Creating a Frog Fruit Lawn?!? My Conversion Experiment Begins!

[@ElizabethHernandez-ib4ud]

So excited to watch! My husband HAND PULLED our grass in the backyard! He started last summer/fall and I think 70% of the grass is gone now. We have planted so many sunshine mimosa and propagated our frog fruit from the front to the back. Frog fruit is my favorite because once you walk over it over and over it stays flat like a Mat. I can’t wait to see how yours turns out!

[@OutDr3am]

I am Elizabeth’s Husband I have spent a lot of time on converting to frogfruit. The thing I did wrong is I didn’t mulch. The grass came back. As soon as I mulched the frogfruit it spread much faster. Serpentine layering is most effective. That is where you run the frogfruit under and over the ground. Leave the leaf above ground and cut them off under ground.

[@jenelle152]

Girl, your guidance has my yard abuzz in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds ❤cannot thank you enough. It’s a pesticide free, thriving bio haven and I officially have gopher tortoises munching my beans too 🎉(Weeki Wachee) 🙏

[@jo-annjewett198]

My frog fruit has grown everywhere!! It has taken over my banana bed! I bought a few sad looking cuttings from someone in FL.

[@IntentionalHomesteading]

I planted an alfalfa patch thinking it would help fix the soil in my terrible sandy area. It has been my best performing "grass" in my whole yard. Thought it'd be dead by now but still going strong and looked a lot like real lawn when mowed

[@kg6683]

Thank you for this. Until I found your channel I had no idea what Frog Fruit was. Since watching your videos I've been finding Frog Fruit everywhere in my neighborhood (Central Florida) and am in the process of replacing my grass with Frog Fruit. It's beautiful, it's free, and I love it!

[@WildFloridian]

Yay!!! Free native plants!

[@laurenrhoads9712]

I can’t wait for the update. Thanks for the videos you do.

[@WildFloridian]

Yay! I can’t wait either 😄

[@Justamoment-i6q]

Beautiful garden🌸

[@TheGenesisForest]

We JUST got our first Frog Fruit plants to start lawn conversion 😊

[@squishes1234]

I just started the transition from bermuda to frog fruit (im in california). It has been so hard because i've been pulling the bermuda out by hand. But the places where i have put the frog fruit it has taken off. I cant wait till my whole yard is covered with it.

[@WildFloridian]

Yay!!! It takes a minute to transition but once it gets going… it can really go!

[@susandavidson3610]

Love love love your videos. Being unfamiliar with some of the plants in your videos I wish you had more plant titles on the screen so I can tell what they are ❤ I want to put as many natives in my yard as well as the ground covers. I’m a fan 😊

[@WildFloridian]

Yay Susan! Some videos have them, some don’t. Just depends on how much time I have. But if you’re ever wondering, tell me the time stamp and I’ll let you know what it is 😊

[@susandavidson3610]

Ok. I’ll keep that in mind. Now to get my hands on frog fruit and loads and loads of mulch. I also want to plant creeping sage for the shaded areas. I also have a nice size field I’m considering putting in sunshine mimosa. On the east side of my house I want to put beach sunflowers. I’m going all in 😂😂😂

[@johnliberty3647]

I tend to avoid lawns for environmental reasons but if I end up with a patch or 2 that need a lawn I am considering frog fruit.

[@marilyna597]

Oh, that gardenia plant..... my favorite flower. Always enjoy your videos and seeing all the plants/flowers you have.

[@gailfinney5073]

I tried frog fruit as a ground cover in my back yard. First I hand pulled all the grass - yeah it took a while. I planted some native flowers and frog fruit as a ground cover. The frog fruit really spread and overwhelmed some of the flowers. I am not removing all the grass in the front yard and pulling the frog fruit from the back yard and transplanting it to the front yard. 1/3 of it is a year old and 1/3 was planted in the fall. It has really spread and is filling in nicely. The rest is waiting on me to remove the grass. Hoping to have it completed early summer. Love, love, love frog fruit.

[@jamesj8007]

I am a new aquatics biologist/spray technician. Little do the neighborhoods I’m assigned to know what I am doing for their ponds. I am also a sedimentation and erosion control inspector amongst other things. . . I dig what you’re doing.

[@RevAcres01]

Can't wait to see the update. LOL! Shiloh running through the area you just planted its like they know.

[@ryanyuhr2087]

After installing a pool in my yard a large portion was left bare having sand an medium to small limestone rock. So this is looking like a great option to cover the area because the grass( St Augustine) does not want to take hood in that area. That it is a native is a huge bonus. Thanks for the info.

[@WildFloridian]

You are so very welcome!

[@aburg6393]

OMG - I am so excited - we are just deciding on doing this!! Can't wait to watch!!

