Can a traditional lawn and a dry lawn coexist?

It is often the case that those who wish to give new life to their green space with an alternative lawn do not want to give up the elements already present in the garden, such as the grass carpet of an English lawn. If you do not want to opt for a complete conversion of your lawn with new low-water varieties, it is possible to imagine a coexistence, within the same space, of the two ways of gardening. How, however, to understand if the pre-existing traditional lawn can coexist with a new dry lawn? The answer is not simple and, above all, it is not unique: every garden has its own story, but it is possible to find some answers in our experience and in the experiments carried out together with our customers.



The advantages of a dry lawn

Let's start with the basics, analyzing the structure and needs of a dry lawn, to understand its potential compatibility with a traditional lawn.

Low-water lawns are composed of particular varieties of groundcover that resist drought very well, without the need for too much artificial irrigation throughout the year. They are, therefore, extremely useful varieties for those who want a lawn that is almost self-sufficient, requires very little maintenance, and guarantees great water savings – our alternative lawns need about 80% less water compared to what is needed for a traditional English lawn.

The high temperatures we have been experiencing in recent years in our territory, therefore, are not a problem for these super-resistant little plants, which survive even long periods of drought excellently, without drying out or being damaged. These characteristics, which allow you to have a lush garden even without irrigation, are often, however, also the weak points of traditional lawns, which to stay green, lush, and tidy need very different conditions, numerous irrigations, and more frequent mowing. How is it possible to make such different maintenance needs coexist? The answer lies in compromise.

How to integrate traditional lawn and dry lawn

The integration of our alternative lawns with other lawn species is possible, but unpredictable. In these cases, with most mixed lawns composed of different varieties, different factors come into play that cannot always be predicted.

From the results of many of our customers, and from the experience gained in garden design, we know that the results of these experiments have sometimes turned out very well, sometimes less so. For this reason, our first advice is always to do preliminary tests before deciding how to integrate the different varieties.

As with the choice of the right mix of alternative lawns, for which it is always best to do establishment tests, in this case too we recommend to select a small portion of your land to test the integration of the pre-existing traditional lawn with new different varieties of dry lawn, so as to verify the final result before proceeding with the rest of the surface.

The varieties that can most easily adapt to the conditions of a mixed garden are Lippia nodiflora and Verbena hybrida, because they are more aggressive than the others, and Achillea crithmifolia especially in areas with a harsher climate. The other varieties of alternative lawn have a more discreet growth and therefore have lower chances of surviving in a lawn already colonized by other species.

Irrigation and maintenance of the mixed lawn

For the use of low-water varieties to serve its ecological and resource-saving purpose, it is essential to follow the instructions for dry lawn irrigation.

The irrigation regime is fundamental because it is what allows the little plants to develop their roots deep enough to find the water resources they need in the soil, surviving even the longest periods of drought. Irrigation, therefore, must be abundant but rare, simulating sporadic downpours. With this technique, the pre-existing plants will tend to be replaced by the new little plants. Initially, therefore, the traditional and dry lawn will coexist, but after a few seasons the more resistant varieties will prevail.

Ours are general guidelines to which, however, the variables of each situation must always be added. In these cases, however, there is no single answer, since every garden has its own climatic conditions, sun exposure, and soil quality to consider. Only careful selection and thorough tests allow you to find the ideal combination to integrate a traditional lawn with low-water varieties in the most functional way possible.