I am trying to renovate a suburban backyard on Long Island (Zone 6A) and I am tearing out a rampantly-overgrown dual monoculture (Is that an oxymoron?) of English Ivy and Silver Maples. These two species have choked out nearly every other thing in the
yard aside from a pair of Black Walnuts and a few heavily storm-damaged pines. I am hand-pulling the Ivy (tedious, but more certain than any other method) and will be removing most of the Maples to get some sunlight to the ground.
In order to keep the soil from blowing away, I will be planting Dwarf White Clover as a first/interim step. Trading one/two monocrops for another isn't really a big step forward, but at least the new planting is more beneficial and less invasive than the old. I will be adding insectary/pollinator plantings as a "baby-step" toward a more Earth-friendly yard.
Selling the house eventually with an entire lawn of white clover might prove difficult, so I am wondering about what to plant as a "lawn". I read Paul's Cheap & Lazy Lawn Tips (LOVE IT!!!) so I am sold on the idea of Tall Fescue. The Long Island Cauliflower Association (Yes, really!) sells a couple of mixes which are mostly Tall Fescue cultivars and will also do custom mixes.
1) Does anyone have any experience/advice on Tall Fescue Cultivars? I can pick from:
Blade Runner
Cochise IV
Crossfire II
Jubilee Tall
Monet
Ninja III
Picasso
Shortstop II
Sidewinder
Van Gogh
Cayenne and Mustang III are also available, but only as part of a pre-mixed
seed.
2) I am also wondering if I have to seed grass at the same time as the Dwarf White Clover or if I can seed it next spring after the clover is already established?
Thanks in advance for any advice.