[@WildFloridian]

That’s so exciting!!! Can’t wait to hear how your conversion is going

[@MrRKWRIGHT]

Good morning Wild Floridian. Excellent video as always and a wonderful conversion. Just like you, I've decided to change my lawn into a garden - with so many edible plants and weeds out there.. like nettle, curled dock, garlic mustard, elderberry and dandelion - just to name a few. 😊🌹🌼

[@TheTrapperGuy]

I tried frogfruit 2 years ago in an area in backyard and it got outcompeted by weeds. My front yard is all sunshine mimosa...and looks fantastic now. It loves warm dry season because it thrives while weeds die out.

[@WildFloridian]

Interesting! 🤔 My sunshine mimosa died back more than my frogfruit (in the front yard) but maybe because it gets more shade over there, it was less happy.

[@TheTrapperGuy]

@@WildFloridian Zero shade and poor soil in my front and back.

[@ronaldelkins107]

Hello, Pinellas county resident here. Your videos have been helpful, thanks for keep up your content. Question for you, I need to put more mulch down but have frog Fruit already spreading in my yard. Do you think the frog fruit will stay alive if I put a light layer of mulch over it? I would like it to grow through the mulch eventually.

[@WildFloridian]

Depending on how deep your mulch is and whether it is hot fresh mulch, or aged mulch; frog fruit can come up and through a shallow layer.

[@ronaldelkins107]

@@WildFloridian It is hot fresh mulch from an oak tree. I think it would be able to go through a light layer since it is warmer and moist.

[@terranceengstrom8935]

You are absolutely amazing! Thank you for your experience and expertise. I can’t wait to try out frog fruit!!!

[@WildFloridian]

Thanks Terrance! 😊

[@cheridefries4980]

Your garden looks beautiful! 💕🌼🌺 Thank you for your awesome information…as always. 😊

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Cheri and have a wonderful weekend 🥰

[@conniecrites5148]

Gorgeous garden 😍 makes all your hard work worth it.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Connie 🥰 I really appreciate it

[@greenchristendom4116]

We had some kind of fogfruit in Indiana, but I think it needs wetter soil.

[@mwnemo]

Just did the same thing, plugs of frog fruit and ornamental peanut. I have a mostly Bahia and St. Augustine lawn. Letting them compete and the strongest will survive :). Hopefully a nice diverse carpet with no bare spots.

[@WildFloridian]

💪 Yeah! Let them duke it out!

[@cherylj7460]

Dying to know what happened!

[@lynnepeyton554]

Beautiful

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Lynne ☺️

[@austinha11]

That smile 😁🥰

[@jo-annjewett198]

I am thinking of letting my frog fruit take over my small fruit orchard. It climbed out my large square banana bed and is growing in the mulch.

[@tcm087]

Lovely gardens. Since you have plants growing up close to your home, do you worry about termites?

[@SC-sh6ux]

thank you

[@carrieyael2205]

You've done such an amazing job with your yard! What is the woody shrub with pink flowers at 1:02? So pretty!

[@Huy0035]

Desert rose?

[@Blessings-b2x]

Thank you!

[@ljgerken]

How about oregano of creeping thyme? Stinky plants keep the bad bugs away and provide food and fresh scents for you.

[@yesidtac7863]

Buen tip

[@joansmith3492]

Did you know frog fruit is a pond plant to? I use it as a ground cover in many of my gardens and recently as a pond plant because I just found out it is a pond plant (from Mary Carole Edwards of Greenstar Wetlands in Houston, Tx). It grows in sun or shade. I am rooting it in my pond. Any one could root it in a bucket of water you don't have a pond. My dog likes to lie in it. I have heard to be careful putting frog fruit or primrose in your native garden (potentially too aggressive). I have had it in my garden at 3 different residences in Texas and have never had a problem with it. Is horse herb a native there? It is also a decent lawn alternative.

[@Sunjoy1]

Morning, Can you mow frog fruit? My yard is ALL sugar sand...

[@WildFloridian]

Absolutely 💯! I can’t wait to get it establish so I can do mow frequency tests on it

[@susandavidson3610]

Can you identify the plants at 0:54, 1:47 and 3:34 thanks.

[@WildFloridian]

Florida Native Narrowleaf Yellowtop, Florida Native Joe Pye Weed, and Gardenia

[@susandavidson3610]

Ty

[@PrathyushaLarson-oq7yw]

Can you give us an update?

[@erikafigueroa472]

My sunshine mimosa is dying!!! Turning brown and the flower heads in process died back and a lot of leaves. What could be causing it?? 😢😢

[@ortizurbangarden]

Got a small patch outside my patio of compacted clayish dirt. Would planting frog fruit help?

[@nancycaldarola3090]

Which would do better if you have active dogs? Sunshine mimosa or frog fruit? We have Sandy patches from her running. Also is it possible to trip when walking on either? Thank you for this video.

[@mdannyg]

Love the montage. What is the plant in the pot at 1:01?

