California Gardening: Baby Tears Lawn?, 1 by smartseeds

smartseeds wrote:
I'm on the desert edge of L.A. County. Mom grew Baby Tears on this property since the 1950's. Half the year, it's half the lawn (the north half), then it disappears in summer, comes back in the spring. All is shaded by big trees and Mom didn't care how much water costs. (Hint: Maidenhair Fern grows thick in the same spot. This just ain't natural.)

Baby Tears make a great edge, a better filler between pavers, but it takes more water than I can afford. It does reseed (yes, not really a moss) and comes back whenever the weather is cool and moist, but I'd hate to try to coax it into serving as a lawn.

I thought dichondra died out when DDT became illegal. I loved it as a kid, but have been told it takes too much water and is preyed upon by some teeny critter than requires major pesticides. Did they invent a new dichondra?

In spring, the lawn is covered with Anemone coronaria, absolutely lovely. Tiny tubers remain underground, plus it reseeds (AKA Windflower for a good reason). I keep the major weeds under control and let the lawn be what it chooses (since it will anyway).

As always, the garden has a mind of its own.