Pacific Northwest Garden Forum: Ornamental Grass for No/Low Maintenance?

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dlane46
Rainy Side New

Joined: Jul-21-2010
Location: Oregon, Central Coast
Posts: 1

Topic: Ornamental Grass for No/Low Maintenance?
Posted: Jul-21-2010 at 12:01pm

I live on a lake near Florence in coastal Oregon, approximately one mile from the beach. We have graded our vacant lot next door to store our fifth wheel. I'm interested in planting groundcover on approximately 1/4 acre of freshly graded topsoil adjacent to the trailer parking area.

Is there a grass that will choke out the prolific weeds of this area, require no mowing/maintenance, and look good? There will be little or no foot traffic in the grass area and no vehicles.

Thank you for any suggestions. I've enjoyed reading the forum questions and answers and look forward to receiving some guidance from users.

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Fern
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Mar-11-2005
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posts: 1513

Posted: Jul-24-2010 at 4:40pm

That would be the perfect grass, but I'm afraid it just doesn't exist. If only it did! Is your soil sandy? I would think a natural grass and wildflower mixture alternative would be the best, you could goggle it, make sure it's good for the Oregon coast and doesn't contain any noxious weeds. If all the weeds are gone to start with that's very good. A taller ground cover, like Salal, is better at keeping out the weeds than a grass or lower ground cover. Look around that neighborhood and see what is working for people, either ask them or get a piece and get it identified at a nursery.
You could sow a cover crop on it for now, some nurseries have the seeds now, but fall would be an easier time to do it.

Edited by Fern - Jul-24-2010 at 4:43pm

Fern

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Joy C
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Feb-10-2009
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posts: 288

Posted: Jul-25-2010 at 8:01am

See Gary's suggestion in today's post about blueberrys, He suggests Rye Grain or Crimson Clover as great cover crops that feed the soil. I dont think mankind has seen the kind of grass you desire since the Garden of Eden! A sweep of Salal would look awesome.

Joy

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SusanLayne
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Dec-12-2009
Location: Oregon, Western Cascade Foothills
Posts: 74

Posted: Jul-25-2010 at 2:49pm

I agree, it really doesn't exist. But while the dream is alive, you might check out these people. They are in Portland.

Hobbs & Hopkins: http://www.protimelawnseed.com/

None of these mixes will do everything, but they might do some of it.

See our farm blog, the Shambles Under Highland Butte: http://skepweaver.wordpress.com

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HarleyLady
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Jul-27-2003
Location: Willamette Valley
Posts: 981

Posted: Jul-26-2010 at 10:24am

You might want to take a look at buffalo grass. I know High Country Gardens carries it, but googling will bring up other sources as well.

Buffalo Grass

HarleyLady

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TriangleFarms
Rainy Side New

Joined: Aug-02-2010
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posts: 2

Posted: Aug-02-2010 at 10:39pm

I like what Fern said. If you want low maintenance then Native Seed or Wildflower seed is your best bet. The nice thing about a good NW wildflower mix is that it tends to be very low maintenance and you only have to mow it down once a year to keep it nicely trimmed. Grass needs to be trimmed a lot more often and tends to require much more care if you want it to look nice and continue looking nice.

Edited for spam.

Edited by DebbieTT - Aug-05-2010 at 9:53am

Garden Lover

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Gardening for Newbies
Pacific Northwest Garden Forum : The Gardens : Gardening for Newbies

Author	Message
dlane46 Rainy Side New Joined: Jul-21-2010 Location: Oregon, Central Coast Posts: 1	Topic: Ornamental Grass for No/Low Maintenance? Posted: Jul-21-2010 at 12:01pm
	I live on a lake near Florence in coastal Oregon, approximately one mile from the beach. We have graded our vacant lot next door to store our fifth wheel. I'm interested in planting groundcover on approximately 1/4 acre of freshly graded topsoil adjacent to the trailer parking area. Is there a grass that will choke out the prolific weeds of this area, require no mowing/maintenance, and look good? There will be little or no foot traffic in the grass area and no vehicles. Thank you for any suggestions. I've enjoyed reading the forum questions and answers and look forward to receiving some guidance from users.

	IP Logged

Fern Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Mar-11-2005 Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills Posts: 1513	Posted: Jul-24-2010 at 4:40pm
	That would be the perfect grass, but I'm afraid it just doesn't exist. If only it did! Is your soil sandy? I would think a natural grass and wildflower mixture alternative would be the best, you could goggle it, make sure it's good for the Oregon coast and doesn't contain any noxious weeds. If all the weeds are gone to start with that's very good. A taller ground cover, like Salal, is better at keeping out the weeds than a grass or lower ground cover. Look around that neighborhood and see what is working for people, either ask them or get a piece and get it identified at a nursery. You could sow a cover crop on it for now, some nurseries have the seeds now, but fall would be an easier time to do it. Edited by Fern - Jul-24-2010 at 4:43pm
	Fern
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Joy C Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Feb-10-2009 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 288	Posted: Jul-25-2010 at 8:01am
	See Gary's suggestion in today's post about blueberrys, He suggests Rye Grain or Crimson Clover as great cover crops that feed the soil. I dont think mankind has seen the kind of grass you desire since the Garden of Eden! A sweep of Salal would look awesome.
	Joy
	IP Logged

SusanLayne Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Dec-12-2009 Location: Oregon, Western Cascade Foothills Posts: 74	Posted: Jul-25-2010 at 2:49pm
	I agree, it really doesn't exist. But while the dream is alive, you might check out these people. They are in Portland. Hobbs & Hopkins: http://www.protimelawnseed.com/ None of these mixes will do everything, but they might do some of it.
	See our farm blog, the Shambles Under Highland Butte: http://skepweaver.wordpress.com
	IP Logged

HarleyLady Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Jul-27-2003 Location: Willamette Valley Posts: 981	Posted: Jul-26-2010 at 10:24am
	You might want to take a look at buffalo grass. I know High Country Gardens carries it, but googling will bring up other sources as well. Buffalo Grass
	HarleyLady
	IP Logged

TriangleFarms Rainy Side New Joined: Aug-02-2010 Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley Posts: 2	Posted: Aug-02-2010 at 10:39pm
	I like what Fern said. If you want low maintenance then Native Seed or Wildflower seed is your best bet. The nice thing about a good NW wildflower mix is that it tends to be very low maintenance and you only have to mow it down once a year to keep it nicely trimmed. Grass needs to be trimmed a lot more often and tends to require much more care if you want it to look nice and continue looking nice. Edited for spam. Edited by DebbieTT - Aug-05-2010 at 9:53am
	Garden Lover
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