Grass doesn't normally grow in the desert.
Grass isn't meant to grow in the desert. Desert communities -- where water is at a premium -- are generally under water restrictions, and lawns use more water than any other landscape feature. Many newcomers to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts miss the green grass of home and spend a fortune trying to recreate their old bare-feet-friendly landscapes. If you must plant grass in the desert, sand provides a good base, as it drains quickly. It dries quickly as well, so you need to amend it prior to planting the grass. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose a grass variety that has a chance of succeeding in desert sand. Fescue and buffalo grass are two that you may wish to consider, although Bermuda grass is the most common turfgrass planted in Las Vegas, which lies in the middle of the Mojave desert.
2. Analyze your soil. Although it may look like sand, it may be caliche, a layer of sedimentary rock common in the desert. Impenetrable by plant's roots, caliche is deadly for grass roots. Rent a rototiller or other machine recommended by the county cooperative extension agent to break through the caliche to provide drainage.
3. Lay down 8 inches of topsoil over the sand or caliche. Mix in 3 inches of compost and blend it into the top 6 inches of topsoil.
4. Use a broadcast seed spreader to spread grass seed across the planting area. To ensure even coverage, sow half the seed in strips running north to south and the other half in strips running east to west.
5. Run a rake over the area to ensure the seeds are lightly covered. Water to a depth of 6 inches, and don't allow the soil to dry while the grass seeds germinate.
Tags: area ensure, desert sand, grow desert, inches topsoil, sand caliche, strips running
