RE: converting lawn

Barbara,

Two years ago we decided to eliminate our front lawn.  Since we have a growing
oak tree (20+ feet up and across now), we decided that watering the tree was not
a good idea and to cover the grass with tree trimmings and plant natives and
medit plants out near the dripline.  It's coming along very nicely and the mulch
has faded from green to a lovely brown that frames our shrubs, salvias,
penstamens, and achillea (yellow, pink, cinnamon).  We covered the grass with
3-6 inches of mulch, keeping it away from the crown of the tree.  This was done
after moving the lawn very short.  Very few grass tips appeared and we pulled
those by hand.   The mulch has subsided to a thinner layer and the soil is kept
cool and retains moisture much better.

Our mulch came free from a local tree trimming service that does a good job of
keeping their cutting equipment very sharp so there are few large pieces.  We do
have clean slices of pinecones.  We had to take about ten yards of material
which will cover quite a large area.  Perhaps you could share with like-minded
neighbors?   We have now mulched the backyard as well with another load of
trimmings.  The only downside I can see is that I cannot go barefoot now because
the mulch is too rough to walk on without shoes.

Cheers,
Bracey

-----Original Message-----
From: barbara sargent [r*@california.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2001 11:09 AM
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Cc: OGL@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: converting lawn


I have a small patch of lawn - about 8X17 feet. I've been slowly sticking
in white achillea which I would like to take over the entire patch. The
achillea has spread very nicely along the edges which are tight against
wood borders but most of the lawn is still grass (weed grass and other),
dandelions and other weeds. I almost never water it in the summer so there
are brown patches.

Part of the lawn is shaded by the apple tree and there it is greener but
most of the grass is ordinary weedy stuff and the achillea is alive but not
spreading as well in the shady places.

Do you think I can continue doing it patch by patch (compost, newspaper and
mulch)? Or would it be better to do that to the entire strip all at once?
Or, any other ideas?

Thanks--Barbara, in Berkeley where it doesn't rain from spring until late
autumn.
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