"Ted Shoemaker" wrote in message
om...
Hello,

I have recently read a little about natural landscaping -- that is,
using indigenous plants. There are plenty of benefits.

If someone here could help me with a problem, I would appreciate it:
As far as I can tell, none of the local indigenous plants makes a
sturdy lawn.

I live in Madison, Wisconsin. The native plants here include
prairie grasses, wildflowers, and deciduous trees.

When you step on turf grass, it springs back immediately. You can't
do that with prairie grasses and wildflowers. To the contrary, we see
signs that say things like "Stay on the trail! The wild plants are
fragile!"

What would you recommend for a natural lawn in Madison, Wisconsin?

Thank you very much!

Ted Shoemaker

It is difficult to replicate the effect of turf grasses with indigenous
plants. Big expanses of lawns are a totally artificial gardening construct,
ie., they do not occur naturally, only under cultivation. The best I could
suggest is buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides, which is native of the low
grass prairies and is used as a turf grass in high drought areas or to plant
a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers and mow only in those areas where
access is necessary or desired.

If you use the buffalo grass, you will still need to maintain it like other
turf grasses to get the "lawn" effect.

http://www.easywildflowers.com/quality/buc.dacty.htm

pam - gardengal