Studies

A study published in the year 2000, entitled "Residential Landscapes: Comparison of Maintenance Costs, Time and Resources", prepared by Ecological Outlook for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation determined that drought tolerant, slow growing low maintenance lawns such as Eco-Lawn (by Wildflower Farms) had the "lowest annual maintenance costs" of all forms of landscaping and were "the most time, material and cost-efficient" of all landscape types studied.

Demonstration Gardens

In the Covington Water District's Conservation Demonstration Garden , they are showcasing two different blends of “Eco-Turf”.  This lawn alternative seed mixture contains a variety of grass and flower seeds that are dwarf and drought tolerant. No fertilizer is needed because the clover produces nitrogen.  They are typically mown to a height of 4 inches and have more of a meadow appearance than a manicured grass lawn. 

First trial bed planted mid-May, 2002, closest to the main building. 

Purchased at Furney's Nursery.

Contents:

79.02% Elf Perennial Ryegrass

7.99% Strawberry Clover

5.88% Baby Blue Eyes

2.94% Alyssum – Carpet of Snow

1.96% White Yarrow

98% English Daisy

 

Second trial bed planted mid – Oct. 2002, installed around the circular flower bed.  Purchased on-line from Hobbs & Hopkins, Ltd.

             Contents:

79.67% Dwarf Perennial Ryegrass

9.91% Assorted flowers – English Daisy, Baby Blue-Eyes, White Alyssum.

4.98% White Yarrow

4.99% Salina Strawberry Clover

To visit the Covington Water District's Conservation Demonstration Garden , just call Katie at 253-631-0565 Ext 170. to arrange a visit.

http://www.covingtonwater.com/Eco_Lawn2.htm

Test Plots

Seattle University 's first ecoturf plot was planted along the side of the Student Center between Cherry Street and the Bellarmine Residence Hall. Its planting is part of a university-wide greening project, which aims to incorporate sustainable design principles in future building policy.

Tom Cook at Oregon State University developed test plots that were mowed from once a week to once every 3 weeks. Cook suggests that a 2-inch mowing height gives "the look and feel of a tended lawn." Watering requirements are kept simple. All test plots have been irrigated once a month during summer, applying about 1.5 inches of water each time. (Cook estimates that "in a normal year this amounts to about 1/3 to 1/4 as much water as a regular lawn.") Without irrigation, the lawn will go dormant. Cook writes, "all eco-lawn plots have received no fertilizer at all or one fertilizer application at the time of planting." Clippings are returned to the plots after mowing through "grasscycling." This practice helps maintain soil fertility. Weeds? Cook notes "we've never had significant problems with weeds." The common lawn herbicides would damage the eco-lawn's combination of plants. The point is to establish a lawn requiring no herbicides.

Hobbs & Hopkins Ltd. has sold traditional lawn seed for many years and it has continually come to our attention that these grasses require frequent maintenance, lots of water, and fertilizer.  So, in conjunction with, and as a result of tests conducted at Oregon State University , our line of ecology seed mixes were created to address these problems. www.protimelawnseed.com/ecology_mixes.html

The University of Minnesota had a series of test plots in the1990's to compare newer alternative lawn mixes to existing low maintenance grasses and to determine if minimal maintenance practices would result in acceptable turfgrass quality. Their results are listed below.

1. New mixtures of cool-season grasses and forbs provided acceptable turf, equal to the traditional cool-season grasses.
2. Warm-season grasses and flower mixtures were significantly worse when ranked for color, cover and overall ratings than cool-season grasses.
3. Fine fescues, Ecology Lawn Mix, and Fleur de Lawn provided dark green color equal to or better than the controls: Ram I Kentucky bluegrass, and Sunnylawn mix.
4. Perennial ryegrass was a component of the most acceptable minimal mowing treatments. It established quickly and competed well with weeds and tolerated minimal mowing. However, long-term trials of perennial ryegrass in northern climates often show decline due to cold temperatures.
5. The 4" cutting height rated as acceptable as the 2" height of cut.

(Case study specifics)

The study was established at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum , Chanhassen . The second location was approximately 70 miles south at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center , Waseca . The soil was amended with some initial fertilizer and all material was broadcast seeded by hand in mid-August using sand as a bulk carrier, except buffalo-grass which was planted with plugs on 18" centers in mid-July. A light straw mulch was applied to all plots except buffalo-grass. Irrigation was supplied only for initial establishment during the first two weeks.

