Lawn Alternatives (habitat) - notes

1/6/2013

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Life-friendly ‘Lawns’:
native groundcover ideas that
provide bird & insect habitat

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve
Gardening with Calif. Native Plants in Western L.A. County January 5 & 8, 2013
Project SOUND – 2013 (our 9th year)
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Maybe you’re considering re- A traditional sod lawn may be the best
doing your lawn in 2013 solution...
 Tough – stands up to
kids, dogs, play and
even worse
 Evergreen – and a nice
medium green color
 Smooth – good playing
surface
http://molkkyusa.com/
 Gardener’s can manage
them
May not be the best use of  Filters rainwater
water, gasoline, time and space contaminants


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1/6/2013

Ideally you should make gardening choices based on
conscious weighing of pros & cons…
1. Make a garden plan – even though it
may change over time

2. Choose plants (and hardscape) based
on their suitability for your needs and
garden conditions

…rather than simply going
with the ‘usual’ solution


What do you like about your current lawn? What things don’t you like about your
 A place for kids to play
current ‘lawn area’?
 Too water-thirsty
 Green most of the year  Needs too much fertilizer &
pesticides
 Cool in summer  Time spent mowing could be
 Mowing – it gets us outside spent more enjoyably
and working/exercising  Cost of gardener to maintain
 Not used any more – kids grown
 Looks good with the design
 Poor habitat value
of the house  Boring
 Easy to maintain  Full of weeds
 Reduces erosion; allows  Lawn doesn’t grow very well –
too shady or too hot
water to infiltrate
 Doesn’t reflect the natural
 Takes up CO2 heritage of western L.A. co.
 Whatever it is you like about
your lawn What can I do to avoid these pitfalls in
my ‘new lawn’?

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1/6/2013

You may conclude that you do need some lawn, but
can reduce its size - or change the type of grass…
3. The ‘Life-friendly Gardening’ Principle:
Choose plants based their
habitat value

4. Also choose plants for their usefulness
to your family (food; cut flowers;
medicinal; dyes; etc.)

… giving you more space to use
as you desire (like providing
better habitat for birds & insects) © Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Garden of Dreams: Elderberry area Garden theme: Edible Native Plants
December, 2008

Native Currants (Ribes)

Blue Elderberry

Constraints/conditions:
 shade/sun mix (particularly when large plants mature)
 clay soil
© Project SOUND  must take some foot traffic (mostly light) © Project SOUND

3

1/6/2013

Grass? Or something else What habitat resources might a ‘lawn
alternative’ provide?
Native to within a 20
 Food
mile radius of
 Nectar
CSUDH, if possible
 Pollen
 Seeds
 Fruit
 Greens/larval food
 Insects
 Nesting materials
http://www.penick.net/digging/index.php?s=wildflower+center
 Shelter

Needs to have both teaching and When considering habitat, think about what creatures you want to
habitat value provide for: Birds? Insects? Reptiles? Spiders? Rabbits? Humans?

Let’s compare two ‘lawns’

Mowed Lawn - typical Mother Nature’s ‘Lawn’
Look to Mother Nature and Native
Californians for helpful gardening advice

http://austindhill.com/how-a-drought-encourages-devotional-life/ http://camissonia.blogspot.com/2010/04/treks-on-santa-rosa-plateau-vernal-pool.html

To many non-gardeners, the two look pretty much alike

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1/6/2013


 Food  Food
X
 Nectar  Nectar
X
Simple Complex  Pollen  Pollen
X
 Seeds  Seeds
X
 Fruit  Fruit
X
 Single, non-native grass  Multiple native species:
species  Grasses - at least 3 species X Greens/larval food
  Greens/larval food
X
 Mowed (removing seeds,  +/- sedges (Carex) X Insects
  Insects
X
cover, nesting materials, etc)  Annual wildflowers  Nesting materials
X  Nesting materials
X
 +/- bulbs, ferns, other perennials
 Relatively un-mowed: full  Shelter  Shelter
X
benefits of foliage, flowers,
seeds, dried materials

Several ways to add complexity to a ‘lawn’ Two great recent resources


 Decrease the lawn area – plant other (habitat) plants around it
 Replace the lawn with native sedge/grass lawn (partly un-mowed)
Create a more complex mixture of native grasses + other plants
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2009/10/emily-green-dry-garden-low-water-
 gardening-drought-xeriscape.html

