Season Vs. Warm-Season Grass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Ohio\">The 4 Best Grasses for&nbsp; Northeast Ohio</a></strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Ryegrass\">1. Perennial Ryegrass</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#fine\">2. Fine Fescue</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#tall\">3. Tall Fescue</a></strong></li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Bluegrass\">4. Kentucky Bluegrass</a></strong></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Word\">The Final Word</a></strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Grass\">Cool-Season Vs. Warm-Season Grasses</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two basic types of grass: warm-season and cool-season grasses. But Northeast Ohio is known for warm summers and cold, snowy winters made worse by the lake effect from Lake Erie. Even the spring and fall can be chilly and rainy. So which is better for this area?&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here’s a look at each:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Warm-season grasses </strong>thrive in warmer weather, turning green later in the spring and going dormant in mid-fall. These grasses need lots of sunlight and tend to be drought resistant.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cool-season grasses </strong>do well when the temperature is lower. They green up in early spring while there is still a slight chill in the air, and they remain green until late fall or early winter. However, they require regular watering and moderate shade during the summer to prevent them from going dormant.&nbsp;</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of Northeast Ohio’s cooler climate, most homeowners sow their lawns with cool-season grass. You can mix in some warm-season grass seed, but be aware that may require extra effort to take care of it.</p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Ohio\">The 4 Best Grasses For Northeast Ohio</h1>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to cultivate a gorgeous lawn in Northeast Ohio, these four grass types are among the best places to start.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Ryegrass\">1. Perennial Ryegrass</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"497\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass.jpg\" alt=\"closeup image of a perennial ryegrass\" class=\"wp-image-12224\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass-300x186.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass-768x477.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass-400x250.jpg 400w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass-480x298.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/marygillhamarchiveproject/26820162412\" target=\"_blank\">Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project</a> / Flickr / <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>On its own, perennial ryegrass is very hardy and durable, so much so that it’s often used on athletic fields. However, thanks to selective breeding to improve its quality, it has steadily made its way to home lawns nationwide, including here.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The true strength of this cool-season grass is its ability to pair well with other grass types, particularly Kentucky bluegrass. Combining perennial ryegrass with other grasses can increase its tolerance to foot traffic and cold weather while enabling faster germination.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in an area that experiences periods of drought, know that perennial ryegrass requires extra care and water, as it does not withstand dry conditions as well as other grass types. It also doesn’t have the best disease resistance, but a fertilizer heavy on nitrogen can give it the energy to make up for that.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Seed</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shade tolerance:</strong> Low; prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drought tolerance:</strong> Moderate</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foot traffic tolerance:</strong> High</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintenance needs:</strong> Moderate to high&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended mowing height:</strong> 2.5 to 3 inches</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fine\">2. Fine Fescue</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue.jpg\" alt=\"Green Color Fine Fescue\" class=\"wp-image-14258\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue-600x400.jpg 600w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://pixabay.com/photos/grass-field-haymaking-shoots-3081622/\" target=\"_blank\">Pixabay</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fine fescue refers not to a single grass species but to a subspecies of <a href=\"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/csc2.20122\"><em>Festuca</em></a>, including creeping red fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue, and chewings fescue. These fine-textured turfgrasses can tolerate various soil conditions, including dry and acidic soils. They also grow quite well in the shade.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fine fescue grasses germinate quickly but establish slowly, making them ideal for lawns with a low mowing frequency. Most fine fescues are bunching grasses, though creeping red fescue is rhizomatous.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>While fine fescues are very low-maintenance grasses, they go dormant in extreme heat. They also don’t tolerate foot traffic well. However, it’s rare to see any of the fine fescues grown outside of seed mixes.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Bunching; However, creeping red fescue has short rhizomes.