Ok - there is a trick to this, but it is a pretty stupid trick. Basically, you put out some cheap seed (like K31) and hope for the best. When that doesn't work, repeat. (See, I told you it was stupid!) Eventually you get lucky and mother nature cooperates enough to get some decent grass growing. What usually happens is that you get some sparce grass now and it starts to come in better through oct and nov. Between washout thunderstorms and long dry periods, you'll probably have to do it a few times before you luck out, but you never know. Of course, the drought could continue through the end of the year an mother nature never cooperates with a few rainy days in a row, but that is the risk you take if you can't/won't water. Another method is "dormant seeding." Basically, wait until late fall and put out a bunch of seed. Wait for spring and wet weather. That tends to work better in northern climates where snow protects the seeds over winter.

Emu bushes could work. I have a yellow one that flowers this time of year and laughs at both heat and cold. And it's xeri, this plant likes dry, baked ground. Go figure. There's lots of other emu plants that would work well too. I like Summertime Blue and especially Silver Turkey Bush (Eremophila bowmanii). Baker's usually stocks these. Here's another site with lots of emu bush information: http://www.oznativeplants.com/plant/Emubushes.html - you'll have to copy and paste that URL to your browser, can only post one link. Here is a link that might be useful: Yellow Emu Bush

Your neighbor is largely correct, though you may be able to begin a selective program of pruning, cutting only sections of the hedge each year to 2 or 3 inches from the ground. Delaware Cooperative Extension recommends cutting all 4 year old wood to the ground. I've seen it recommended that spring is the time for rejuvenation of Privets. Often the recommendation is to do a third of the hedge, though this may seem arbitrary. Perhaps it is to not drag out the process of your neighbors recommendation longer than necessary? Wayne

That's a good question, Alice. I've been thinking about the DWC in both Dad's yard and my own. In Dad's, because for the 1st time in the 40 years he's lived there, I'm mowing his lawn. In my yard, because I've been curious about what the pullets are interested in eating when they are allowed out of their henyard. The clover is right in front of their door. The areas where the clover is dominant are in full sun and where there's ample watering. I think that the clover can out-compete the grass because the plants have more extensive roots. They benefit from all the water while the grass really doesn't. Dad's patch of nearly 100% clover is directly in front of the gate to his backyard. At one time, it had a thin layer of crushed rock. No one has ever parked there regularly except Yours Truly. I need to carry armloads of flowers in and out of that gate twice a week during the growing season. And, I park there most every day I show up. It is a fairly wide gate and I try not to drive on the same ground each and every time. Obviously, the wheel traffic isn't sufficient to kill off the clover. In fact, there's little evidence of my pickup on that ground. Remember, it has full sun and I'm usually only there for a few hours at a time. Both yards have shady areas (both wet and dry) and DWC is not in much evidence there. d'S'