If you live in the city and have a lawn, chances are it's relatively small--but it still needs mowing, edging and fertilizing. John Greenlee, author of The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses (Rodale Press, 1992) and owner of Greenlee Nursery, offers an alternative: a meadow that needs very little care. And because power lawn equipment, such as mowers and blowers, aren't required, growing a meadow can help you reduce air pollution. Native grasses don't need nearly as much water and energy or as many chemicals as a traditional grass lawn. You can maintain it with hand tools--a trowel, pruners and hedge shears. Native grasses tend to grow shorter and far sturdier than lawn varieties. They grow in clumps that look very attractive in combination with native perennials and annuals, and they have the added benefit of attracting butterflies and other beneficial insects to the garden. A quick once-over with hedge shears once a year will keep your meadow grasses looking good. By removing the previous year's old growth, you encourage lush new foliage to take its place and grow upright and full. Very little water or fertilizer is needed to maintain native grasses at this height. Meadow gardening is a matter of combining plant communities that work well together. Plants such as mullein, hollyhock, lobelia, wallflower, Allium ostrowskianum and bulbs combine to create a verdant garden setting that's both low-maintenance and environmentally friendly. Some native grasses may be difficult to grow from seed, so young plants are often sold as plugs (figure A). Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter. You won't be fertilizing the grass later, so don't skimp on soil preparation now. When planting, match the soil level of the plug and the existing ground level. Water well after planting.
RESOURCES :
The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses
Model: 0875961002
Author: John Greenlee
Rodale Press
(November 1992)
GUESTS :
John Greenlee
Author of The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses
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