Greener With Grass

Wanting to improve the walkable area between our lavender rows, we decided to try to grow grass. Would it be possible to transform weeds and rocky soil to beautiful green grass without irrigation?

In hopes of having green between the rows, we did research types of grass, but some experts recommended ground cover or clover. We visited our local Co-Op and deferred to their recommendation of trying a contractor mix grass seed [mostly fescue with some rye] at a cost of $112.50 for a 50 lb bag.

We tilled [which help to level between the rows and made it more walkable], removed the rock, and larger weeds. We didn't initially till between the rows when we planted our test lavender as there was some viable grass at the start of the summer. But as the summer progressed we ended up with lots of tall weeds and rocky dirt. We also tilled the same distance above, below and the sides of the test rows.

We spread the seed [admittedly more than needed between the 3 rows of 29 plants and above, below and sides], added straw and lightly watered. Completed on September 24th with no plans to water again or irrigate. Hope Mother Nature cooperates! We will monitor actual rain with our field rain gauge.

No rain until September 29th with just 1/10". Another dry spell until October 13th with over 1 1/2". Not a lot of grass growth at this point. Another 1/10" on October 18th, but no more rain for the rest of October. On the first day of November, the rain gauge showed almost 1" of rain. And as you can see in the blog picture taken on November 1st, we got grass!

At a relatively low cost, with just under 3" rain [inconsistent with a few days of little or lots of rain and a lot of days with no rain], we were able to grow grass in five and half weeks.

We plan to over seed these areas every year in the Spring and Fall in hopes of maintaining and thriving throughout the year. Definitely will need a little help from Mother Nature with rain in the hot summer. When we plant our 1000+ new field of lavender in Spring 2023, we plan to till the entire field and spread the contractor mix grass seed between the new rows of lavender.

Looking forward to 2023 with fields of purple and green!