(Dichondra micrantha)
Dichondra has been in Las Vegas parks and school playgrounds for over 50 years, proving it can handle any winter or summer in Southern Nevada. Since dichondra does not go dormant, it’s easily spotted in the winter as it’s often the only green item in the field. We at Valley Sod Farms are promoting plants like dichondra that have proven themselves in our environment and will make for a good lawn replacement.
Because Dichondra uses far less water than grass but still provides grass’ lush green lawn appearance and environmental benefits, Dichondra makes a great Alternative Lawn. This warm season perennial ground cover performs well in high heat and spreads via underground rhizomes.
Some of the benefits of Dichondra are:
• Drought-Tolerant; Uses 30-45% less water than fescue grass
• Safe for children and pets & tolerates light to moderate foot traffic
• Grows in full sun , but handles shade better than sod
• Performs well in temperatures from 25 to 120 degrees
• Grows 2” - 3” high, but can be mowed to a shorter height
• Blooms white flowers that can be mowed off if desired
• Low maintenance care
• Stays green all year
Dichondra should be watered on a regular basis to stay moist but not overwatered. Underwatering or overwatering are the most common causes of any Dichondra stress. Underwatering will cause the plants to wilt and brown off, while overwatering can cause the plants to suffer from root rot. Because no location has the same sun-exposure, irrigation layout, shade, etc., it is very difficult to give exact irrigation time instructions. Your goal is to keep the plants damp, but not soggy. Dichondra is relatively pest and disease free. If you notice damage from grubs or flea beetles, the Dichondra can be sprayed with a product called Mallet, or its comparable chemicals. Follow directions on the label. Dichondra can be mowed with a regular rotary mower for a more groomed appearance.
Dichondra thrives even in less-than ideal soil conditions and grows well where traditional lawns might struggle. Because of this, Dichondra typically requires less fertilizer and maintenance to thrive.
Dichondra is very hardy and is not susceptible to many diseases, but one common problem can be root rot if the ground is too wet.
If you have further questions, you can call our office at (702) 645-4070 for addition assistance.
First, the existing grass should be sprayed with some form of grass killer and removed. Next, a subsurface irrigation system, such as Netafim, should be properly installed to allow for 6" spacing between plants. You can purchase 6" spaced subsurface irrigation and plant a plug next to each emitter. You can also use 12" spacing, but use a triangular planting method. This means your lines of irrigation are offset so that one emitter is centered between two emitters on the neighboring irrigation lines. Then you water long enough that the pools of water from each emitter overlap to ensure all the plugs are receiving adequate water.
If you purchased Dichondra in flats, the plants can be cut into 2"-3" squares and planted in like-manner to the plugs described above.
Plants will need to watered daily to make sure the area surrounding the dichondra stays moist. An application of 15-15-15 or 16-20-0 can be added to the soil mix to increase root growth. Also, an application of pre-emergent weed killer can be added after everything is completed to reduce the chance of weed invasion.
We will help you and/or your landscaper through every step of the planting or conversion process! We are committed to your success!
Orders can be placed by calling (702) 645-4070 Phone orders are taken at our office in Las Vegas Monday thru Friday from 8:00AM till 5:00PM PST
Shipments for next day delivery must be received by 11:00 a.m.
Payments can be made directly to our sales office in Las Vegas or over the phone using VISA, MasterCard, American Express or DISCOVERY. All orders must be paid in advance of shipment
Valley Sod Office
3725 W. Teco Avenue, Suite 9
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118
