If your old lawn is worn out and you’re thinking of replacing – or renovating – it, spend a few moments considering why your grass may have failed. Perhaps it was the wrong type of turfgrass for all the foot traffic in your yard. Or maybe it just wasn’t ornamental enough for your tastes. One thing’s for sure: How you use your yard is a very important factor in the type of turfgrass or groundcover you should choose to replace your old lawn.
Hardy turfgrasses work best for high-activity lawns.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Reed Estabrook
A gorgeously green, soft lawn will beckon you to dine al fresco.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler
First, think about all the things you and your family do (or want to do) in your yard. Are you looking for a play area that can stand up to all the running around done by your kids and pets? Do you want your lawn to be purely ornamental – a visual delight, with little anticipated foot traffic? Do you want to create a pathway that leads from one area of your yard to another? Do you need a lawn that’s able to endure automobile traffic? The answers to these questions will help determine your appropriate grass and groundcover options, so consider them carefully and think about how your new lawn will fit into your family’s intended uses and needs.
One thing to keep in mind is the more ornamental you want your lawn to be, the finer the quality of grass or groundcover you should select. Of course, “couture” grass isn’t easy to maintain. Think of a putting green – that close-cut Colonial bentgrass requires constant care and mowing to stay in top condition. If you don’t have the time for that, consider a bluegrass lawn. It can do the job just as well with half the effort in a home setting.
On the other end of the spectrum is the heavily used yard. If your child’s flag football team has regular practice at the house, you’ll probably need a lawn with more rugged beauty that’ll withstand the foot traffic. That means planting one of the “sports turf” mixes.
Of course, if your yard has different areas for distinctly different uses, you don’t have to plant the same seed everywhere. Maybe your back yard is where your family fun happens, but no one romps about the front of your house. You can easily plant a more refined grass for your front entrance because it doesn’t have to withstand the constant pounding. Again, your choices should be governed by your expectations for use, so consider them wisely and explore all of your options.
As you assess your needs, be sure to ask yourself one more question: How much time do you want to spend working on your lawn – not only to plant it but to maintain its beauty? Ornamental lawns can require significantly more nurturing than utility lawns. Groundcovers initially can be more expensive than turfgrass and most can’t survive much foot traffic, but they generally require less maintenance in the long run. If you prefer to spend your days in leisure activities instead of fertilizing, weeding and spraying, make the right selection to start with (or be prepared to hire someone to help you out).
The fact is, if you select the right grass for your family’s needs first, you can have a great-looking lawn no matter what you use it for.
