ASKED & ANSWERED Alternative Lawns

ASKED & ANSWERED

If you’re tired of the care of a traditional lawn, consider new alternatives including moss. Our expert, Brian Hillman, owner of Hillman’s Landscape, LLC, says it’s not only possible but desirable for many modern homeowners.

Q. What is a moss yard and how do you care for it?

A. Moss occurs naturally in a yard that is compacted from either tree roots or traffic, typically with a lot of shade or a pH issue.

Q. How would I convert to a moss lawn?

A. If you’d like to convert grass to an all-moss yard, which we have helped clients do, the best course of action is to conduct a pH test (best at 5.5 for moss growth) and make necessary adjustments to the soil. You would want to both kill the grass and dig it up and typically wait two weeks before planting anything else, moss included. Making a slurry with buttermilk can work to get moss started, but it does not always work especially for a large area.

Q. How do you care for a moss yard?

A. The homeowner will need to water the moss lightly 2-3 times a day for 2-4 minutes during hot periods. But there’s no mowing involved. Sheet moss (Hypnum Cupressidorme) or fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum) works well as a yard replacement in the Greenville area.

Q. What are some other hardy ground covers to plant in place of grass?

A. My go-to choices to use as hardy ground coverage in place of grass are dwarf mondo or mazus. Both works very well in either part sun or part shade situations. They also will thrive well with irrigation systems.

Q. What about weed control for non-grass yards?

A. Hand pulling is the best option for weed control in non-grass yards, especially when the material is younger and unsettled. Some chemicals can be used once the yard is better established and settled.

Q. What is the best non-living material to replace grass in our region?

A. Mulch is the best non-living material to choose to replace grass in our climate because it adds nutrients to the ground. It will need to be dressed every 12 months. My preference is hardwood bark double ground mulch.

by DESIGN

Don’t save the good stuff for one day, instead breathe new life into a treasured heirloom by using it. Here’s how, in three parts.

by Beth Brown Ables photography by Forrest Clonts

If we are to learn anything from the past two years, let it be that the time to enjoy what we have is now. No more waiting for a solitary special occasion to pull out grandmother’s china, the hand-me-down linens, your great aunt’s candlesticks, or the silver service nobody wants to polish.

Perhaps you have a piece tucked away like this Chinese famille verte vase. A gorgeous classic antique, yes. But other than display, what can you do with it? If you own a vase like this but it’s languishing away in a cupboard or sequestered on a shelf, set it free.

First, use it. A vase is a vessel meant to be filled.

Before your next gathering, whether that’s a Friday night intimate dinner or a pull-out-all-the-stops soiree, present your favorite vase to a respected floral designer and ask them to create a centerpiece. Here, designer Kelly Ford, who along with Megan Runion helms floral pop-up Shoppe Field South, fills an antique vessel to the brim with blooms. Hellebores, anemones, garden roses and citrus cascade out and over the porcelain rim creating a still life worthy centerpiece bold and classic enough to complement its container. The result is nothing short of fine art.

Alas, flowers fade, and perhaps you’re craving a more permanent transformation. Bring your treasured vase into the light—literally—and turn it into a lamp. In the hands of a professional like Phil Waters at Rock House Antiques, adapting a vase into a lamp is a simple and rewarding task. The trickiest step is drilling the bottom of the piece for wiring, and any lamp repair person will double check with you to ensure you are aware of the possibility of breakage. Then it’s quick work attaching wiring, a base, socket, and harp to create the lamp body. Select a shade to complement your vase, a finial for the top of the harp, and enjoy your handsome, one-of-a-kind lamp for years to come.

Another enjoyable use for a large, handsome vase is to hold another collection.

Walking sticks and canes, polished and roughhewn, varnished and stubby with bark, brass and glass finials gleaming, all gathered in one container create a sculptural, stunning display. Set in the corner by a doorway or tucked into a hall, your vessel comes alive and tells the story of the people who used them, the walks and hikes enjoyed, the history they hold.

Our prized possessions wait for new life found in enjoyment and use. Look around your home and see what life and beauty are waiting to be unfurled anew.

(Enter at the food court and take a right. Plum is between Buckle and Pandora.)

e Hartness Team understands what Greenville families want—a beautiful home in an amenity-rich community without sacri cing convenience. at’s why this proven group of industry leaders has joined forces to help you discover the perfect home in the Upstate’s most distinctive neighborhood.

We o en depend on inspiration to help us savor life. We foster the connections that sustain us and champion the experiences that renew us—making the most of every moment. Yet, nding a Greenville home that’s serene and harmonious with our day-to-day lives is rare, to say the least.

at’s why Hartness created a neighborhood that makes it easy to embrace beauty, nd balance, and make memories with the ones you love. Rather than spending valuable time looking for places to go and things to do, at Hartness you simply just step out your door. With boundless natural wonders and limitless options for relaxation, recreation, and fun, Hartness makes it easy to live the life you love.

HOMESITES STARTING IN THE $190s | HOMES STARTING IN THE $590s | VILLAS STARTING IN THE $690s

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal notice. Prices and availability subject to change. All specifications supplied by builder/seller, and subject to change or modification. It is the responsibility of the buyer or buyer’s agent to verify. Equal housing opportunity – Dan Collins, Broker-in-Charge / Collins & Fine, LLC