 Replace the lawn entirely with other native groundcovers

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1/6/2013

Garden of Dreams: Elderberry area Sedges (Carex species) can be a good
evergreen alternative to grass
 Relatively easy to
establish & maintain
 Evergreen – look ‘grass-
like’ to most people
(including your neighbors)
 Can take a little more
water – good for wet
areas near neighbor’s
lawn
Need something  Some can be mowed (for
a more formal look) or
green & grassy http://blueplanetgardening.com/art-lawnsubs.html left unmowed (for a more
informal look)

In general, grasses are better habitat plants for local
insects and birds than are sedges

Carex species combine well
with native grasses,
Creeping Wild Rye - Leymus triticoides
groundcovers and shrubs to
give an interesting, varied
appearance - and better
habitat value!

http://www.satoridesigns.net/?p=19

http://www.elnativogrowers.com/Photographs_page/leytri.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/2673289141/

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1/6/2013

Creeping Wildrye is quite versatile Mowing your Creeping Wild Rye (or
other native grass)
 Any soil texture, but  Mowing is tolerated well
should be well-drained
 Mowing changes how it
 Tolerates alkali soils & looks - will look just like
salty soils a turf grass (Bermuda
 Low/no fertilizer needed Grass)

 Full sun to light shade  Mow every 3-4 weeks
during growth season
http://www.albrightseed.com/wildryeswalefilter.htm

 Water: it takes what it only – or just once to
gets – will stay green with Hint: this grass spreads by keep it lower
some summer water runners – may want to grow in
contained area or limit water  Set mower high – as high
© Project SOUND http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/review-push-reel-mower-lawnmower-sunlawn-lmm-40.php
as it will go is best
© Project SOUND

Dune (Seaside) Bentgrass – Agrostis pallens
Seaside Bentgrass/Thin Grass – Agrostis pallens
 Cool-season perennial
bunchgrass that also spreads via
runners & reseeding

 Summer dormant in nature –
turns an attractive golden brown

 Native to dunes – does great in
sandy and clay soils

 Full sun to part-shade

 Water: Zone 1-2 to 2-3 (for
some summer green)

 Use as an ornamental grass,
meadow grass or (small) mowed
lawn

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1/6/2013

Weighing the pros & cons of locally native
‘lawn grasses’
Local cool season  Pros
 Locally native
grasses turn to gold
 Tough; easy to grow
during summer/fall  Can be very drought
tolerant – deeply rooted
 Can be mowed occasionally
– or left un-mowed
 Often very good habitat

 Cons
 Some (like Saltgrass) are
coarse looking
 Really best – and most
water-wise – with some
September
summer/fall drought
July © Project SOUND
© Project SOUND

Wildflower Farms ‘Eco-Lawn’  Product Information:
 Low maintenance
 Contains mixture of 7  Can be maintained as a turf lawn or
fine-textured Fescues – left unmowed.
mostly not CA native Native Mow
 Contains:
 Water-wise – extimated
Free Mix  Western Mokelumne fescue- Festuca
water bill savings ~ $200 occidentalis
for 1000 sq ft lawn in  Idaho fescue- Festuca idahoensis
Torrance  Molate fescue- Festuca rubra
 Notes:
http://www.anniesannuals.com/
plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp
?prodid=3421
 Reasonable price: ~ $40 +
shipping for seed to cover  Excellent shade and cold tolerance
1000 sq ft  Deep green glossy leaves
 Slow growing, narrow leafed grass
 Seed available from with blades that are very lax and
Wildflower Farms or http://www.ssseeds.com/product/Native-Mow-Free-Mix.aspx
flexuous
Annie’s Annual’s  Provides soil stabilization for sloped
area
http://www.wildflowerfarm.com/index.
php?p=catalog&parent=4&pg=1


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1/6/2013

Native Fescues can
5. Knowledge is power: consider where a make nice lawn
grasses
‘native grass’ grows for clues to it’s
http://www.ibot.cas.cz/krkonose/mm/mm.htm

suitability in your yard http://turfgrassmanagement.psu.edu/species.cfm

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?cod
e=G880 http://www.soquelcreekwater.com/images/Pho-Grass_festuca_rubra.jpg

But they ARE from northern CA – so need some summer water to
look good

Red Fescue – Festuca rubra Red Fescue – Festuca rubra
 Wide distribution – some
sub-species even in Europe
 In California:
 North coast
 Foothills of northern
mountains, Sierras usually
<8000 ft
 Sub-alpine forests (including
those near the coast)

