Are lush, green lawns now history?

FALLBROOK – For the past few years, California has reached a severe water shortage situation that has not been seen for many decades.

With Governor Jerry Brown enforcing domestic water usage restrictions back in April, homeowners have been scrambling to reduce the amount of water used across the household.

For those with yards, one of the prime targets for water reduction has been the lawn.

According to Fallbrook Public Utility District, homeowners have been told to limit their landscape irrigation to two days a week.

With all these restrictions in place, it may seem like the dream of having a lush green lawn is over. However, that isn't necessarily the case.

Although one's lawn may never be as naturally green as they would like it to be, there are still some great drought-tolerant grasses that could be sowed to help build an elegant yard.

Using decorative grasses provides an opportunity for unique textures that create a multi-dimensional look to the landscape. Keep in mind that although these examples are known for being drought-tolerant, a responsible amount of water must be used to sustain life.

Shown below are four, specific, drought-tolerant grasses: Dymondia, Yarrow, UC Verde Buffalograss, and Blue Grama.

The information regarding these has been shared with Village News readers by Organic Lesson. Read more at www.organiclesson.com.

Dymondia Margaretae

Dymondia Margaretae, also known as the Silver Carpet, is a perennial that is more than capable of handling the drought seasons that California is experiencing today. The color is unique and can be featured in one area of a yard for beautiful accent.

It is, however, a very slow-spreading ground cover. It is also very dense and low to the ground. Hence, it may take time to develop into the lawn carpet that you desire.

Dymondia likes full sun to partial shade. It tolerates moderate traffic and prospers in either a sandy or loamy type soil.

During the summer, tiny yellow flowers will bloom within the foliage.

Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)

Yarrow is a flowering plant that can help create a feathery lawn of about four inches tall.

It is best to plant Yarrow lawns where it will have minimal (light) foot traffic, since they are not too dense.

Yarrow lawns thrive in sandy, loamy soil and the plants spread quickly. Without any mowing, one can expect small white flowers to appear among the foliage during the summer.

We recommend tools like cordless string trimmers to tame down the height when desired.

UC Verde Buffalograss

The UC Verde Buffalograss is a great, drought-tolerant grass developed by two colleges in California.

The main site claims that using UC Verde Buffalograss can result in up to a 75 percent reduction in water consumption. That seems like quite a statement but most people who have installed this particular grass indeed have had huge success in reducing overall lawn water usage.

The ideal time to install this particular lawn grass would be from March to August. It thrives in full sun and can accommodate regular traffic.

This variety of grass prefers a clay or loamy soil type.

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

Blue Grama is a warm-season perennial that requires low maintenance.

Unlike some of the other drought-tolerant grasses, Blue Grama lawns can be grown in both clay loam and sandy loam soils.

Blue Grama will thrive as a lawn as long as it receives full sun and doesn’t get too much foot traffic.

This variety is slow to spread and features clump-forming grass.

What type of soil do you have?

One can determine their soil's texture by forming it into a ball.

• If it doesn't hold together, the soil is sandy.
• If it forms a tight ball that won't come apart when tapped, it's clay.
• If it holds its shape, but moves through your fingers when crumpled, it is loam.