| Hello. I'm looking for a variety of lawn that would be as soft to the feet as possible and hardy so that dogs can roam around in the garden and won't harm the lawn. St. Augustine feels too corse. Do you have recommendations? This is for Hollywood Hills, Ca which falls under zone 23 according to Western Garden Book. I'm also looking for a good wisteria for that location. The yard is south facing and get a lot of sun throughout the day. Thank you, Akiko Yamagami |
| I'd recommend mixing Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass for your new lawn. The mixture results in a more disease-resistant turfgrass stand offering good color and year round growth. By weight, at least 15 percent perennial ryegrass seed is recommended in the mixture. Perennial ryegrass is well adapted to sunny or partially shady conditions. It grows best during periods of cool temperatures and is very competitive, rapidly establishing a uniform green cover. Fall seeding is preferred. Kentucky bluegrass produces a dense turf with dark green, medium-textured leaves; it spreads by rhizomes. Kentucky bluegrass grows best in fall, winter, and spring when temperatures are cool; during summer its growth slows. By mixing the two grasses, you'll get the benefits of each; they hold up well under foot traffic, remain green all year, are are relatively disease free. Japanese wisteria is a good choice for your southern California garden. You can choose between white, pink, or purple blooms. The White Japanese Wisteria is Wisteria floribunda `Issai Perfect`; the Pink Japanese Wisteria is Wisteria floribunda `Rosea`, and the purple blooming Japanese Wisteria is Wisteria floribunda `Texas Purple`. Best wishes with your landscape! |
