Planting Native Grasses in the Lawn VS Using Nonnative Grasses
Most lawns that you think of tend to be soft, cool, and green.
Traditional or non-native grasses are always thought of first when the word
‘yard’ comes to mind. Native grasses, however, tend to be yellower, less
comfortable, and less aesthetically appealing to the eye.
Although traditional grasses use about 55% of residential water, they
can survive much easier than native grasses in droughts and dry seasons.
Traditional grasses are also greener and, depending on the type of nonnative grass, thicker and plusher. Also, traditional lawns seem to be easier
to tend to if watered regularly. Native grasses in Kansas can grow about 3
to 4 inches a week, depending on the amount of rainfall during that
week.
More families like the traditional lawn over the native lawn because
of softness. Native grasses, like bluestem, can even cut a person because
on its prickly underside of the stem and grass. The native lawn will have
harder and taller stems and will likely grow in clumps, unlike the traditional
lawn that has been seeded with other grasses so that the grasslettes or
grass‘leaves’ are the only thing grown out of the seed. However, native
grasses are less susceptible to ‘weed grasses’ such as Crab Grass or Tall
Fescue.
Some people need to have a very good looking lawn to sleep at
night and tend to say that their grass is ‘greener than the other side’. A
well-maintained native grass lawn can easily be mistaken for a neglected
traditional lawn. You can even buy pre-grown grass in rolls to roll out in
your lawn. Plus, some native grasses need pesticides or herbicides to
keep from caterpillars, grasshoppers, or other insects.
There is a main controversy over using Native or Traditional grasses in
a front lawn. However, my personal opinion is that people should use
Traditional grasses, or non-native grasses, in their lawns. It is more
economical although it can use more water. Traditional lawns also look
and feel much better than Native lawns.
Bibliography:
Frank C. Gates Grasses in Kansa
Report of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, v. 55, no. 220 A,
1936
Haddock, Mike. "Kansas Grasses." Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses.
AgNIC Home, 02 Feb. 2010. Web. 06 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.kswildflower.org/grass_index.php>.
"Lawns and the Alternatives - Sunset.com." Sunset - How To Live In The
West. Sunset Publishing Corporation, 2010. Web. 06 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/artificiallawn-grass-alternatives-00400000046934/>.