I understand your wanting to use less water.--That's a good thing! I don't know that I can recommend another kind of grass, BUT let me warn you that Bermuda grass and gardening don't mix.

Once you have Bermuda grass in a garden bed, it's next to impossible to get rid of. Even the gardening experts throw up their hands.--Round Up, digging it out, and solarizing don't always work to get rid of it once it's in bed with your flowers.

However, to give Bermuda grass credit where credit is due, it's one tough turf! (Doesn't like shade though.)

I think you should look into Buffalo grass. I don't know a whole lot about it other than that it's native and it hardly ever has to be mowed. I've seen it used in a lot of new commerical landscaping around Austin.

Cut the St. Augustine on the highest level, it can go for two or more weeks without watering. I only water when I see the blades starting to close.
I understand the need for cutting back on watering the cost is getting out of hand. Last summer was really bad.

Go with Mike and Barb's advice--we haven't watered our St. Augustine ever, and it is strong and healthy.
I strongly urge you to NOT get buffalo grass. It is a range grass, never meant to be a mono-culture, and has never seen a weed or invasive grass it doesn't love. You can start out with a buffalo lawn and end up with a mix of everything that blows in from a two-mile radius. I speak from experience, having worked with buffalo grass at a college planting. I have the feeling those commercial plantings around Austin will be replaced in a few years.

Hmm, I'm glad I'm hearing this.

It's all about proper maintenance. Bermuda and st augustine require same amount of watering to look decent anyway. it is VERY misleading that bermuda needs a lot less water than st augustine. it isn't simply true at all. What they are really telling you is that bermuda can survive for 2 months without water but it will look terrible as a result. St augustine (in general except for Floratam) will not.

There is one variety of st augustine with very good drought tolerance called Floratam (almost as good as bermuda!). By far superior to Raleigh variety that is commonly used. I'd suggest that you find Floratam and plug them in. I got mine by accident and they sure are hardy. Anyway, I water my yard every 2 weeks during the summer.

Here's pictures of my lawn- {{gwi:79083}}From Before and After Lawn
{{gwi:79085}}From Before and After Lawn

St augustine lawn seems to thrive on organic program. I fertilize with organic fertilizer every 3 months. I mow at 4 inches. Water deeply (1.5 inches) every 2 weeks when it isn't raining. No weed control at all. Best of all, no bermuda invading my plant beds like many of my neighbors...

I agree 100% with what others have said -- a healthy St Augustine lawn does not use that much water. Mow it at the highest setting, give it an organic feeding once in awhile, and it will maintain itself. I have a feeling that this summer is going to be another one of tight water restrictions, and a healthy St Aug will do just fine on a once-a-week watering during the very hottest part of summer.

Carla in Rowlett

Please define organic feeding. Are you talking about mulch, seaweed or something else?

I mainly use soybean meal and alfalfa pellets that I buy at feed store. Cheaper than the licensed organic fertilizer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Lawn Care FAQ

One big advantage of Floratam or Sapphire variety is that they recover fast, faster than Raleigh. Raleigh seemed to be really prone to fungal disease. Floratam is much tougher. Sapphire (in front yard) seems hardy as well but not sure about drought tolerance. Can handle your kids just fine as long as they are properly maintained.

I love my St. Augustine and would love to rid the world of Bermuda grass. It has been the bane of my yard. You can't get rid of it, it can have roots that go all the way to he!! and sends runners up inside your walls that will emerge from your light switches. Don't laugh, I have them in my garage. Round-up will set it back for about 20 minutes and then it just comes right back again. When I want to clear St.Augustine from my flower beds, I pull out the runners and plant. If the bed gets Bermuda, I pull out the plants and move them. Cheryl

There are few good grasses for city lawns, in Texas. I have Zoysia, and have been happy with it. Main drawback, is that it is very slow growing, so if you dig somewhere, getting it to fill in again, is slow.

All of them require similar watering.....St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia.

I used as little grass as I could, in my landscape, and that is my recommendation. Make your grass areas as small as possible. Most other plants require less water, than grass.

Rick,

That's what I want to do esp the strip area between sidewalk and street (i live on a corner lot) and there were times that i wanted to take them out. Of course, it's a lot easier said than done. You can't park cars and expect to get out as easily!

Finding free wood chips is the hard part. They can be quite expensive when you have large planting area to cover if you can't find free wood chips. It's much cheaper in Houston area than Dallas area for some reason.

Please, please, please do NOT plant Bermuda if you plan to have anything at all in your yard besides lawn. Its roots go to China and they can't get it out of their beds either.

Badboles, by "organic" I mean -- free Starbucks used coffee grounds or cotton burr compost or corn meal or alfalfa pellets or molasses or mulched up leaves. Whatever might be on hand and/or really cheap. Remember to always mulch mow, as that's the cheapest way to put down organic material. :-)

Carla in Rowlett, TX

Now only my paths are grass.

January 2008
Twice mulched leaves over tar paper/roofing paper.

Plantmaven-

Do you have pictures of the whole front yard? It's something I'd like to do...eventually... or very gradually... Probably my whole life... Did you do something similar in the backyard? I did more landscaping in the backyard than in the front yard. Trees are top priorities in the front yard for much needed shade from afternoon sun...

I closed on this house on my 64th birthday Oct. 2007. My best friend is also a widow and we live together to save expenses. And for company.

We did all of this between Feb. 2008 and Aug. 2008. The only time I dug anywhere was a hole to put a plant.

I used an above ground edging and filled in with tons,and tons and tons of leaves.
We were fortunate to have a commercial maintenance man bring us leaves every Friday.
Each time he came he brought us 20 to 25 huge bags of double mulch mowed leaves.
I would set a bag down, rip it open and kick it a couple times.
I left it that deep and it did kill the grass.
If 2 old ladies could do that in 7 months, anybody could!

If you have any questions, email me.
plantmaven@gmail.com

Front

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Yes, we did the same in the back yard.

left back

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mid right back
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