Does the lawn not inviting? You want to spread yourself on it and roll around in the grass just like you used to do when a child. But, the fact is that you can, with Kurapia, a new and improved ground cover.
The best part friends it offers you low-maintenance perks, never needing a mow, and drinks up less water. Is that even possible to have no lawn cutting over weekends?
Yes, the Kurapia is suitable for commercial and residential applications. It is becoming trendy throughout the United States.
What is The Kurapia Ground Cover?
The Kurapia comes from Japan, developed by Dr. H. Kuramochi. The plant is breaded from the Lippia nodflora and is unable to produce seed compared to the other grass species.
So, it is non-invasive and is a live flowering plant that grows low and dense. With it, you get less work, watering, and stress guaranteed.
The plant is drought tolerant with light foot traffic and grows to an average height of three inches. Yet, this depends on the conditions you expose it to.
Hence, the Kurapia is what you need if you want a natural ground cover.
Kurapia Grass Plant Care
Great now that you know what the Lippia nodiflora Kurapia is and how it can make your landscape look spectacular. We will provide you with all the ins and outs to get your grass growing.
Preparing the Soil Surface for Kurapia
Great, now that we have your attention, you can find the grass available to grow as Kurapia sod or Kurapia plugs. But before you start planting the grass for a natural groundcover look, you need to do some ground preparations first.
- Start by removing all planting from old grass to weeds using specialized applications. While the Kurapia roots grow dense and deep, you do not want any weeds before planting.
- If you have clay soil, we recommend a rototill to help the Kurapia roots form as it ensures adequate aeration for the grass to establish.
- In clay soil, you can add a layer of sand over the surface as it helps loosen up the ground for the grass to root.
- If you plan to plant the grass around trees, it helps to remove some of the branches and shoots to provide some light to grow.
- Before planting the Kurapia, give the ground a deep soak a few times, helping the soil settle and germinating new weed seeds. You can then remove the weeds before planting.
Recommended Soil Type
Great, so what type of soil do you have in your landscaping? Knowing this is important as how the ground holds water is vital. The Kurapia thrives on a soil surface with loamy soil, helps with soil erosion, and provides weed suppression.
A high quantity of sand will help the water drains freely as the water will move straight down to the Kurapia roots. But if you want to increase water retention, you can add compost-like worm castings on top.
These outdoor plants, as mentioned can grow in clay soil, but we recommend adding a layer of sand as well.
Lighting Needs for The Kurapia Roots to Grow
The good news is that Kurapia thrives in full sun, with parts of it in partial shade. But while preparing the ground, keep your outdoor plants moist and away from direct sunlight until established. Doing this applies to Kurapia sod as it is in a roll form. After planting, you need to roll the grass for better aeration.
Irrigation System Watering Needs
Great, now you have prepared the soil surface and done deep irrigation planting your grass. Now, it is time to take care of your ground cover. There are different ways to water when it comes to Kurapia grass care. Yet, the best method is irrigation used with your watering sessions.
Still, it also depends on the soil your natural groundcover is growing in:
- Very sandy soil helps to water with small spurts with a few cycles throughout the day. So you can water for five minutes and wait before watering another five minutes. Here a low water impact rotor works well.
- Clay soil also needs a slow-water irrigation method. Still, clay soil holds water horizontally, and underground irrigation with overhead sprays is a great solution. So water to wet the surface for a couple of minutes. Then do a longer watering to reach underneath the soil. Doing this, you need not water for a while as clay, when wet, holds a lot of water.
Luckily, you can use different irrigation methods, from spray emitters, impact rotor sprays, soaker hoses, drip emitters, and inline drip tubing.
Winterization
Okay, a Kurapia is low maintenanceand is a warm-season outdoor plant. They have dense growth and stay green year-long. Still, neither does the grass go dormant in temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Still, once fully established, the growth slows down in winter and does not put out new leaves. When temperatures reach below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, the grass goes dormant and drops its leaves or even loses a stem.
No stress. It is normal as it produces new growth in the warmer season. Studies show that the grass can tolerate temperatures as low as 13 degrees Fahrenheit without any insulation. But if you live in colder climates, you can provide the grass with a sand cover to protect it.
Stop your water schedule if the temperatures go below freezing temperatures.
Balanced Fertilizer To Keep The Same Green Color
For Kurapia plug sod, you can use a 12-12-12 formula essential during the establishment to help expedite coverage. You can do this after active shoot growth takes three weeks after planting.
Apply the fertilizer every two weeks during this time, and once established, you can optionally feed in Spring or Fall. For Kurapia sod, you can use a 10-10-10 fertilizer during the establishment. Do they feed six weeks after planting?
You only need to apply it once during the establishment of the roots and apply it in Spring or Fall, but optional.
Maintenance of Kurapia Ground Covering
Yes, indeed, you need not mow Kurapia. Still, when the grass gets to two inches, it helps to use a rotary mower set two inches high. Doing this allows for dense growth and roots to spread. You can do this once every two weeks or when it reaches the two-inch height.
Further, it helps to reduce excess moisture buildup that can lead to health concerns with the grass. Another great thing is the Kurapia has pretty long bloom-producing flowers attracting pollinators to your garden.
You can mow between May to November to control the blooms if a family member suffers from allergies. While the grass provides weed suppression, you may still find some weed seeds popping up. The best is to use a preemergence herbicide like Pennan Magnum.
USDA Growth Zone
Kurapia adapts well to different climates in the USDA hardiness zones 7b and higher. For example, in temperatures above 45 degrees F, the grass remains evergreen. But it will decrease when it enters dormancy, with temperatures falling to 38 degrees F.
Kurapia Grass Varieties
In most cases, your Kurapia blooms a white flower that lasts long. But imagine having a ground cover that blooms pink.
Now you can invest your money in the Kurapia Pink which offers the same features as the New White. So get some Kurapia sods to display a colorful garden in pink. Or combine the two for a pink/white landscape.
Kurapia Grass Diseases
Okay, you may have a natural groundcover look with dense growth using different irrigation methods on your outdoor plants. But the Kurapia is not disease-free and can get fungal infections. The good news is you can prevent them with regular maintenance and proper water usage.
Suppose you notice signs of fungal infection act fast before it spreads. Then, where the disease is most severe, it helps to remove the Kurapia in that area. You can also use a Humic Acid or an organic feed to keep fungal infections away.
