In April 2022 our HOA decided some owners (including us) would be responsible to pine straw in areas beyond our lot lines. (Pine Straw the largest expense for the HOA and some HOA members always raise crap about any increase of fees.)
The specific area for use is on a steep berm ~ 30% grade. Since pine straw is slippery and needs annual replenishment, we looked for alternatives. I was told Cyprus Mulch would not float away with heavy rain and would last “for years”. So we laid out some paths with Cyprus Mulch and planted Creeping Thyme - spaced the plants about 18 inches apart.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the HOA found out forcing about 30% of HOA members to pay for pine straw was not a good plan. Some folks did. Some did not - creating a patch work eyesore. There were complaints. So in mid June the HOA relented on our back berm. But we had done our job. Now about 10 months later, we know our plan is good. We have had maybe 6 heavy rain storms - over an inch in less than an hour and no detectible mulch movement. The creeping thyme plants have grown from 2 inch pot size to well over 12 inches in diameter.
The lighter color are the paths I mentioned. The mulch will darken in a few months - but the paths are still visible in the pine straw. I put out another 30 bags last week. About half the mulch area is not visible in the image. The thyme is dormant.
There is one yard I drive past that has blond grass like that in the winter. Sort of startling to see, it really stands out as every other yard in the neighborhood - perhaps in the town - has the usual sort-of-green in the winter grass.
Even in North Georgia it is hot July through mid September and the choices are lots of watering or hot weather grasses. Our HOA is Bermuda which goes dormant from later October until the soil is in the mid 50s.
Wow. Intimidating process. I confess I have always hesitated to build a new house, instead rehabbing one room at a time, given the overwhelming number of choices that have to be made. House looks beautiful, Gene. Congratulations.
