Native Lawn for Bodrum, Turkey

I have a vacation home in Bodrum, Turkey and trying to find a native plant mix for the yard that may look like a traditional lawn. The climate is hot and dry in summer, cool and wet in winter. The soil is also salty. Any tips are appreciated.

What do the locals use?
You may need a couple of varieties.
From. https://avengrass.com/golf-court/
This is what is used on Golf Courses in your area;
"Tifway-419 and Tifdwarf-328 varieties of Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) are used especially in golf courses
in Antalya, Bodrum, and Kuşadası regions where the Mediterranean climate is dominant. "

Thanks John. The water is very scarce in the area. Also I don't want to use chemicals, hence looking for something natural. Locals use bermuda variants and periodic weed control treatments which I want to avoid.

Bermuda might actually be a native there... I was poking around trying to find something for you and one article does say Bermuda is native to Africa and the Middle East.  

I will note that the taller you are willing to keep the grass the more options you have.  My yard in Central Texas which is a random mix of mostly native grass is most successful as a lawn when I keep it six inches.  It stays green even as neighbors who water their lawns have everything brown up because of deeper roots.

If you can find out what variety of grass they grow for hay, those might be an option.  They are at least surviving some regular mowing.  

Oh... successful as a lawn includes driving out most of the nongrass plants. Mostly I just want a yard which I can walk barefoot in.  The grass was choking out its competitors at that height.  The regular mowing is important or it doesn't grow quite that thick.

In Australia we would call a 6 inch cut as a jungle!

We have a cement walkway through the front yard.  If not for that we wouldn't have even realized how high it was. It was just a thick flat carpet of green.  Lovely to walk on and we never sunk into mud.

John Evansfield wrote:I have a vacation home in Bodrum, Turkey and trying to find a native plant mix for the yard that may look like a traditional lawn. The climate is hot and dry in summer, cool and wet in winter. The soil is also salty. Any tips are appreciated.

I am sorry that I can't help but you've brought up amazing memories from the back of my mind. I've lived in Bodrum for 4 years, one of the most amazing places that i've seen. like I said, I can't help with advices but I have a friend who teaches horticulture I think at university in Trabzon, he is very knowledgeable, Also he's into the good stuff, not gmo. If you want, I'll give you his details, probably he could help maybe

I am glad you enjoyed Bodrum as well and yes, it will be great if you can send me your friend’s email. Thank you.

I am sorry it took so long, I just got my friend's email address. His name is Omer Selim and you can write him at selimgil66@gmail.com
You can tell him that Alin from Romania gave you his details.
I hope you will succeed and you'll make a beautiful garden with strong plants. Let us know how it goes.

John Evansfield wrote:I am glad you enjoyed Bodrum as well and yes, it will be great if you can send me your friend’s email. Thank you.

Thanks Alin

You are very welcome, John. I am confident that you'll make a beautiful garden there. Good luck!

John Evansfield wrote:Thanks Alin

What an interesting thread!
I’m curious what you learned/ended up doing. Bodrum would be a hard place to grow a lawn without tons of irrigation, and water’s precious in that region.

-Daniel

Hi Daniel,

I could not find a native option but used a type of bermuda grass with local topsoil/manure as fertilizer. Also did hand weeding. That is as close as I could get to a natural solution.

Thanks  

Hi Daniel,

I contacted Mr Selim and other locals, but could not find a local native option. I used a type of bermuda grass recommended by locals, used local topsoil and manure and did hand weeding. This is as close as I could get to natural.

I think we should have a pebble garden instead but family members think otherwise

Thanks

Teşekkür ederim for the update. Bermuda grass makes sense there. Pebble is a little less fun to run around on. You might be able to get some low-growing yarrow to take in the lawn, along with some micro clover. They’re both drought resistant and when cut, form a nice low mat.

-D

Daniel Ackerman wrote:Teşekkür ederim for the update. Bermuda grass makes sense there. Pebble is a little less fun to run around on. You might be able to get some low-growing yarrow to take in the lawn, along with some micro clover. They’re both drought resistant and when cut, form a nice low mat.

-D

Ben teşekkür ederim!