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This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
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| nolawns:groundcovers [2026/07/08 03:53] – greatwhitebuffalo41 | nolawns:groundcovers [2026/07/08 14:56] (current) – [Ragwort (Packera sp.) Coming soon] greatwhitebuffalo41 | ||
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| ====== Ground Covers and Lawn Alternatives ====== | ====== Ground Covers and Lawn Alternatives ====== | ||
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| Warning, this page is still under construction | Warning, this page is still under construction | ||
| - | ===== - Ground Covers and Lawn Alternatives ===== | + | |
| + | ===== Ground Covers and Lawn Alternatives ===== | ||
| This page discusses the pros and cons of some common ground covers and lawn alternatives. The majority of the plants on this page are semi-durable and are discussed here in the context of using them to replace turf grass. | This page discusses the pros and cons of some common ground covers and lawn alternatives. The majority of the plants on this page are semi-durable and are discussed here in the context of using them to replace turf grass. | ||
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| * Note that 1 inch of rainfall on 1 ft< | * Note that 1 inch of rainfall on 1 ft< | ||
| - | ==== -- Native Landscaping ==== | + | |
| + | ===== Native Landscaping | ||
| Landscaping with taller native plants will almost always be more beneficial to your local eco systemthan a lawn and it's often cheaper to establish than other ground covers. | Landscaping with taller native plants will almost always be more beneficial to your local eco systemthan a lawn and it's often cheaper to establish than other ground covers. | ||
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| * Native plant landscaping is not maintenance free. You will need to weed it occasionally. Almost everything in this list needs some kind of maintenance. | * Native plant landscaping is not maintenance free. You will need to weed it occasionally. Almost everything in this list needs some kind of maintenance. | ||
| - | ==== -- White Clover ==== | + | |
| + | ===== White Clover | ||
| //White clover ( Trifolium repens ) / Dutch White Clover / lawn clover / micro clover// | //White clover ( Trifolium repens ) / Dutch White Clover / lawn clover / micro clover// | ||
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| White clover is a common lawn plant that is sometimes included in grass seed, though it's less common to find it in modern mixes. Like many turf grasses, white clover is native to Europe. | White clover is a common lawn plant that is sometimes included in grass seed, though it's less common to find it in modern mixes. Like many turf grasses, white clover is native to Europe. | ||
| - | Pros: | + | === Pros: === |
| * It's cheap and widely available, similar to traditional turf grass. | * It's cheap and widely available, similar to traditional turf grass. | ||
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| All of these features make white clover a great lawn plant. | All of these features make white clover a great lawn plant. | ||
| - | Cons: | + | === Cons: === |
| * The above ground growth of the plant will die back as temperatures dip below freezing, so it's not uncommon for muddy bare-patches to pop up in winter time. This isn't a huge issue when grown alongside turf grasses, but it means that mono culture // | * The above ground growth of the plant will die back as temperatures dip below freezing, so it's not uncommon for muddy bare-patches to pop up in winter time. This isn't a huge issue when grown alongside turf grasses, but it means that mono culture // | ||
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| * State wildlife departments also usually keep their own list of plants they consider invasive, | * State wildlife departments also usually keep their own list of plants they consider invasive, | ||
| - | === Clover Cost Estimate === | + | ==== Clover Cost Estimate |
| ^ Type and Method ^ Rate per 1000 sqft ^ Price ^ Cost per 1000 sqft ^ | ^ Type and Method ^ Rate per 1000 sqft ^ Price ^ Cost per 1000 sqft ^ | ||
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| | Micro clover lawn | 1 - 2 lbs | $195 / 5 lbs | $ 39.00 | | | Micro clover lawn | 1 - 2 lbs | $195 / 5 lbs | $ 39.00 | | ||
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| - | ==== -- Native Turf Grasses and Sedge Lawns ==== | + | **Caution**: |
| + | |||
| + | The the rest of this wiki page is under construction. | ||
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| + | Wear a hard hat. 👷♂️👷♀️ > | ||
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| + | ===== Native Turf Grasses and Sedge Lawns ===== | ||
| There are many native grass and sedge species which can work well in a lawn setting. You might have some of them growing in your lawn currently. It's hard to make too many generalizations about all of these plants, but native lawns often require less mowing, less water, and are more adaptable to the conditions of the climate where they are native. | There are many native grass and sedge species which can work well in a lawn setting. You might have some of them growing in your lawn currently. It's hard to make too many generalizations about all of these plants, but native lawns often require less mowing, less water, and are more adaptable to the conditions of the climate where they are native. | ||
