1815 what to replace long rough grass with?

If you can get it kikuyu or buffalo grass would be good. Kikuyu in particular handles extremely hot weather well and manages to look lush at the same time.

It would be a good idea to invest in a book on gardening in dry climates as its amazing how much variety there is out there.

I would try aloes, succulants, ornamental grasses, rosemary, lavendar,salvia and for colour Irises... they love to be baked in a hot area!The species tulips will give colour early in the year.If you can spare the cash buy gravel to spread over the ground and let the plants grow in clumps. The land will look lovely all year with no maintanence!

Becky

this sounds awful but might be an answer.i recently saw a tv programme on channel 4 called-a place in greece.on that ,a villa owner who rented out his property had what looked to one of the characters like a lush lawn-in mid february.he was told by the letting agent that it is an artificial lawn made from recycled plastic.they took a close look and felt it, and both seemed really impressed.maybe an idea if grass is the look you are after.

[QUOTE=matt]Hi all, I have recently bought a place just outside Ostuni. The back garden is on steps, and is covered by the very rough long grass. In summer it turns brown and goes very brittle.

It doesn't even fully cover the the ground, leaving bare patches.

Does anyone have an idea what I can do with this? Is there anything I can grow to replace it - something that can withstand the heat of summer, but still look quite green.

Also can anyone tell me the names of some plants that will be able to flourish will little tender loving care, and little water :) ?

I know I'm asking a lot!!

All the best,

Matthew[/QUOTE]

I agree with Becky that gravel would be a good idea. Along with Rosemary & various other herbs that come from a hot climate. How about those low-growing types of herbs that you can walk on and that smell wonderful as you crush them underfoot - like thyme, oregano etc. Also, would camomile grow well as a `lawn` here? Also Ficchi d`India (those round cactus things!), osteospurnums (not sure if I`ve spelt that right), lavender. You must have a fig tree and a mimosa as well, if you can. I don`t know about kukuyu as I`ve never heard of it, but everyone that I know that has any kind of grass spends a fortune in watering it in the summer.

[QUOTE=matt]Hi all, I have recently bought a place just outside Ostuni. The back garden is on steps, and is covered by the very rough long grass. In summer it turns brown and goes very brittle.

It doesn't even fully cover the the ground, leaving bare patches.

Does anyone have an idea what I can do with this? Is there anything I can grow to replace it - something that can withstand the heat of summer, but still look quite green.

Also can anyone tell me the names of some plants that will be able to flourish will little tender loving care, and little water :) ?

I know I'm asking a lot!!

All the best,

Matthew[/QUOTE]
i'm just coming out of this problem.My previous seeded lawn within 2 years had become wild grass only.Recently the guy in the local agricultural store suggested to me to try dwarf clover ( it comes from Forlì somewhere but it's sold everywhere) i tried putting a couple of tins of seed as he had suggested very late in september just to see what would happen low and behold brilliant emerald green and the real plus is it will kill off the wild grass it already is and it's still spreading despite the fact it's november.it will still need cutting but before its out of hand you have more time looks ok i'm going to finish the job in the early spring.it also retains water better during the drought periods.but anyway can really recomend this solution

[QUOTE=matt]Hi all, I have recently bought a place just outside Ostuni. The back garden is on steps, and is covered by the very rough long grass. In summer it turns brown and goes very brittle.

It doesn't even fully cover the the ground, leaving bare patches.

Does anyone have an idea what I can do with this? Is there anything I can grow to replace it - something that can withstand the heat of summer, but still look quite green.

Also can anyone tell me the names of some plants that will be able to flourish will little tender loving care, and little water :) ?

I know I'm asking a lot!!

All the best,

Matthew[/QUOTE]

Hi Matthew

We've lived in Southern Spain for the past 4 years and there is a particular type of VERY hardy grass that makes an acceptable lawn. It's not as soft underfoot as UK grass, it's rather springy and coarse, but by golly does it grow quickly and cover ground. It's very drought resistent, and if you can be bothered to water it a bit, it'll love you to bits.

You just plant little clumps of this very long rooted stuff, spaced evenly over the ground, and it just spreads out and grows.

Now comes the frustrating part :rolleyes: Don't know what it's called as the gardener speaks a type of dialect. I've tried finding it on the internet to pass on the good news and the closest I can get is Esparto Grass, although it's still not the right thing.

I'm going to pop down to our local garden centre tomorrow and try and find out what its commercial name is as I want to grow it in Puglia myself.

Will let you know what I find out.

Wow... thank you all so much for the replies. They were all so helpful, and so darn prompt!!

I think I will initially go for the hardy grass, as I neeed ultra low maintenance.

Thanks again.

Matthew

We have just put down Dichondra Repens...coming on nicely...recommended by our local garden centre as it doesn't need much watering or cutting...ideal for the South and hot climates. We noticed it is also used in the town Piazze.