Eleven materials and two controls were planted in the summer and fall of 1994. Materials were selected based on past performance in national or regional turf trials, recommendations from seed suppliers, or new materials being marketed as low maintenance or alternative turfgrasses.

Plot size was 10' x 16' with rows of six materials separated by 6' walkways. Each material was replicated three times within a randomized block. Plots were mowed as necessary to maintain 2" and 4" heights with a rotary mower that returned the clippings. Minimal mowing treatments were mowed twice a year, in late-June and again in mid-October. The three fertility treatments were: 1) 27-6-20 with 50% slow release nitrogen, applied at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen, in early-September and again in mid-October; 2) same type and amount of fertilizer but applied in early-September only; and 3) no additional fertilizer. Mowing treatments were applied across the plots so 1/3 was cut at 2", 1/3 at 4" and 1/3 was the minimal mowing treatment. Fertility treatments were applied longitudinally on 1/3 of each plot, so every fertility treatment was applied to all heights of cut on each plot. Hand weeding was done once the following spring on the buffalo-grass plots; no additional weeding, pesticides, or irrigation were used.

Plots were evaluated monthly for color, cover and overall quality. Several Master Gardeners and Extension staff evaluated the plots on a monthly basis throughout the growing season for three years. There were no significant differences between locations and years, therefore means were combined to give three year summaries.

Several materials had acceptable and not significantly different color, cover and overall ratings. The newer mixtures: Ecology Lawn Mix, Fleur de Lawn and No Mow provided good color, cover and overall ratings that were equal to the controls or traditional materials. All fescues performed well except Festuca pseudo-ovina , dwarf sheep fescue, which ranked significantly lower for color.

The warm-season grasses, Bouteloua gracilis ' Alma ' and Buchloe dactyloides 378 & 455-3 did not provide acceptable cover, color, or overall ratings. ' Alma ' blue grama was selected due to its turf-type growth habit, however, it had major winter injury the first year of the trials. The two buffalograss selections did not compete with weeds and, by the end of the first full year, cover was less than 10%. Flowers 'n Flowers Elite, a mixtures of forbs or wildflowers, also provided little cover.

Sunnylawn 2", 4", and Ecology Lawn Mix 2", 4" had significantly better overall ratings than did dwarf sheep fescue at 2", 4" or minimal mowing. There was no significant difference between any other cool-season material mowed at 2" or 4". Sunnylawn minimal mowing performed significantly better in the overall ratings than did Azay sheep fescue or Discovery hard fescue in the minimal mowing treatments.

Dwarf sheep fescue, Festuca pseudo-ovina, is a shorter, fine leaved fescue, but its grey-blue color was significantly lower in the color ratings than most of the cool-season materials in this trial.

Sunnylawn, and Ecology Lawn Mix minimal mowing treatments had significantly better cover than did Azay sheep fescue and Discovery hard fescue minimal mowing treatments over the three years. Perennial ryegrass was a component of these materials, indicating an ability to provide a quick stand which would compete well with weeds.

Although occasionally visual differences were recorded in fall or early spring, no significant differences could be observed between fertility treatments. This may be due to the presence of legumes in some of the mixtures, the fact that clippings were left, and the amount of available nutrients originally in the soil. A long-term study would probably show differences in fertility levels, especially when compared to no additional nutrient donation.

A brief drought occurred during late summer of 1996, however it was not substantial enough to affect these trials. Precipitation levels were near normal and adequate for acceptable turf, without supplemental irrigation. Winter weather conditions during 1996-97 damaged a significant amount of turf in Minnesota , however, perennial ryegrass which has shown winter injury in USDA Zone 4, did not experience any apparent winter injury in these trials.

Ecology Lawn Mix and Fleur de Lawn both contained clover, Trifolium spp., and yarrow, Achillea millifolium . Evaluators in this study found these to be acceptable in the overall quality ratings. For homeowners, personal preference may define these plants as weeds, however commercial operators probably would not object to these components in a low maintenance area.

Homeowners and commercial turf managers looking for low maintenance cool-season materials should choose traditional mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and red fescue; a mixture of fine fescues; or the new mixtures of perennial ryegrass and forbs. Minimum maintenance practices, such as higher mowing or mowing only twice a year were found to be acceptable. Acceptable turf with no use of herbicides was possible due to the rapid establishment of plots with perennial ryegrass and favorable environmental conditions.