Lawns are on lots of people’s minds these days.

As a matter of fact,  a new website, Lawn Reform.Org, launched today and I’m excited to be one of the founding contributers to the site!

“United by their common goal of reducing the impact of lawns on the environment and human and animal health, nine of the leading horticultural communicators in the United States announced the formation of the Lawn Reform Coalition, a media campaign that will provide up-to-date information for home and business owners across the country.”

You can read the rest of the official press release here.

“Common goal” is an important reference in describing the coalition members. We don’t all agree on the use of lawns.

The “ringleader” of this coalition is Susan Harris, co-founder of Garden Rant. Susan was careful to assemble a group with diverse opinions about lawn reform but who agree on a common goal: “To share information on organic lawn care, lawn selection and landscape design ideas for yards with reduced or no lawns.”

I’m a “moderate” regarding lawns. I prefer gardens over lawns but I recognize that lawns have their place, especially in public venues where large crowds gather for concerts, picnics or recreation.

“Consider using a lawn bred for specific climates,” is my motto.

Some of you have been following my blog series on the “UC Verde Lawn Test for Los Angeles,” where I report on a lawn that has been specifically bred for hot, dry areas.

Yes, I take my own advice and look forward to sharing alternative lawn information as well as design ideas for no-lawn and reduced lawn yards.

Representing the more radical view on Lawn Reform is my friend and co-hort, Billy Goodnick, a California landscape architect, writer and television host. Billy  is a true ” lawn hater” and makes no apologies for his opinion as expressed on his blog, “Cool Green Gardens.”

“I hate most lawns and will remind you of that fact from time to time. My turf diatribes inflame a lot of readers and generate the most comments from the Loyal Order of Lawnists (LOL).”

This should be a lot of fun!

In all his passion, Billy is a realist and accepts a lawn that is  used to “play ball with your up-and-coming Cy Young Award winner.” Thanks for reminding us Billy that lawns are for active users and not mere spectators.

Looking for information on organic lawn care, a photo gallery of lawn alternatives and ground covers, up-to-date news on the status of lawns from all over the country, a guide to books, websites, films and newspaper articles regarding lawns? It’s all at LawnReform.org.

To kick-start this new venture, Susan Morrison, landscape designer, coalition member and blogger at Blue Planet Garden is running a contest, and three lucky winners will receive a copy of John Greenlee’s new book, The American Meadow Garden, courtesy of Timber Press.

To participate in the Lawn Reform Blog Contest, simply write a post on your blog that answers the question:”I used to have a lawn, but now I have…” Get over to Susan’s blog now and enter to win this book by one of my favorite plantsmen.

You can watch the trailer for the “American Meadow Garden” book right here.

Other contributing members include,  Tom Christopher blogging at Green Perspectives, Tom Engelman of the Grass Roots Program, Evelyn Hadden, founder of the informative site, LessLawn.com, Ginny Stibolt, author of “Sustainable Gardening for Florida,” and Paul Tukey, founder of the Safe Lawns Organizaton.

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Archives from Eden Makers Blog

UC Verde (Buffalo grass) distributed by Flora Source LTD

An “Alternate Lawn” as a Lawn Alternative

UC Verde Lawn Test in Los Angeles: Part 1

UC Verde Lawn Test in Los Angeles: Part 2

UC Verde Lawn Test in Los Angeles: Part 3

UC Verde Lawn Test in Los Angeles: Part 4

Additional Information on UC Verde Lawn

Grass Roots Program Organization

Flora Source LTD

Lazy Gardening Blog

Eco-Lawn (Drought tolerant fescue lawns from seed)

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Week 11 Report on UC Verde drought tolerant lawn in Los Angeles:

My  lawn’s progress  is way behind!

I felt like I was going to be receiving my “lawn report card”  when a representative from Fora Source, the distributer for UC Verde dropped by to see my lawn’s progress.

Unfortunately, My UC Verde drought tolerant buffalo grass seems to be growing in slow motion.

I’ve been following the progress of other bloggers who are testing this lawn and one of them who started their lawn after I did, is already ahead of me in terms of the lawn knitting itself together!

What’s up with that?

Susan Morrison of Blue Planet Blog’s UC Verde Lawn at 4 weeks! (Okay, she spaced the plugs closer at planting time, but her grass seems to be growing at a faster pace!)

Isn’t my 100 degree-like weather just effective as hers for this heat loving grass?

Lazy Gardening bloggers UC Verde lawn at week 16. This is what I want to see in my yard, a span of green in the midst of a heat wave!

According to Flora Source, my lawn progress has been delayed for a couple of reasons.

1. The soil is drying out too fast making it difficult for the running stolons to adhere to the soil. Flora Source suggested I add a moisture-retaining mulch to keep the soil from drying out between watering.

2. UC Verde grass needs a boost of nitrogen in the establishing phase, I was due for a fix.

So, I did everything I was instructed to do:

Redwood soil conditioner is excellent for my clayish soil, improving the texture and drainage as it slowly breaks down. It also traps the moisture in the soil where I need it.

The grass is spreading, as this long stolon indicates but it is growing upwards rather than low to the ground

My lawn has been fed with slow-release organic nitrogen, (7-3-2 nutrient ratio), mulched and lovingly watered.

Now, grow darn it!

For more information on organic lawn care, visit Paul Tukey’s website SafeLawns.org

Read previous posts:
UC Verde Test Lawn: Part 1
UC Verde Test Lawn: Part 2

UC Verde Test Lawn: Part 3

Subscribe to Eden Makers for updates to the UC Verde lawn test series and other information about making your garden sustainable, edible and gorgeous!

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The grass plugs are holding their own in this hot weather, something I would not expect from traditional fescues.

I was advised by one of the UC Verde lawn experts who visited me last week that I should give each of the plugs a trim down to about 2 inches to stimulate growth. I did it. I made sure not to cut into the stolons that are running above ground since this is the way Buffalo grass spreads and knits into a lush lawn.

Some weeds were starting to creep in so I applied some corn gluten, (an organic remedy for weed control) so I feel confident that the UC Verde lawn is getting all it needs to establish itself.

The summer heat is sure to stimulate rampant growth and I’m looking forward to seeing a mass of green instead of small plugs. If UC Verde can thrive and perform well in my corner of Los Angeles where temperatures hit 110 degrees, I will become the UC Verde evangelist!

Read previous posts:
UC Verde Test Lawn: Part 1
UC Verde Test Lawn: Part 2

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This is how I feel, waiting for my new UC Verde test lawn to fill-in here in Los Angeles. This drought-tolerant, “specially formulated” buffalo grass for dry climate areas comes with many promises including a 70-80 percent reduction in water needs to keep it looking green and healthy.

I can’t wait to see if it lives up to its claims! Here are the plugs before planting.

In all fairness to UC Verde grass, it does best with very warm temperatures and full sun exposure- at least 6 hours per day. The days are warming up, but Los Angeles has had a fair share of “June gloom” this month.

This grass spreads via stolons and I see a few plugs breaking out of their small diameter area and reaching out slightly. The plugs are in good shape. I’m keeping them moist for their initial establishing period and will taper off the watering after a few weeks.

There is another blogger, the Lazy Gardener who started testing UC Verde a few weeks ago and is ahead of me with the progress. Check out the Lazy Gardener blog for what I am hoping will be a preview of what is to come for me.

In the mean time, enjoy this original music video by my friend and sustainability expert, Billy Goodnick and his television co-host, Owen Dell on the joys of removing a water thirsty lawn. The video is called “Taking out the Grass.”

Of course, if this lawn was a UC Verde lawn, I would stop them in a heartbeat!

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