Traffic-tolerant MOWABLE grass?

[peteclark3]

Hey everyone! We live in Northeast Florida (St. Augustine) and our back yard is completely dirt. We used to have St. Augustine grass (if you can call it grass), but all the foot traffic from playing kids, and my son's near constant running of his lawn mowers, has turned it back to sandy dirt. We are .5 miles from the beach. It's dirt, but, it's very dry.

Is there ANY kind of green plant (weeds.. literally anything) I can put down that will tolerate traffic and frequent mowing? I've resorted to trying throwing down bird seed, because we noticed our bird feeders in the garden ended up growing a nice green surface that seems pretty mow-tolerant around them.. but would rather not use bird seed if possible. Still I'll be watering it to see if it does anything.

I will really try anything at this point.. please let me know! My son really wants grass (something green) to mow again in the back yard, and we'd like some cover because the dirt clouds that churn up from running the mowers on the dirt end up floating through our screen and onto our back porch.

Thanks very much!
Pete

 

[jenkinsph]

I would first get a soil analysis, should be free or a small charge through the local county agent (USDA). There may be other reasons the grass is dying out.

Is this a small area that is seeing alot of traffic? Normally I would expect St. Augustine grass to be prolific in Florida. Takes quite abit of water for your grass and fertilizer should help to but be careful about run off into the water.

FWIW, you may have to limit the exposure to traffic while you give it time to grow back.

 

[georgia lawn]

What Jenkins said and...

I would go with a Bermuda grass. It likes full sun and does not tolerate shade very well but the stuff is really great for high traffic areas. If it is shady just get some of the tree limbs taken out so that the sun can get in there all day. Your soil is probably low on the pH side as well and you will need to get a soil analysis to help you out with that. Fertilize and mow your grass correctly and you should have a good looking traffic resistant lawn for years to come with Bermuda.

 

[jcobo]

Not knowing local regulations are some of these suggestions may not be permissible.

With sandy soils you need to build up an organic base, this can be done by adding:

Well rotted manure, fresh from the farm, the bagged stuff is expensive and not as good. Well rotted manure will not smell even when wet. (Cattle, sheep, horse, chicken in that order)

Is there a place that grows mushrooms in the area? Often you can get rotted straw from them.

Peat moss, is expensive but will help hold moisture.

Good old black dirt, if there is work being done on drainage ditches you might be able to get dirt from there. You may also be getting a whole lot of weeds and what ever else.

Soil plugs, move pieces of the grass around the bird feeders to other parts of the yard. The reason why the grass grows so well around, under the feeders is because of the manure.

Raise the mowers to the highest position possible, the longer the grass is, the longer it takes to dry out. Unless you are able to irrigate or have daily rainfall keeping the grass between 4 and 6 inches long should give you a green lawn.

Consider not bagging the cuttings or composting them if you do. Composting can provide habitats for rats, mice and snakes, check local bylaws.

If you can compost collect the grass clippings from neighbours.

Set your son up with a lawn maintenance business.

No matter where you live the basics of a good lawn is the same: good soil, grass suitable for the area, water and patience. The last ingredient is usually the hardest to find.

Oh, at the moment the temperature is about 40 below and I'd much rather be looking at sand than snow.

John

 

[peteclark3]

Thanks so much for all this advice! What do you folks think of clover? Was considering putting a bunch of that down..

 

[Carscw]

Bermuda grows very good in sand Most people call it a weed it grows every where farmers hate the stuff

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

 

[georgia lawn]

@ peteclark3 - Clover can be a good alternative to look at but it does have some draw backs: tolerates some traffic but not too much, does not self repair quickly, have to reseed, and of course the bees love those little white flowers (your gonna have a yard full). The good thing about these lawns is that they require no Nitrogen supplementation, little watering, like shade, and are low growing.

Let us know which one you go with, I'm curious to know how it turns out for you.

 

[georgia lawn]

@ peteclark3 - Clover can be a good alternative but it does have its drawbacks: handles some traffic but not a lot, does not repair itself quickly, needs to be reseeded and of course all the bees that will be attracted to the clover flower. It is a good alternative because it requires no Nitrogen fertilization, low water requirements, likes shade and it does not require constant mowing.

 

[Joe79]

Yup... Bermuda. If ou get good sun than go with bermuda. Get sod not seed. Need to prep the area first. Soil test... Follow those recommendations. Pulverize the area, spread some starter fert. then lay sod down over top, roll and water in really well. Keep the heavy traffic off of it for 6 - 8 weeks, you should be good.

Dont cut the bermuda high. Keep it at least 2.5 inches. Tall grass with florida humidity will get ya some nasty fungus!