Create, maintain & buy dry grass

For gardens in regions that are affected by heat and drought in summer, it is important to choose the right lawn seeds. You can find out how to lay out and maintain a dry lawn here.

Owning a dry grassland could turn into a real asset in the years to come: climatologists assume that the weather in Germany is developing towards hot, dry springs and summers will. For this reason, in this article we will explain to you what makes a good dry lawn, how to lay it out and care for it.

What is a dry lawn and when does it make sense?

A dry lawn is a lawn that grows well even with less water and in greater heat. The creation of a dry lawn makes sense for you if your lawn area, for example, is on sandy soil, in an area with low rainfall and should be laid out in full sun.

The term “dry lawn” is used by manufacturers of lawn seeds when speaking of drought-tolerant lawn-seed mixtures for green lawns. Especially areas with low rainfall and

hot summers are well advised to create a special dry lawn. And even light, sandy soils, which are difficult to store water, are greened more reliably with a dry lawn than with a conventional lawn-seed mixture. This makes a dry lawn ideal for a new plant if you want to garden sustainably over the long term.

Expert note: The dry grassland referred to here is not to be confused with the biotope, also referred to as this, which develops on extremely dry, nutrient-poor and sun-exposed areas. This not only houses grasses, but also special plants such as the sand carnation (Armeria maritima) and adapted animals like the trouser bee (Dasypoda). And the terms “poor grass” and “semi-arid grass” used synonymously for dry grassland can also be misleading: Both actually refer to biotopes with special fauna and flora. Lean lawns arise on water-rich, very nutrient-poor areas, semi-arid lawns arise on extensively managed pastures.

What are the benefits of dry grass?

The advantage of dry lawns is that it is easier to maintain than conventional lawns on dry, very sunny areas, but also under normal conditions. It is also called “water saving lawn” because it uses less water due to the frugal grass, which helps you to save money or groundwater and of course valuable time.

In addition, dry grass also grows on soils on which a normal lawn could hardly exist due to a lack of water or only with an extremely high level of maintenance. A Laying out dry grass is therefore kind to the environment and you also save yourself the time-consuming soil improvements that would be necessary before creating a more sensitive standard lawn.
The special dry lawns have one small disadvantage: their appearance differs from the appearance of sophisticated ornamental lawns. The grasses are somewhat wider and sometimes a little looser together, which gives them the flair of a Mediterranean holiday lawn. This hardly noticeable difference is only noticed by very attentive eyes.

Correctly lay out and maintain dry lawns

Basically, the creation of a lawn in dry locations does not differ from the arrangement in other locations. We have summarized all the important points for you below.

When and how do you create a dry lawn?

If you want to create a dry lawn, spring or autumn is best for this. The soil should not be cooler than 12 ° C even at night so that the seeds come up and develop well. After loosening the soil and the Lawn fertilizers this is followed by sowing, pressing and - very important! - the extensive watering. The seeds will sprout before a month is up and your dry lawn will emerge.

Please note the following: Sometimes the term "drought-resistant lawn seeds" is used instead of dry grass. This term is misleading, because the seeds of drought-tolerant grasses are just as sensitive to dehydration in the germination phase as any other lawn seed. The special abilities of the plants only become apparent after deep roots have been formed. Therefore, even a dry lawn near the plant should be conscientiously supplied with water for the first month.

Instructions for sowing dry grass:

1. Prepare the lawn by loosening the area about 20 cm deep and removing stones and weeds. Then a mainly organic long-term fertilizer like our Plantura is used Organic lawn fertilizer incorporated. Very poor soils can also be used with our Plantura organic lawn soil or ripe compost be improved.
2. Smooth the surface with a wooden rake so that no unevenness can be seen.
3. Now the sowing follows. With the spreader or by hand, 12.5 g / m are applied lengthways and crossways² distributed.
4. After sowing, the seeds are incorporated flat or a maximum of 0.5 cm thick with lawn soil like our Plantura Organic turf soil covered and then pressed down with a light roller or running boards.
5. After sowing it is watered. You should do this every day from now on so that the seeds and the soil never become completely dry. The seeds germinate after 10 to 24 days and the young seedlings must never dry out. Even after the first green can be seen, it is still a month long: water, water, water! After all, the drying up of the seedlings or at least some of the young plants is one of the most common mistakes when creating a lawn.

Tip: You can mow your new dry lawn for the first time when it is 6 to 10 cm in height, but do not cut it any deeper than 4 cm. It is better to sharpen the knives of your mower again before the first mowing, because blunt knives can easily uproot the young seedlings.

You can find detailed instructions on lawn systems in our article on the Sowing the lawn.

What is the best way to maintain dry lawns?

The maintenance of a dry lawn is not fundamentally different from that of any other lawn. Even if the dry lawn rightly has the reputation of being a water saver, it still has to be watered in very dry phases.

At the Cut the lawn It is important to note that a dry lawn should never be as short as a rasp: a cutting height of 4 cm is short enough. In spring and summer, fertilization is done with a nitrogen-based, primarily organic lawn fertilizer such as our Plantura Organic lawn fertilizer just the thing. This promotes lawn growth and maintains or improves the quality of the soil. In autumn, dry grass and soil are grateful for a potassium-accentuated autumn lawn fertilizer like our Plantura Organic autumn lawn fertilizer, which improves frost resistance through the increased potassium content. Regular mowing and especially organic fertilization prevent the formation of thatch, the growth of moss and Weeds in the lawn and a poorly ventilated floor.

Nevertheless, it may be necessary to use the Scarifying or that Aeration of the lawn to care for if regular care was not optimal or the soil is very clayey. After heavy frosts or very hot summers, the lawn may be thinned out and light, lose its ability to regenerate and grow more slowly than usual. In this case one is Re-sowing the only way to restore the vitality of the lawn.

Summary: What's the best way to maintain dry lawns?

• Water when it is very dry
• Cutting height no lower than 4 cm
• Regular nutrient supply with primarily organic lawn fertilizers
• Regular mowing and fertilizing helps prevent thatch and soil compaction
• Reseeding may be necessary after very cold winters or hot summers

Buying dry grass: which dry grass seeds to choose?

Lawn seed mixtures for dry lawns are characterized by the drought-compatible grasses they contain. They should make up the lion's share of the mix at ours Plantura dry grass In premium quality, the following suitable grasses are included:

• 70 % Festuca arundinacea: For minimized maintenance and water requirements on dry grass
• 20 % Poa pratensis: For high resilience and tolerance to drought
• 10 % Lolium perenne: For quick germination and good regeneration through the formation of runners

The good germinability of the seeds should not be neglected. An RSM certification guarantees a high germination rate of the seeds through strict quality controls. In order to plan and successfully lay out a lawn, it is very important to know about the germinability of the seeds, which is why we recommend the use of RSM-certified seeds. If you have spent money on good seeds, you should not simply be left with the planting of the lawn: Responsible manufacturers also ensure that that your lawn system will be a success, by providing detailed instructions on the package or further care instructions on the Internet you will find the perfect dry lawn accompany.

Summary: Buy dry grass

• Specification of the grass varieties contained: Dry grass seed mixtures largely consist of drought-tolerant grasses
• High germination rate and quality, e.g. B. RSM certified seed mixtures
• Precise information on use and further information on the packaging

At Plantura, we focus on long-lasting, high quality and would be delighted to provide you with the Plantura dry grass In RSM-certified quality, with numerous articles on the subject of “lawn and lawn care” on the way to a successful, water-saving and sustainable dry lawn.

If you are interested in high-quality lawn seeds, you will find our certified here Plantura lawn seed mixtures.