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Festuca+rubra
http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/PMCwebsite/pmcweb/chapter5/5-chamomile-fescue-
fireweed-fleabane.htm
Virginia Moore © California Academy of Sciences

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1/6/2013

Red Fescue: both clumping and running Flowers are typical for
 Size: fescue grasses
 1-2 ft tall (to 3 ft flowering stalks)
 2+ ft wide  Blooms:
 In spring – usually Apr-June in
 Growth form: variable S. Bay
 Cool-season perennial grass; evergreen
with summer water http://www.graniteseed.com/seeds/seed.php/Festuca_rubra
 Flowers:
 Some forms spread readily – usually  On taller flowering stems
noted as ‘creeping’  Wind-pollinated – flowers wave
 Other variants clumping/mounding if in the breeze
un-mowed; spreading modestly via
rhizomes if mowed  Seeds:
 Provide food for seed-eating
 Foliage: birds and other small
 Fine-textured leaves creatures
 Medium green to more blue-green
 Vegetative reproduction: via
 Larval food for Skipper buterflies rhizomes
http://www.graniteseed.com/seeds/seed.php/Festuca_rubra
 Roots: deep roots + rhizomesProject SOUND
© © Project SOUND
http://www.answers.com/topic/dudleya

 Soils:
Habitat considerations: Easily grown  Texture: just about any – clays are
good
Native Fescues  pH: any local

 Foliage  Light:
 Larger herbivores: deer, rabbits  Best in part-sun in our area; good
 Skipper butterflies choice for under trees
 Nesting material for birds  Fine for shade

 Seeds  Water:
 Eaten by many seed-eating http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Festuca-rubra-'Point-Molate'/  Winter: needs good winter
creatures including birds, rains/irrigation
insects, etc.  Summer: moderate to regular to
keep it looking nice – less than
 Roots
conventional sod lawn
 Good for the below-ground
ecosystem  Fertilizer: little/none needed; fine with
occasional light dose

 Other: tolerates garden conditions –
easy-to-grow
http://www.callutheran.edu/wf/chap/flowers/fwr-1381.htm

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1/6/2013

Garden uses for Red
‘Molate’ Red Fescue
Fescue
 CA native cultivar from N. CA
 Erosion control on hillsides/slopes  A creeper/clumper
 As a mowed or un-mowed lawn –  Mow or not – makes a ‘bumpy
lawn’ if not
creeping forms fill an area
 Needs occasional to regular
 For its habitat value – especially if summer water in our area
http://www.wnps.org/landscaping/herbarium/pages/festuca-rubra.html
managed for habitat  Good for part-shade/under
http://photobotanic.photoshelter.com/image/I0000Gq_hp6FuY7k trees

http://daamaaextweb.gnb.ca/010-002/Details.aspx?Culture=fr-CA&Id=194&Pid=1884 http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/betty-nelson
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=422
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=3439

‘Patrick’s Point’ Life-friendly grass
 Bluer color – like ‘Canyon Prince’ Wild management
Rye
 Narrower leaves – more delicate  Choose CA native species (or
looking – and smaller than species
natural cultivars)
 Needs part-shade to dappled shade
 Not for hot gardens  Leave some/all un-mowed for
seed (at least until seed has set)
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yG_BWGyr5gCqdv6QZGPdwg
http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/a-wind-blown-garden-on-a-sea-ranch-bluff/ – some of the best habitat value
of grasses lies in their seeds

 Don’t tidy up all the dead leaves
every year – save some for bird
nest-building & insects/micro-
organisms

 Consider combining grasses with
compatible species of annuals,
perennials & bulbs
http://grownatives.cnps.org/2010/08/16/seasonal-color-august-california-fuchsia/

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1/6/2013

Some bunchgrasses combine the traits of
bunching and sod-forming grasses

 Some Fescues [Example:
Festuca rubra – Red Fescue]
Red Fescue managed for
Carex pansa with Nassella tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) and Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer
Grass)
habitat  Bentgrasses (Agrostis)
#holt_829_520

 Wild Ryes (Elymus;
© Saxon Holt

http://www.saxonholt.com/webgalleries/Harris_StockPhotos/link3.html Lymus)
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/geoImages/BainCalif/CAL400/BUNGRASS.HTML

