Job 12:7-10
 |
 |
Bee Happy San Antonio dry Zone 8b, 9a
Lawns rocky and dry Zone 8b and 9a
My husband is teribbbbly allergic to wasps. Hospital trips for massive Benadryl injections. His grandmother shared his birthday and gave him her wasp allergy.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BEE ALLERGY!
Last Summer,
We had the MOST MARVELOUS adventure with a swarm of bees in our childrens' fort last year. Italian or Carniolan Bees. The friendliest bees in the USA. They grew and swarmed. And then grew and swarmed again. Our fort is 15 feet tall and the bees multiplied into a 3 foot beard growing from the ladder. They were so friendly, we could poke our faces within a foot of the hive and observe. Edward went outside and stood in the swarm, the incredible hum, and fell in love with them. There was no way they could stay forever in the birdhouse in the fort. We were sad when the 3rd queen departed and took her bees. They visit our blooming and fruiting Wax Leaf Ligustrum, now. We go out and watch.
The land can be rocky, rocky, rocky
and chalky, chalky, chalky.
You know you need a new hobby.
The kids want a new hobby.
Let's GO!
Microclover (a compact variety of white clover, e.g., ‘Pipolina’ or ‘Pirouette’)
• Pros: Smaller leaves and tighter growth habit than standard white clover — gives a more uniform, lawn-like appearance. Lower-growing (4–6 inches), more drought-tolerant, less flowering, and lower maintenance. Excellent for no-mow or low-mow yards. stoverseed.com
• Cons: More expensive than regular white clover; may still need some establishment care in intense heat.
• Suitability: Good choice if you want a tidier front yard look.
Both fix nitrogen, reduce fertilizer needs, tolerate foot traffic moderately, and require far less water than St. Augustine or Bermuda grass common in Texas. They thrive in your zone but benefit from afternoon shade in the hottest spots.
Planting and Care Tips for Dry San Antonio Conditions
• Best time: Plant in fall (September–November) or early spring for best establishment before summer heat.
• Preparation: Mow existing grass short, aerate, and overseed into thin areas or remove grass for a full clover lawn. Mix with a small amount of drought-tolerant grass if desired for stability.
• Seeding rate: Follow package instructions (typically 5–10 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for clover lawns).
• Water: Water regularly for the first 4–6 weeks to establish roots, then reduce significantly — they handle drought well once rooted.
• Maintenance: Mow occasionally (3–4 inches height) to keep tidy and encourage density. No fertilizer needed due to nitrogen fixation.
• Soil: Tolerates poor soils but benefits from a light compost top-dressing.
Strong Native Clover-Like or Low-Growing Alternatives
If pure clover doesn’t appeal (due to spreading or aesthetics), consider these drought-hardy Texas natives that provide similar ground cover benefits: ksat.com
• Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora): Low-growing, spreads well, tiny white flowers, very drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, handles sun/shade and foot traffic.
• Other options: Prairie verbena, blackfoot daisy, or silver ponyfoot for varied textures and flowers with even lower water needs. rainbowgardens.biz
Clover lawns are a trending eco-friendly choice in Texas, but they may not look like a perfect manicured grass lawn. Test a small area first. Check with Bexar County AgriLife Extension or local nurseries (e.g., Rainbow Gardens) for seed sources suited to San Antonio. This will give you a greener, lower-water front yard that fits the dry climate well
GOOOOO!
ETSY
ITALY ...
WHAT WILL THEY NEED?
Miniature clover, or Microclover (\(Trifolium\) \(repens\) \(var.\) \(Pirouette\)),
and eco-friendly lawn alternative
WHITE CLOVER IS MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment