17
My backyard in Phoenix went from bare dirt to a little green spot over the last two years.
When I moved in, the yard was just hard, packed dirt that got super hot. I started by putting in a small drip system and some native plants like desert marigold and fairy duster. Now, after a couple of rainy seasons and regular watering, there's actually a patch of grass for my dog to roll in. It's not much, but it feels like a real place to sit outside now. Anyone else in a dry area managed to grow a bit of grass without using a ton of water?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
averyc945d agoMost Upvoted
Used to think any grass in the desert was a waste of water and just asking for trouble. But seeing how bermuda grass handles the summer heat and then bounces back from being brown changed my mind completely. My neighbors have a small patch of it mixed with clover like you said and it actually stays green way longer than I expected. It barely needs watering once it's established and my dog loves rolling in the clover part. I might actually try the same thing next spring since it seems like a smart way to get a little green without breaking the bank on water bills.
2
rowanw915d ago
Man I gotta disagree with you on mixing in clover. I get that it stays green longer but clover goes nuts in the spring and spreads everywhere. @sam_cooper might like it but Ive watched neighbors spend whole weekends pulling clover out of their bermuda patches. Bermuda is already aggressive enough on its own, throw clover in there and youve got a battle on your hands. Plus clover doesnt handle heavy foot traffic as well as pure bermuda, so if your dog is rolling around in it that patch is gonna look ragged by july. I'd just stick with bermuda and maybe overseed with annual ryegrass in the winter if you want green year round, its way easier to manage.
6
sam_cooper5d ago
Yeah bermuda grass is pretty much the way to go out here, it'll go dormant and brown in the winter but bounces right back with summer rain. Mix in some clover too, it stays green way longer and doesn't need near the water.
-1