</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shade tolerance:</strong> Partial shade</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drought tolerance:</strong> High</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foot traffic tolerance:</strong> Low</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintenance needs:</strong> Low to moderate</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended mowing height:</strong> 2.5 to 3 inches</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tall\">3. Tall Fescue</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tall Fescue\" class=\"wp-image-13511\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Festuca_arundinacea_-_Berlin_Botanical_Garden_-_IMG_8538.JPG\" target=\"_blank\">Daderot</a> / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tall fescue is a coarse bunching turfgrass. It can tolerate drought and heat better than most other cool-season grasses, and you can get away with light irrigation during the typically mild Northeast Ohio summer.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this grass prefers as much sun as possible, you can grow it in partial shade. Tall fescue will remain green well into the summer with the proper care, thanks to its extensive root structure.&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tall fescues grow rapidly during the spring and require more frequent mowing than other grasses. It’s possible to keep tall fescue at a height of three inches to help minimize weeds, but modern cultivars tolerate a shorter mowing just fine.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Bunching grasses; some cultivars have short rhizomes</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shade tolerance:</strong> Partial shade</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drought tolerance: </strong>High</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foot traffic tolerance:</strong> High</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintenance needs:</strong> Low to moderate.&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended mowing height:</strong> 2.5 to 4 inches</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Bluegrass\">4. Kentucky Bluegrass</h3>\n\n\n\n<p></p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"543\" src=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg\" alt=\"Backyard featuring Kentucky bluegrass\" class=\"wp-image-13245\" srcset=\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg 800w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard-300x204.jpeg 300w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard-768x521.jpeg 768w, https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard-480x326.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" /></figure></div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most popular turfgrasses in Ohio, for a good reason. This fine-textured, blue-green grass produces rhizomes that spread underground, allowing Kentucky bluegrass to create a thick sod that stands up to foot traffic. While it may go dormant during a drought, it rebounds easily once it gets water.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some cultivars tolerate shade better than others, with the key word being ‘tolerate’. For best performance, you must plant your Kentucky bluegrass in an area where it will get a lot of sunlight. Mixing in other grasses, such as one of the fine fescues for improved shade tolerance, is a common practice with Kentucky bluegrass.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can fill in quickly, even during the off-growing season, maintaining a lush appearance. However, that beautiful carpet of fine sod requires higher maintenance than other cool-season grasses. You will need to apply fertilizer heavily when planting it, with less frequent fertilization in subsequent years.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classification:</strong> Cool-season grass</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spreads by:</strong> Rhizomes</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shade tolerance:</strong> Low</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drought tolerance:</strong> Moderate to high&nbsp;</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foot traffic tolerance:</strong> Moderate</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintenance needs:</strong> High; it requires regular fertilization, watering, and dethatching</li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended mowing height:</strong> 2.5 to 3 inches</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Word\">The Final Word</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though many of the cool-season grasses in Northeast Ohio don’t require much maintenance, you still need to put in some work on your lawn. With the proper equipment, an investment of time, and knowledge, you can have a lush green lawn almost all year round. And with the help of a local <a href=\"https://www.wikilawn.com/\">lawn care pro</a>, you can take the hassle out of maintaining your landscape.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main Image Credit: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/timevanson/34462210903\" target=\"_blank\">Tim Evanson</a> / Flickr / <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></p>\n","title":"4 Best Grasses For Northeast Ohio","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"src":"/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/1789c/lawn-in-ohio.jpg","srcSet":"/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/107df/lawn-in-ohio.jpg 320w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/293e9/lawn-in-ohio.jpg 500w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/f2cbb/lawn-in-ohio.jpg 800w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/1789c/lawn-in-ohio.jpg 960w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/c26c2/lawn-in-ohio.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/1dd6e/lawn-in-ohio.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/67b76/lawn-in-ohio.webp 320w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/8df11/lawn-in-ohio.webp 500w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/98a65/lawn-in-ohio.webp 800w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/1dd6e/lawn-in-ohio.webp 960w,\n/static/75750b7803196655dbaa01d69cbf3341/3cc96/lawn-in-ohio.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"4 Best Grasses For Northeast Ohio | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"If you want a great lawn in Northeast Ohio, these four kinds of grass are the best place to start."}}}],"postCity":{}}}}