Grass Blend recommendation for SF bay area?

8 years ago

There are so many varieties out there it's a bit overwhelming, was hoping someone local might be able to point me in the right direction?

I'm on the peninsula (San Mateo) and we get good heat and about 8 hours of full sun in the summer. I'd ideally like a no-mow, drought tolerant grass that can handle light traffic from kids and a dog (not necessarily urine, just trampling). Would like to not have to water or mow very often :)

Is there a blend you'd recommend? Artificial is not an option.

Thanks!

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I'd consider buffalo grass, Bouteloua gracilis. Or California bent grass, Agrostis pallens. Or a native mow-free blend of Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue), Festuca rubra (Molate fescue) and Festuca occidentalis (Western Mokelumne fescue).

If left completely unmowed, all will develop a meadow-like appearance but none will require frequent mowing. And all are moderately traffic tolerant as well as far more drought tolerant than common lawn turf.

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Comments (8)

letstrydiy
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for the suggestions... I like the idea of the mow-free blends. Is there a brand or nursery that carries such blends that you'd recommend?
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The blend is called Native Mow Free™ and it was developed by Delta Bluegrass Co. in Stockton.

Delta Bluegrass Company
montel (CA US 10b/Sunset 16)
8 years ago
I am in a warmer zone of Santa Cruz with some poor experience with the no mow turf. We planted some of the no mow - our landscape plan called for the Delta Bluegrass variety. However, I think the landscapers put in a Greenfield Turf version. This was in fall 2011 - by the summer of 2012 bermuda was starting to take it over, and one zone it was hard to keep it growing due to being in a hot part of our yard. In addition, I found that once you mow it you are pretty much stuck mowing it all the time or it looks terrible in my experience...YMMV. If you let it grow out it gets pretty long and folds over.

We have since switched both lawn areas to a Delta Bluegrass Bolero+ fescue/KBG blend that our newer landscaper raves about. We have now had it for 2 summer seasons and it is doing better than the no mow ever did...not much to go by, but it is easier for us to manage, mow, and keep bermuda out of it!
dchall_san_antonio
8 years ago
Just about any grass can be no-mow if you and your neighbors are tolerant of the appearance. I stopped mowing my St Augustine lawn and let it grow. The grass stopped growing at 32 inches tall. My dog and I did not mind it, but the neighbors eventually took issue with it not being "manicured."

If you go with buffalo grass, the best one is UC Verde. I believe it was developed at UC Davis and probably co created at UC Riverside. The beauty of UC Verde is that it becomes very dense and has no seed heads. Other buffalo grasses get tall seed heads and are very thin and weedy.
HU-752314139
5 years ago
Hi sirwoodland,

Did you plant any of the Delta Bluegrass products mentioned above? How does it fare now, several years after installation?

Dear all, if you already have Delta Bluegrass Bentgrass or Kurapia or any of the mixes mentioned above, could you please let us know if you would recommend it for the Bay Area?

100 thanks!
letstrydiy
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Not sure -- we went with a blend recommended by a local company, didn't use anything from Home Depot or one of the big box stores. But, we sold the house and moved out of the area :) But it was doing well until we left. Suggest you talk to a local grass provider and ask, if they sold something that didn't perform they likely wouldn't still be in business ;)
montel (CA US 10b/Sunset 16)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
We still have the Bolero Plus - it is OK but is a bit shabby at the moment mainily due to gophers and the stucco workers using it as their mixing and storage area this past winter - I am planning to overseed it once the weather warms up to hopefully rejuvenate the grass a bit - it was 35° this morning so it is still too cold to get the grass seed to grow...