 Gramma grasses
These grasses are often used both (Bouteloua)
as ornamental grasses (specimen
plants) as well as for natural ‘lawns’  Native Bluegrass (Poa)
(mowed or un-mowed)


Idaho Fescue/Blue Bunchgrass – Festuca idahoensis Idaho Fescue: useful in shady areas – or with
regular water
 Soils:
 Texture: any well-drained soil, but
prefer sandy; not salt-tolerant
 pH: any local

 Light: extremely adaptable
 Best in part-shade in most gardens;
fine under trees, shrubs, north-facing
 Full sun in cool gardens only

 Water: extremely adaptable
 Young plants: keep well-watered (Zone
2-3 tapering to 2) until established (1
year)
 Summer: Zone 1-2 (will turn golden) to
Zone 2-3 (fairly regular)
http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Festu

 Fertilizer: very tolerant
ca&Species=idahoensis
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

12

1/6/2013

Idaho Fescue cultivars:
naturally occurring variants
 Blue-gray foliage:
 ‘Siskiyou Blue’ 6. It’s often easier to work with the
 medium size
http://www.bluestem.ca/images/festuca-idahoensis.jpg
 Lighter-colored seed physical conditions in a garden (soil
‘Siskiyou Blue’ heads
 ‘Warren Peak’
characteristics, light, etc.) than to try to
 Slightly larger change them dramatically
 Silver-pink flower stalks

 Blue-green foliage:
 ‘Tomales Bay’
‘Warren Peak’  Very small, dainty
 Flower stalks quite
upright
‘Tomales Bay’
http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/online_album/1311.htm

Garden of Dreams: Elderberry area When designing a mixed groundcover
 Backbone plant(s) – sunny & shady  First choose a backbone species
 Thin Grass – Agrostis pallens
 Yarrow (Achillea millefolia)  Should have good spreading/ covering
characteristics
 Filler plants:
 Should fulfill other requirements:
 Sunny light, water, drainage, height, etc.
 Purple Three-awn (Aristida purpurea
- self-seeded; may be removed)  Should be relatively hardy
 Other annuals that have self-seeded
 May be evergreen – or not
 Shady
 Dune Strawberry (Fragaria  Should ‘play well with others’
chiloensis)
 Southern Honeysuckle (Lonicera  Should have some ‘value added’
subspicata) characteristics:
 Annuals: (edibles)  Good habitat
 Miner’s Lettuce  Edible/medicinal/dye
 Red maids  Unusual flower or foliage


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1/6/2013

Then choose filler plants that complement How we ‘created our mix’ – with a lot of
the backbone species help from Mother Nature
 Grew plugs of Agrostis pallens &
Yarrow from seed
 Should be:  Planted central area in backbone
grass; edges with yarrow
 Compatible with garden conditions  Planted filler strawberries,
& requirements honeysuckle and annual edibles
around the edges
 Compatible with backbone species
Southern Honeysuckle
 Let them all grow together
 Add something extra to the mix:  Were patient – Mother Nature takes
 Foliage shape/color her time!
 Flower color
 Fragrance
 Habitat value
 Human value: edible/medicinal/dye

Dune Strawberry

Management considerations
 Never mowed or cut, but could cut
all or just the central part
 Yarrow flowers cut after seeds
utilized (collected; eaten by birds)
 Never spray with pesticides/
herbicides – just hand weed January April

 Gophers & an occasional ‘phantom
dump’ of sand/gravel provide
disturbances – not all bad
 Water Zone 2 – once a month
from June to Sept
 Looks pretty year-round –
appropriate for natural-looking
garden
 Attracts plenty of birds, insects
July/August October

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1/6/2013

How does the ‘Elderberry Area’ lawn stack up in terms The ‘lawn’ contributes to the
of habitat for birds and insects? richness of the ‘Garden of
Mowed Lawn - typical Elderberry Area ‘Lawn’ Dreams’
 Food  Food
X
 Nectar  Nectar (Yarrow,
X
 Pollen strawberry are primary)
 Seeds  Pollen (all but grass)
X
 Fruit  Seeds (all components)
X
X Greens/larval food
  Fruit (strawberry)
X
X Insects
X
X  Insects
X
 Shelter  Nesting materials
X
 Shelter
X


A shady slope in need of a ground cover Decided to feature herbaceous
groundcovers from the Mint family
 Backbone plant(s)
 Woodmint (Stachys bullata)
 Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
 Filler plants
 Mugwort (Artemisia douglasii)
 Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
 Melic Grass (Melica imperfecta)
 Columbine (Aquilegia)
 CA Fuschia (Epilobium canum) - sunny
edge)

