Renovating Lawns and Lawn Care

I am in the midst of renovating a very old lawn (I have neither the money nor the inclination to rip out and replace what there is of it). In using the search engine, I have found nothing that resembles a good primer on doing this. In particular, I am hoping to find some recommendations for transitioning an old lawn to a drought tolerant mixed sun / shade lawn. My back garden will be the main space where I have some lawn (and it will be primarily shaded), and the front garden will have a wide turf path, but will mostly be shrubs and small trees (with a huge Magnolia grandiflora in situ).

Right now, my watering schedule is as it is recommended in Sunset WGB, I water once a week, on Friday evening. First I water for ten minutes, then turn off the water and wait one hour. I then water for ten more minutes. This has given me good results so far (decent percolation), and I have a pretty green-ish lawn for the end of a long hot Pasadena summer.

I would like to read of some other people's advice on this if you have any experience with it. Alternatively - if you have a favorite thread that you know of - could you refer me to it here?

Gratefully,
Jeff

Jeff,

Have you tried the Grass and Bamboo Forum? There might be someone over there with lawn resources or experience that would help you.

Good luck,
Kathleen

Thanks Kathleen,
I guess lawns ARE pretty boring for most gardeners. I myself am not a big fan of lawns, but I do want the cooling effect of it in my back yard. Thanks for the suggestion. It was getting lonely here! :)

I know the feeling! lol

I find that the Sunset schedule for lawns leaves me with a pretty sad looking lawn.

doss - I agree that it is not ideal - though I think they actually recommend watering twice a week, and I only do it once a week. For one thing, my lawn is not properly aerated at all, so there is too much of runoff if I just let the sprinklers go. If you aerate with a plug-type aerator from Home Depot, you can fill the holes with coarse sand and compost, which will allow for deeper percolation. This builds drought tolerance by forcing grass roots to find water at a deeper level during the drying-out periods between watering. One is expected to aerate once a year, and dethatch once a year (about 6 months after aerating). The L.A. County Arboretum recommends that you cut your grass when you will only be removing the top 1/4 of the blade, and that you leave the clippings on the lawn for use as a green mulch. Guess what - if you do this, you will be mowing MORE than once a week (at least around here!).

If you just water every day - or every other day - the roots 'learn' to stay close to the surface, which continues a vicious cycle of having to water often.

The big lesson is that having an environmentally responsible green lawn is a lot of work. I bought some sun/shade drought tolerant grass mix, have begun the dethatching process (using a cultivator, by hand), and am going to put down a layer of coarse sand and compost mixed, after broadcasting the grass seed mixed with some sand (supposedly better distribution). Around next Spring I will properly aerate my lawn - right now, I need to overseed the lawn as it is since we are going into the "wet" season!

Thanks for the insight! I do need to have my lawn aerated!

Jman:
You are going to end up being our lawn expert. I have the same problems with the lawn in front of the old cabin. Partly shade, part sun. I have a lot of decomposed granite in our soil, so it is hard to build a good lawn. Perc is too good. I did away with the lawn on my side of the yard. DH had to have lawn. So he put in sod after the last time we had to open up the septic tank. We have it on an automatic sprinkler. Looks pretty good. Except look what I found out in his lawn today! We don't have drip by the cabin, so I water using hose and sprinkler usually twice a week for 15 minute to a half hour depending on the heat. Let me know if you find a good grass seed for shady places.
Thanks!
WIB!
SW

If you don't need a walkable lawn the best 'grass' for shady places is mondo grass, especially if you buy the small kind. The regular mondo is a little 'moundy' for walking on but it gives a very nice effect and it will grow in full sun too if you want.

Thanks doss!
I need to walk on the lawn, but I will keep your idea in mind for my side of the yard! Thank You!!
Walk In Beauty!
SW