Grass that doesn't need much watering

[Shagbark Hickory]

And rocks make very bad mulch.
You might as well put your plants on top of a BBQ grill.

As for the pinestraw, I think it's just regionally popular. I've seen it here in the atlanta area, and in Columbia, SC. I've also seen it sold a little bit in Knoxville, TN but not that common.

Oddly enough, pinestraw is harvested in Florida from longleaf and slash pines yet in florida they don't sell it. Wierd!

Luckily you can go rake it up for free, especially there in NC. You should have loads of pines, even Longleafs, right? Down here it's going for about $3.25-$3.50 a bale but I have a sneaking suspicion the bales keep getting smaller and smaller.

[caution]

Originally Posted by no kudzu

It has been my experience as a seasoned landscape designer that beginners and new home buyers are the ones who insist on lots of grass. Kinda like a status symbol or else a mind set that good green grass equals "ARRIVAL". I always used to lean my clients towards putting their money in good specimen trees and large "beds" which they could either plant perennials or shrubs or just put down mulch.....

Amen. I have no clue why the new subdivisions are mostly large resource-intense lawns. Only a few higher end ones get the "street tree" treatment, and sadly, the developer often picks the wrong trees.

My neighbor asked me why I planted so many trees in the front lawn. I told him it was the only way I knew to kill bermuda grass

[Shagbark Hickory]

Originally Posted by caution

My neighbor asked me why I planted so many trees in the front lawn. I told him it was the only way I knew to kill bermuda grass

And that may thin it but probably not kill it.

Bermudagrass is like a tatoo on the earth. Once it's there you can never fully get rid of it. Merely manage it.

[maincoon]

Originally Posted by Shagbark Hickory

That may seem unusual in Florida but in places in the southwest like Tucson, AZ, grass is the exception rather than the rule. Very few homes have turf.

And many homes in Europe and the UK don't have lawns either. People basically have a driveway for a front yard.

And even here in Georgia, where some people have wooded lots and their yards are too shady for turf they will often just have pinestraw, mulch or tree litter as a ground cover.

It is possible to live without a lawn people.

I couldn't agree more. But previous owner spent a fortune to put down st. Augustin on 1/3 acre land thinking that would sell the house and I am struggling to keep the grass alive in 100 something degree heat with no rain in sight. I plan on planting alternatives to replace grass. Any suggestins? On another thread, you named the grass I am thinking of planting instead of grass. As long as the ground is covered, I couldn't care less what that is. Love to plant running bamboo to fill the land but that won't malt my neighbors happy, alas

[Shagbark Hickory]

Originally Posted by maincoon

I couldn't agree more. But previous owner spent a fortune to put down st. Augustin on 1/3 acre land thinking that would sell the house and I am struggling to keep the grass alive in 100 something degree heat with no rain in sight. I plan on planting alternatives to replace grass. Any suggestins? On another thread, you named the grass I am thinking of planting instead of grass. As long as the ground is covered, I couldn't care less what that is. Love to plant running bamboo to fill the land but that won't malt my neighbors happy, alas

Those ornamental grasses are more like shrubs than a groundcover. I don't think you want to replace your turf with that. They often get a little out of control too. You'll open your front door one day and find you've been grassed in.

[maincoon]

Originally Posted by Shagbark Hickory

Those ornamental grasses are more like shrubs than a groundcover. I don't think you want to replace your turf with that. They often get a little out of control too. You'll open your front door one day and find you've been grassed in.

Ha! That would be fun!