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| They also tend to be more expensive to install as a lawn / ground cover when compared to turf grasses, but this cost is often offset when considering water savings (location dependent). | They also tend to be more expensive to install as a lawn / ground cover when compared to turf grasses, but this cost is often offset when considering water savings (location dependent). | ||
| - | ==== -- Buffalo grass and Bouteloua species ==== | + | |
| + | ===== Buffalo grass and Bouteloua species | ||
| The genus // | The genus // | ||
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| * Side oats grama //Bouteloua curtipendula// | * Side oats grama //Bouteloua curtipendula// | ||
| - | === Bouteloua Cost Estimate === | + | ==== Bouteloua Cost Estimate |
| ^ Species over seed ^ Rate per 1000 ft< | ^ Species over seed ^ Rate per 1000 ft< | ||
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| Establishing these type of lawns with plugs is often cheaper / easier than with seed. We need to getsome cost estimates for that. | Establishing these type of lawns with plugs is often cheaper / easier than with seed. We need to getsome cost estimates for that. | ||
| - | ==== -- Nimblewill ==== | + | |
| + | ===== Nimblewill | ||
| Nimblewill (// | Nimblewill (// | ||
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| But in recent years, many people are starting to talk about all of the benefits of this native turf-like grass. | But in recent years, many people are starting to talk about all of the benefits of this native turf-like grass. | ||
| - | Pros: // | + | === Pros: === |
| * Nimblewill is soft, fairly easy to grow, and it likes the damp shady spots where many turf grasses struggle. | * Nimblewill is soft, fairly easy to grow, and it likes the damp shady spots where many turf grasses struggle. | ||
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| * Native to large areas of North America. | * Native to large areas of North America. | ||
| - | Cons: | + | === Cons: === |
| * It's a warm-season grass which means it's still still dormant in march when many cool season grasses are greening up. If your current lawn is seeded with warm season grasses already, that might not be an issue, but if your lawn is made of cool season grasses, this will be more noticeable. | * It's a warm-season grass which means it's still still dormant in march when many cool season grasses are greening up. If your current lawn is seeded with warm season grasses already, that might not be an issue, but if your lawn is made of cool season grasses, this will be more noticeable. | ||
| * It's moderately durable but won't tolerate constant foot traffic. In a shady area, nimblewill will be more durable than most turf grasses, but not quite as durable as clover. This can be annoying if you live in a cold area where the clover will then die back in the winter and leave a muddy path where you walk frequently. | * It's moderately durable but won't tolerate constant foot traffic. In a shady area, nimblewill will be more durable than most turf grasses, but not quite as durable as clover. This can be annoying if you live in a cold area where the clover will then die back in the winter and leave a muddy path where you walk frequently. | ||
| - | ==== -- Yarrow ==== | + | |
| + | ===== Yarrow | ||
| Coming soon // // | Coming soon // // | ||
| - | Pros // | + | === Pros === |
| * Extremely drought tolerant | * Extremely drought tolerant | ||
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| * flowers for pollinators if you let it get taller | * flowers for pollinators if you let it get taller | ||
| - | Cons | + | === Cons === |
| * Can be poisonous to dogs and cats, so it's not a good option for people with pets | * Can be poisonous to dogs and cats, so it's not a good option for people with pets | ||
| * Grows relatively quickly. It can get to be 3ft tall if it's left unmown; though some cultivarsgrow shorter and more slowly. | * Grows relatively quickly. It can get to be 3ft tall if it's left unmown; though some cultivarsgrow shorter and more slowly. | ||
| - | ==== -- Self-heal / Heal-all | + | |
| + | ==== Self-heal / Heal-all | ||
| Coming soon | Coming soon | ||
| - | ==== -- Frog fruit (Phyla sp.) | + | |
| + | ==== Frog fruit (Phyla sp.) | ||
| Coming Soon | Coming Soon | ||
| - | ==== -- Perennial Peanut | + | |
| + | ==== Perennial Peanut | ||
| Coming Soon | Coming Soon | ||
| - | ==== -- Ragwort (Packera sp.) | + | |
| + | ==== Ragwort (Packera sp.) | ||
| Coming Soon | Coming Soon | ||
| ------------------ END OF CONSTRUCTION ----------------- | ------------------ END OF CONSTRUCTION ----------------- | ||
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| + | [[nolawns: | ||
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