[@allenbryce1606]

I live in Oklahoma zone 7. We have Bermuda grass do you think it will smother out or choke out Bermuda. I think not. But what do you think

[@Talonflamez]

I’m in the process of filling the patches of our yard with two things, frog fruit and sunshine mimosa. We have lots of sandy areas that need covering fast before the rainy season kicks in erodes the area, thankfully those ground covers can do the job! Also how are you able to harvest the seeds from frog fruit, I’ve never been able to find them!

[@maryhargrave5652]

Do you have a follow up to this video??

[@michaelromero5072]

At minute 2:36...whats the name of that plant?

[@GailWindz]

If I start adding frog fruit and sunshine mimosa in my weed, dirt spot, primarily Bahia grass, will the two of them eventually take over the grass?

[@OVHabitats]

what is the plant with the purple flowers (1:54) in your montage?

[@WildFloridian]

Giant Ironweed (Veronia gigantea)! I love that one

[@BobbiInBrooklyn]

i'm trying to convert my yard as well, i love these propagation suggestions, thank you! Unrelated to FF: i am w/in St Pete city limits. i know you say you are 10A. i've been told i'm 9B. is there a difference depending on where you live w/in Pinellas? thanks!

[@WildFloridian]

Nice! LOL! The old maps say St. Pete is 9b but we are now 10a based on the updated USDA maps 😄. It’s based on a rolling 35 year average.

[@littlegreen5845]

I wonder in 6 mos if it doesn’t perform maybe mint? Mint likes wet areas right?

[@WildFloridian]

There are some other natives I could try like sunshine mimosa or brownies savory and I’m looking at a native clover.

[@terranceengstrom8935]

Soooo I have a strip of bare dirt between my driveway and neighbors perfect St Augustine grassy yard. There’s a wooden border the length from our houses to the street dividing the property line. I’m considering putting some frog fruit on this strip but am concerned about it effecting their yard. Thoughts?

[@naacosta78]

How durable is it? I have portion of my backyard that my dog runs on. It's pretty much rutted out in one line. Will it be able to tolerate that kind of Wear and tear

[@casitagrove]

Do you mow your frog fruit lawn; if so how often?

[@cherylj7460]

So why the tp rolls- do you plant them at transplant time?

[@BackyardFlorida]

Did you get any meaningful rain last week? Here in Tampa, I got about 1/4 inch....not really enough to do much good. I haven't had any real rain in 2 1/2 months. We're in a severe drought over here! Your flowers are looking good!

[@WildFloridian]

Not really. It kept saying it was going to rain. I think it all went to my old stomping ground - Broward County.

[@inchristalone25]

Here in Parrish we got the most from that, 4 inches! Was totally unexpected.

[@BackyardFlorida]

@@inchristalone25 You're lucky! I'm jealous.

[@shirleyk623]

Do you think that would grow under the shade of a very large cedar tree? What is the name of the tall red leaf plant on the side of your house?

[@WildFloridian]

Frog fruit does ok in shade but not great. If the sun can creep under the cedar for 3 hours a day then it would be worth a try. Red Leaf plant…. Hmm 🤔… Maybe the cordyline

[@MissGabriela829]

my Frog fruit i planted under the outskirts of my magnolia tree BUT the neighbor has an oak that I may get the partial sun but the oak inundades my frontbyard with oak leaves and my Frog fruit hasn't taken off :(

[@shirleyk623]

@@MissGabriela829 I understand that about oak leaves and acorns. I had to move my entire garden because of the neighbors oak tree. Also I didn't have any sun either. You can't do anything about the neighbors trees😳

[@shirleyk623]

@@WildFloridian Ok thanks. There's not much that grows well under the cedar tree. I'll keep looking.

[@roxiekelley]

In trying but have better results with the mimosa

[@WildFloridian]

Love sunshine mimosa! It definitely spreads faster in the beginning than frog fruit. For me, it died back more in the winter. I love testing these to see the differences. My sunshine mimosa has soooo many flowers now!

[@roxiekelley]

@@WildFloridian I have a patch of both and I’m gonna try your method of the toilet paper rolls. See if I can get some more started. I don’t live anywhere close to a native plant nursery I have to go down to sweetbay and parish or out to plant city.

[@sandralamphier9433]

I found a patch of frog fruit in front of my work near the road and took cuttings from there. 😉👍

[@life_with_ty12]

Have you ever grow a ground cover chocolate chip ajuga

[@marilynearl6887]

It looks like frog fruit will still need to be trimmed or mowed.

[@WildFloridian]

Yep! Also I still have sprinklers that run… so if it was used in a yard without… not sure how bushy it would get.

[@marilynearl6887]

@@WildFloridian don’t have sprinklers so maybe not needed.

[@marilynearl6887]

Frog fruit reminds me of when I a kid . In our playground at school I would gather the flowers as a mini bouquet

[@MissGabriela829]

Are there really 2 TYPES of frogfruit???

[@hotdog5966]

You dont look concerned about snakes