Re: Lawn Substitutes
Kitt wrote:
> > Mazus reptans -- a Veronica "cousin" -- has worked well in the
> > sunny areas, spreads quickly but not rampantly, fairly thick,
> > withstands foot (and paw) traffic, and only gets about 2"
> > tall. In late spring it's covered with 1/4" violet-blue
> > flowers.
>
> It's a wonderful plant but I believe it's deciduous, is it not?
Not that I've noticed but, then, I generally don't dig under the snow to
see what's going on. ;-) Others closer to your climate, Kitt, have
already given their reports. It doesn't totally supress all weeds the
way, say, English Ivy will but it takes a lot less effort to get down and
pull up a couple plantains than it does to fool around with mowing and
caring for grass. I was looking for less maintenance, not none at all.
I am a gardener after all; if I'd wanted no maintenance at all I would
have gotten a truckload of those (lovely?) red lava rocks... ;-)
> Bright minds must think alike! I've got bed areas in between
> trees covered in several different types of thyme. They're
> evergreen here. The variegated lemon thyme I found too
> brittle and tall,
Yeah, you've got to be careful with some of the Thymes because they
really want to be small woody shrubs which gets a bit prickly on bare
feet.
> Yes, me too. Veronica repens sunshine is my current try.
> So far, it's doing really very well. Fingers crossed.
Based on my experience in walking on them, I've relegated all creeping
Veronicas to the status of groundcover in beds, no lawn areas.
> In the few partially shaded areas, I've used a real winner which
> is Rubus calycinoides. Evergreen, troublefree, wonderful but
> won't take full sun here. Gorgeous reddish tinge in winter.
Does that tolerate foot traffic? It seems to me that would be more of a
groundcover rather than a lawn substitute. Especially when it's in fruit
-- squishy raspberries between the toes! That's the same reason I don't
use groundcover strawberries in designated lawn areas.
Of course, R. calycinoides is only marginally hardy here, surviving some
winters and totally dying back others.
> > I haven't been impressed with Scottish/Irish Moss (Sagina
> > subulata, Minuartia verna, etc.)
>
> Well, I ripped all mine out, and then out of guilt, stuck some in
> a sphagnum hanging basket. Was the Selaginella "Peacock Moss",
> and it's a real knockout....in a basket.
I was referring to the small flowering herbs sold as Scottish and/or
Irish Moss. They're not true mosses. Have little white flowers in late
spring/early summer.
Selaginella is also not a true moss but a club moss. Club mosses, as a
rule, will not tolerate any foot traffic; a couple species will tolerate
the occasional step. Most of the more common true mosses will tolerate
moderate foot traffic but they require regular moisture to keep full and
growing.
> I tried both ivy and variegated ivy, but it found it MUCH too
> eager to climb trees. I have done some small bed areas
> in Vinca Minor which has been problem free, but unfortunately
> can't be used in my sunny lawn areas. And the ajuga too
> is restricted to bed use here as that's the only shade available.
Ah, there's the difference: I don't mind if the ivy wants to climb up the
trees or house. Vinca minor, Periwinkle, gets a bit taller and rangier
than I want for the designated lawn areas. It's o.k. for out by the
curb, though, where it -- along with the ivy -- withstands a lot of
abuse.
> Very kind of you to share the info. Gives me hope that you
> have been able to find a solution for your area! Will continue
> seeking solution for my Zone 7 full sun ucky remaining lawn
> areas.
Out in California and such places they use Dichondra which is very low
maintenance and reseeds itself in their lawns. It's not hardy here,
though. You might have luck with it.
Dean
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