Meet Jackson Madnick, grass geek: “Did you know that bluegrass, one of the most common grasses grown in the eastern U.S., comes from the coasts of Western Europe? It’s mostly cloudy there, and it rains a lot. So bluegrass doesn’t have deep roots–it never needed them.” But plant it here, where the sun is stronger and the droughts longer, and you have to fertilize and water it like crazy. Which is no fun, not free, and the kind of anti-environmental thing that has given lawns a bad name.
Enter Madnick’s creation, Pearl’s Premium, a grass seed mix named after his green-thumbed mom and sporting three native seeds in its five-seed formula. These fescues are used to sending down deep roots to find water; Madnick says no watering is needed once the lawn is established. Since it doesn’t require the steroids of fertilizer, Pearl’s also grows very slowly, requiring cutting only once a month. These are tough plants requiring little coddling and nothing special in the way of soil amendments. What’s not to love?
$30 for a 5-pound bag, enough for 800-1000 square feet, shady or sunny versions, available at Whole Foods or www.PearlsPremium.com
The House: A classic Cambridge condo that's a downsizer's dream.