I need a very hypoallergenic lawn

[dwdanby]

Roommate has incredible allergies including to most grass. We are in a beach town in the PNW, where the weather is mild, but our backyard is all sand.

I looked into buffalo grass and am still looking for a few ounces to do a test run. Are there others out there that are suitable for me? I did find wheatgrass, which would be very funny in our neighborhood of many cats. Basically, though, I'm ignorant. Could folks advise? Thank you so much!

 

[NigelJ]

You can get artificial grass, the substrate for this generally has sand just below the grass.

 

[dwdanby]

Edit: apparently what I want is Sir Walter buffalo grass. It's said to have sterile seeds, so great for allergies, not so easy to grow. Some say any seeds are a scam, and you have to buy turf. I say I'm going under for the third time. Is there a way to grow Sir Walter in the US? (online is all Australian)

 

[Anniekay]

Any grass is not really appropriate for a beach side residence. The salt air will damage it. I would just do a gravel yard and use different colored gravel, flanked by edging, for a path to add interest. For instance: Abrown gravel walking path and multicolored gravel or dark grey stone on the rest of the yard.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

A friend has a tiny garden and two football mad sons, they wore holes in everything he planted. Eventually he put down 'astroturf', artificial grass, it looks good, you have to look quite closely to see it isn't grass, and wears well.

 

[cpp gardener]

A grass allergy is an allergy to all grasses. So grass of any kind won’t work. You could try Acorus as a lawn substitute. It looks like grass but you don’t have to mow it.

 

[NigelJ]

apparently what I want is Sir Walter buffalo grass. It's said to have sterile seeds,

Surely if the seeds are sterile they won't grow, or do you mean the seed produces sterile plants that do not form pollen.
How does your room mate cope with the many neighbourhood cats?

 

[Oliver Buckle]

There are a few alternatives to grass, off the top of my head, clover, chamomile, a small mint (Cyprus mint?), and there are others, or moss of course, my lawn was mostly moss when we came here.

 

[auzair42]

Given your situation, here are some grass alternatives and low-allergen options for your sandy backyard in the Pacific Northwest:

1. Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides)​

• A great choice for your sandy backyard. It thrives in well-drained soils and is drought-resistant. However, it may struggle in the cooler, wetter climates of the PNW unless you choose a variety bred for cooler regions, like Legacy or Prestige.

2. Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)​

• A native North American grass that pairs well with buffalo grass. It’s low-pollen, thrives in sandy soils, and is tolerant of drought.

3. Microclover (Trifolium repens var. Pipolina)​

• This low-maintenance ground cover stays green and helps fix nitrogen in the soil. It produces much less pollen than marathon 2 grass and can tolerate sand with some soil amendments.

4. Sedum or Stonecrop Varieties​

• These are hardy, low-growing succulents that thrive in sandy, well-drained soil. They create a lush