Is there an alternative to grass that covers well, and doesn't spread fast like an invasive plant?
I've read about clover but it does spread fast.
this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2025
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Better idea, aerate it. There are loads of tools for that
Why is it someone hasn't modified the dna of grass to give us one that has both deep roots and works like lawn grass on top.
I doubt think it's a DNA problem, the amount of roots depends on the amount of leaves.
So keeping the grass short keeps the roots sorry as well
But why? Roots act as energy storage, so once full, grow more. Not full stop. That should lead to pretty decent roots.
There are prairie grass stains that have very deep roots. Not sure how they act as a replacement for typical lawns but they exist already
Because releasing genetically modified organisms into the wild can have absolutely disastrous consequences on an ecosystem. I think there are cases where the benefits are worth the risks, but pretty lawn is not one of them. Might be nice in the future when we have a better grasp on what we're doing.
Thats a great talking point, but it is BS. Humans have been genetically modifying organsims through selective breeding for millenia. Any animal or plant you eat is nothing like it natural origin.
And they also have plenty of issues.
And yet, not disastrous.
Sure. The chickens that we get from Costco that can't walk on their own isn't disastrous to me. Especially since I don't eat them.
But I get your point.
The chickens that we've modified to not walk on their own have not yet blown up our world so we accept their mutation.
Yes, the point I was replying to was basically referring to unintended runaway modifications that could be disastrous like horror movie level. Chickens that can't walk is not runaway because... well they can't run, lol, so they also can't breed. If humans died tomorrow, thoses chickens wouldn't be far off.
That said, I support lab grown meat research. So we can stop with the chickens that can't walk. But that won't save the dogs that can barely breath due to selective breeding.
When you said "modify the DNA", I thought you were referring to genetic modification in a laboratory, which is capable of enacting dramatic change in a single generation, including unintentional changes. Selective breeding enacts mild iterative changes over a long period of time, and is therefore much less risky.
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eh, there's a shitton of clay about an inch down here. turf ain't the problem
Dandies eat clay for breakfast
you're assuming soil with clay mixed in it. you would be wrong.
Get yourself an earth drill, make some 40cm holes, add earth and plant: sunflowers, dandelions & poppies, tall grass works well too.
i really love when people assume i'm in the wrong climate zone and soil and end up giving advice that would be useless unless i popped another 3 feet of soil on top of what already exists.
there is a specific method you have to use to grow anything here. no, i'm not going into it as it would be overly identifying.
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