Is it impossible to have green grass without chemical service and sprinklers?

[Anonymous]

Every year we try to manage it ourselves and it just seems to get worse each year.

[Anonymous]

This summer, yes, rain was a bit more regular than certain past summers. Years ago our grass turned brown in summer, but not anymore. Apart from rain, I believe that our bushes and trees have grown over time and contribute to shade and moisture retention. A large expanse of flat lawn baking in the sun will probably not do well.

[Anonymous]

It’s all about sun and water. You need the right amount of both. Too much or too little and you won’t have grass. It’s so finicky, now that I own a house I totally see why people do ground cover and other things instead of trying to maintain a lawn. It’s an absurd amount of work!

[Anonymous]

Yes.
Plant zoysia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes.
Plant zoysia.

Please tell me about this zoysia. I am about to reseed my lawn and I got what I found at Home Depot, something called Scott's Contractor's seed.

[Anonymous]

Invest in a good seed - it makes a difference. Getting the cheapest stuff at home depot just means you are going to spend $ again and again.

[Anonymous]

All you have to do is water it. Set up a sprinkler. Grass is a weed, in case you haven't noticed it growing in between bricks and cracks in the sidewalk. The lawn industry is a huge scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.
Plant zoysia.

Please tell me about this zoysia. I am about to reseed my lawn and I got what I found at Home Depot, something called Scott's Contractor's seed.

My house came with a zoysia lawn, so I have no experience with starting one. I think you have to put down sod for it, not seeds. Some people don’t line it because it turns brown in winter but I barely have any weeds in it. All I do is put down compost every spring and fall.

[Anonymous]

We haven't used chemicals or sprinklers in 22 years. If you put the right plant in the right place, nature does its thing.

If you stop using chemicals, expect it to take 3-5 years for your yard to fully recover from the withdrawal - quite literally like a drug withdrawal. You have to rebuild the biome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.
Plant zoysia.

Please tell me about this zoysia. I am about to reseed my lawn and I got what I found at Home Depot, something called Scott's Contractor's seed.

My house came with a zoysia lawn, so I have no experience with starting one. I think you have to put down sod for it, not seeds. Some people don’t line it because it turns brown in winter but I barely have any weeds in it. All I do is put down compost every spring and fall.

Thanks. I think one of my neighbors has it. It is exactly what you described. I rarely see them doing any yard work, definitely not grass work and their lawn has no weeds at all! But, as you said, turns brown in winter.

[Anonymous]

Clover. Just throw down some seed and water. In a month do it again. Softer than grass, doesn't get tall, little cute flowers that native bees really like.

If you want a lawn that looks like a golf course, you have to irradiate it like golf courses do. But if you want a green lawn that stands up to kids/dogs running around on it and is soft to walk on in bare feet, throw down some clover seed.

[Anonymous]

I just count all the weeds as lawn. It all looks good when it's been mowed.

[Anonymous]

What do you recommend for high traffic areas where dogs go to the bathroom? Would zoysia work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you recommend for high traffic areas where dogs go to the bathroom? Would zoysia work?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just count all the weeds as lawn. It all looks good when it's been mowed.

Us too!