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Gallery: Lawn Alternatives

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Bench Path Garden 3
Australian Willow
Hybrid Gazanias
Blue Fescue
Australian Willow

Common name:Australian Willow
Botanical name:Geijera parviflora

Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora) is an excellent specimen tree for medium-sized gardens. This Australian native tree reaches 45’ tall and 20’ wide and is very low-water-use and low maintenance. These trees can be found in nurseries in both single-trunk and multi-trunk forms. The natural growth habit is weeping and irregular, so it does require some selective pruning and shaping when young to achieve the desired look. Thinning out the heavy, weeping branches will take some of the weight out of them, and they usually lift. The tree may require this type of pruning a few times a year for the first two or three years, but once it has achieved a height requiring a ladder to prune, it should be shaped by a licensed arborist. This tree is a slow grower and would benefit from an application of nitrogen fertilizer every year. It should be planted at least four feet away from any hardscape areas, 15 feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about three feet away from this tree. It should be irrigated for about 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.

Hybrid Gazanias

Common name:Hybrid Gazanias
Botanical name:Gazania hybrids

These ground covers will grow less than 1' tall and have medium size, gray green leaves with gold, lavender, orange, red, yellow, or white flowers that are present all year.

Blue Fescue

Common name:Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca glauca

This ground cover/grass will grow less than 1' tall and has small, blue green leaves.

Designer: Rob Moore

Bench Path Garden 3
Image: 5 of 43

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.