Choosing the right lawn seeds is important for gardens in regions affected by heat and drought in summer. You can find out how to create and maintain a dry lawn here.
Owning a dry grassland could become a real advantage in the coming years: Climate researchers suspect that the weather in Germany will develop towards hot, dry springs and summers. For this reason, in this article we will explain to you what makes a good dry lawn, how to create it and how to care for it.
What is a dry grassland and when does it make sense?
Dry grass is a lawn that grows well even with less water and in high heat. Planting a dry lawn makes sense for you if, for example, your lawn is planted on rather sandy soil, in an area with low rainfall and in full sun should be.
The term "dry grass" is used by lawn seed manufacturers when referring to drought-tolerant grass seed mixes for green lawns. Areas with little rainfall and hot summers are particularly well advised to plant a special dry grassland. And even light, sandy soils that are difficult to store water are greened more reliably with a dry lawn than with a conventional lawn-seed mixture. This means that a dry lawn is ideal for new planting if you want to garden sustainably over the long term.
Expert note: The dry grassland referred to here should not be confused with the biotope, which is also referred to as this and develops on extremely dry, nutrient-poor and sun-exposed areas. This not only houses grasses, but also special plants such as the sand thrift (Armeria maritima) and adapted animals such as the pants bee (Dasypoda). And the terms "poor grassland" and "semi-dry grassland" used synonymously for dry grassland can also be misleading: both actually refer to biotopes with a special fauna and flora. Poor grassland develops on water-rich, very nutrient-poor areas,Semi-arid grasslands are created on extensively managed pastures.
What are the benefits of dry grass?
The advantage of dry grass is that it is easier to maintain than conventional grass areas, both on dry, very sunny areas and under normal conditions. It is also called "water-saving lawn" because the frugal grasses use less water, which helps you save money, groundwater and, of course, valuable time.
Furthermore, dry grass also grows on soils on which a normal grass could hardly survive due to a lack of water or only with extremely high maintenance costs. Laying out a dry lawn protects the environment and you also save yourself the time-consuming soil improvements that would be necessary before planting a more sensitive standard lawn.
The special dry lawns have a small disadvantage: their appearance differs from the appearance of sophisticated ornamental lawns. The grasses are a bit wider and sometimes a little looser together, which gives them the flair of a Mediterranean holiday lawn. However, this barely noticeable difference is only noticed by very attentive eyes.
Creating and caring for dry grass correctly
Basically, laying a lawn in dry locations is no different from laying it in other places. We have summarized all the important points for you below.
When and how do you create a dry grassland?
If you want to create a dry lawn, spring or autumn is best. The soil should not be cooler than 12 °C, even at night, so that the seed sprout and develop well. After loosening the soil and fertilizing the lawn, sowing, pressing and - very important! - extensive watering. Before the end of a month, the seed will sprout and your dry lawn will emerge.
Please note the following: Sometimes "drought-resistant grass seed" is used instead of dry grass. This term is misleading, because the seeds of drought-tolerant grasses are just as sensitive to drying out in the germination phase as any other lawn seed. Only after the formation of deep roots do the special abilities of the plants become apparent. Therefore, even a dry lawn in the plant should be conscientiously supplied with water for the first month.
Instructions for sowing dry grassland:
- Prepare the lawn by loosening the surface to a depth of about 20 cm and removing stones and weeds. A primarily organic long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic lawn fertilizer is then incorporated. Very poor soils can also be improved with our Plantura organic lawn soil or mature compost.
- Smooth the surface with a wooden rake so that as few bumps as possible are visible.
- Now comes the sowing. With the spreader or by hand, 12.5 g/m2 is distributed lengthwise and crosswise.
- After sowing, the seeds are worked in flat or covered with lawn soil with a maximum thickness of 0.5 cm, such as our Plantura organic lawn soil, and then pressed down with a light roller or footboards.
- After sowing is watered. You should do this every day from now on so that the seed and the soil never become completely dry. The seed germinates after 10 to 24 days and the young seedlings must not dry out under any circumstances. Even after the first green can be seen, it's still a month: water, water, water! Because the drying out of the seedlings or at least part of the young seedlings is one of the most common mistakes in lawns.
Tip: You can mow your new dry grass for the first time when it has reached a height of 6 to 10 cm, but do not cut it deeper than 4 cm. It is better to sharpen the blades of your mower again before mowing for the first time, as blunt blades can easily uproot the young seedlings.
For detailed lawn installation instructions, see our Lawn Seeding article.
What is the best way to maintain dry grassland?
The care of a dry lawn is not fundamentally different from that of any other lawn. Even if dry grass has a rightful reputation as a water saver, it still needs to be watered during very dry periods.
When mowing a lawn, it is important to remember that a dry lawn should never be too short: a cutting height of 4 cm is short enough. In spring and summer, fertilizing with a nitrogen-rich, primarily organic lawn fertilizer such as our Plantura organic lawn fertilizer is just the thing. This promotes lawn growth and maintains or improves the quality of the soil. In autumn, dry lawns and soil are grateful for a potassium-rich autumn lawn fertilizer such as our Plantura organic autumn lawn fertilizer, which improves frost resistance thanks to the increased potassium content.Regular mowing and primarily organic fertilizers prevent thatch formation, the growth of moss and weeds in the lawn and poorly aerated soil.
Nevertheless, it may be necessary to care for dry lawn areas by scarifying or aerating the lawn if regular care has not been optimal or the soil is very clayey. After severe frosts or very hot summers, the lawn may be thin and sparse, lose its ability to regenerate and grow more slowly than usual. In this case, reseeding the lawn is the only way to restore the vitality of the lawn.
Summary: What is the best way to care for dry grassland?
- Water when 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-tolerant grasses they contain. They should make up the lion's share of the mix Our premium quality Plantura dry grass includes the following suitable grasses:
- 70 % Festuca arundinacea: For minimal care and water requirements of the dry grass
- 20% Poa pratensis: For high resilience and drought tolerance
- 10 % Lolium perenne: For rapid germination and good regeneration through stolon formation
The good germination capacity of the seed should not be neglected. An RSM certification guarantees a high germination rate of the seeds through strict quality controls. In order to plant a lawn in a planned and successful manner, knowledge of the germination capacity of the seed is very important, which is why we recommend using RSM-certified seed. If you have spent money on good seed, you should not simply leave the lawn on your own: Responsible manufacturers also ensure that your lawn is a success, with detailed instructions on the packaging or further care instructions on the Internet leading you to the perfect dry lawn accompany.
Summary: Buy dry grass
- Specification of containedGrass varieties: Dry grass seed mixtures consist largely of drought-tolerant grasses
- High germination rate and quality, e.g. RSM-certified seed mixtures
- Exact details on use and further information on the packaging
We at Plantura rely on long-lasting and high quality and would be happy to help you with the Plantura dry lawn 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 to be allowed to accompany dry grassland.
If you are interested in high-quality lawn seed, you will find our certified Plantura lawn seed mixtures here.