Dear Helen: With last summer鈥檚 drought, our lawn turned brown and died. It did not return with fall rains. Why do you think it听did not recover? The grass had been lush and beautiful with no weeds. We live in a water-restricted area of the Island and听are now looking for a low-maintenance lawn alternative. Would you recommend white Dutch clover?
E.C.
A lush and perfect lawn that succumbs completely under drought stress suggests that, prior to the drought conditions, it might have been watered often but for brief periods each time.
A strong, resilient lawn is produced by long and deep but infrequent waterings once the grass is听up and established. The infrequency factor is to allow upper layers of the soil to dry, forcing root growth downward in search of moisture. The result is deep and strong, wide-foraging root systems very likely to survive stresses such as prolonged drought.
Soil preparation before a听lawn is planted is another consideration. A deeply dug soil amply amended with a听nourishing compost has the best chance of nurturing resilient grass growth.
I very much appreciate your question, because after last summer many people are now wondering what on earth to do with their lawns this year. Many are seeking some kind of lawn substitute.
I like your idea of a clover lawn. As a legume, clover fertilizes the soil by producing nitrogen. Clover also stays green longer than grasses do in drought. White Dutch clover is often used to overseed lawns. The clover fertilizes the grass plants.
Pure clover lawns are self-fertilizing and low maintenance. Neither do they seem to be bothered by chafer beetle larvae feeding. In听considering white Dutch clover听as a lawn, be aware that there is a lower-growing, smaller form sold as Microclover (Trifolium repens 鈥楶irouette鈥�). Because it is shorter and finer, with fewer flowers, Microclover works well as a lawn.
It is expensive, though. Most Buckerfield鈥檚, Shar-Kare and GardenWorks stores, and others, carry it. One of my local stores sells Microclover at $36.99 per pound. A few phone calls should quickly determine a听source in your area.
Another option is Fleur de听Lawn, a mix of plants similar to听one developed at Oregon StateUniversity as a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance lawn. The blend includes fescues, perennial ryegrass, English daisy, yarrow, and strawberry clover. It is available at protimelawnseed.com in Portland, Oregon, at $29.95 per听pound (covers 1000 square feet).
Most seed companies carry at听least one lawn-substitute blend. West Coast Seeds has a mixture of听fescues with annual and perennial flowers called Alternative Lawn Blend.
Keep in mind that the soil for听any new seeding will need to听be kept consistently moist. With听germination, while the new听lawn is establishing, it will听need regular watering. Seed听as early as conditions permit.
GARDEN EVENTS
Orchid meeting. The Victoria Orchid Society will meet Monday at 7:30 p.m. in听Gordon Head United Church Hall, 4201听Tyndall Ave. David LaFarge, a听Phalaenopsis species guru and听orchid听breeder from France, will听be听the evening鈥檚 speaker. Guests are听always welcome.
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Sooke meeting. The Sooke Garden Club听will meet on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in听St. Rose of Lima Church, 2191 Townsend Rd. A听lively club brainstoming session will focus on growing the听best veggies and berries ever. Newcomers are invited to come and check out the club.
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HCP workshops. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, offers the following courses. To register, email [email protected] or call 250-479-6162 or听 for more information.
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鈥� Plant Identification and Culture with Diane Pierce. The听next session in this monthly course will be on Feb.听27, from 1听to 4 p.m. In each session Diane introduces 25 new plants, with their descriptions, preferred growing conditions, landscape uses and maintenance. This ongoing course can be joined at any time, all year round. Cost to members per session is $35, others $45. Cost for 12 sessions: members $350, others $450.
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鈥� The Nature of the Native Plant Garden, with Kristen Miskelly of Saanich Native Plants, on Feb. 28, 1 to 4 p.m. This course will appeal to those interested in environmentally friendly, low-maintenance gardens that will attract birds and other wildlife. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of edible, deer-resistant and drought-tolerant species. Cost is $45 for members, others $60.
