by greenjeans » Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:04 pm
Buffalograss has not been well tested in the East Bay as yet, having been developed by UC Davis, but it holds promise. It does take awhile to establish and will need regular watering during this period. There is also Carex pansa, another lawn substitute. Alternatively, consider replacing or reducing your lawn size and planting natives and/or mediterranean/drought tolerant plants instead. It's a different aesthetic, but properly done can be quite lovely and a low maintenance/low cost solution. Also, you won't need to fertilize or apply pesticides.
But, in answer to your question, you should not need to water 5 times a day for 15 minutes. You may have compacted soil and/or a problem with "thatch" buildup that prevents water from getting down to the root zone. Do you have problems with runoff also? Frequent watering discourages roots from growing deeply in the soil (because they don't have to, in order to find water). Does your lawn show signs of disease as well?
Lawn aeration should be done twice a year in spring and fall, which will help water penetrate the thatch and also provides oxgen for the roots. If you have 3 inches or more of dead grass above the root zone, you probably have thatch. You can hire someone to do the dethatching and aeration for you, or rent the equipment and do it yourself. For more informaton on lawn care and alternatives, consult with Contra Costa Master Gardeners at ccmg.ucdavis.edu.
Mrs. Greenjeans