Conditions/constraints:  Other (in hedgerow)
 11% slope; need something to hold soil  CA wild Rose (Rosa californica)
 no-walk zone; discourage walking on  CA Bricklebush (Brickellia californica)
 shade (relatively quickly as Mulefat grow)  Fragrant Pitchersage (Lepechinia
 relatively water-wise (no sprinklers) fragrans)

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1/6/2013

 Should have good
X California Woodmint (Hedgenettle) - Stachys bullata
Why mints? spreading/covering
characteristics

 Should fulfill other
X
requirements: light, water,
drainage, height, etc.

 Should be relatively hardy
X
 May be evergreen – or not
X
 Should ‘play well with others’
X
 Should have some ‘value
X
added’ characteristics:
 Good habitat
 Edible/medicinal/dye
 Unusual flower or foliage

© Project SOUND

Characteristics of CA Hedgenettle Succeeding with Stachys bullata

 Drought deciduous perennial  Does best in part-shade
herb; but does like water
 Plant in well-drained soils
 Size: 1-3 ft high, 3-4 ft wide
(spreading)  While drought tolerant, does
better with moderate water,
 Foliage: and tolerates seasonal flooding
 Dark green, softly hairy,
“wrinkled”  Useful in north- and east-
 Scented: light lemon-mint facing banks, rockwalls

 Flowers:  Use it in woodland gardens or
perennial gardens
 pink to lavender-red, with
white markings on the lower  Remember that it suckers
lips freely – will spread moderately
 Blooms Mar-May/June especially if watered – makes a
 Attracts bees, hummingbirds good groundcover

http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol317/im/s03/ft2/ft20-47.html

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1/6/2013

Hummingbird Sage – Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage – great for attracting
birds & butterflies

 Hummingbirds collect
nectar from the flowers –
hummingbirds actually
pollinate the flowers
 Seed-eating birds eat the
seeds
 Butterflies are also
attracted by the nectar

http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/sages.htm

Many attractive features Hummingbird Sage: a
versatile ground cover
 Fragrant, sweet-smelling foliage

 Leaves make a tasty tea – that  Likes any well-drained soil
may help as a decongestant  Prefers soils with decayed
organic matter
 Brilliant magenta-pink flowers  Tolerates clay soils
 Flowers make a good cut flower  Can tolerate full sun near coast
– but best in partial shade
 Bright green foliage
 Water sparingly in summer –
 Shade tolerant – can be used
monthly – let dry in between
under trees
 Can tolerate full salt spray – so
 Very drought tolerant
fine for coastal gardens
© 2003 Michael Charters

http://www.pgmuseum.org/WildflowerTour/CrimsonSage.htm

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1/6/2013

Herbaceous groundcovers from the Mint
family and compatible filler plants
 Backbone plant(s)
 Woodmint (Stachys bullata)
 Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
 Filler plants
 Mugwort (Artemisia douglasii)
 Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
 Melic Grass (Melica imperfecta)
 Columbine (Aquilegia)
 CA Fuschia (Epilobium canum) - sunny
edge)
 Other (in hedgerow)
 CA wild Rose (Rosa californica)
 CA Bricklebush (Brickellia californica)
 Fragrant Pitchersage (Lepechinia
fragrans)

How does the Shady Slope ‘Lawn’ stack up? Maintenance/other

Mowed Lawn - typical Elderberry Area ‘Lawn’  Pretty low-maintenance

 Clip off dead flowers after
 Food  Food
X seeds are utilized
 Nectar  Nectar (most components)
X  Cut back dramatically in
 Pollen  Pollen (all but grass)
X fall/early winter
 Seeds  Seeds (all components)
X
 Water monthly from May/June
 Fruit  Fruit to Aug/Sept; at this point used
X Greens/larval food
X both soaker hose & simple
X Insects
  Insects
X sprinkler on hose
X  Nesting materials
X  Be patient – takes longer for
 Shelter  Shelter
X herbaceous perennials to fill in


18

1/6/2013

Now let’s visit another local garden

Notice how the hardscape not only provides access, but
is an important design element


Several ‘lawn alternative’ areas in Mother * Creeping Sage – Salvia sonomensis
Nature’s Backyard

J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

19

Lawn Alternatives (habitat) - notes

Lawn Alternatives (habitat) - notes

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