Thanks for the detailed replay PaSegal. Our lawn gets pretty much all sun except for one corner where there is a tree (that we're keeping.) Under the tree it's semi-shaded, bermuda grass still grows there so I assume it's sunny enough, lol. We don't want anymore trees because it's a small yard and it'd be claustrophobic if we added more. It's 800 sq yards mostly in one little 21ft strip that borders our patio. Unless they were small trees that stayed small and thin, it'd be too much. Plus, tree trimming is probably more advanced lawn care than I can handle. We've told the landscaper what we want but he has a vision. So far we have worked something out but he has remarked to me on more than one occasion that if he "sees something he likes" he'll just have to break out and buy it -- with my money, no less. But he is very experienced and seems to know his stuff. We have talked to 6 different companies and only two have made the cut. Either because they are way, way too expensive or they are not experienced enough (lawn maintenance guys trying to be landscapers who have no idea that there is such a thing as xericaping.) The second landscaping company we like more but we're afraid what they're proposing won't be enough to kill the lawn. They want to spray Roundup once, dig and remove the top 6 inches, then put down a pre-emergent called Snapshot Granular. Everything I've read about the kind of invasive plants we have has mentioned how hard they are to kill (bermuda, in particular, that grows down feet.) I don't want to spend a bunch of money only to have this get out of control in the future. We are putting down mulch between the plants but no landscaping fabric. Landscaping guy #1 says it never works and if the bermuda comes back it'll just grow underneath causing an even bigger problem later. Better to spray it as it comes through. Landscaping guy #2 says there's no need for fabric with the pre-emergent. I am happy to spray the plants if weeds do emerge, but like I say, anything requiring heavy machinery is out of my league. I have already suggested Astroturf to the husband, he says it's a no go.

The second one is some kind of Agave. They don't need much water. They should send up a tall flower stalk that has alot of tiny baby plants on it. After it does that the mama plant dies. You can plant the babies. Sometimes it sends up side babies from the mama plant you can dig up and replant. Please be forewarned the end spikes are very sharp. I used to sell the varigated variety at the local flea market. It sold really well. Only because the big growers in South Florida quit selling them due to too many workman's comp eye injuries.

duplicate post .... lets keep all the answers on the other post ... ken http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/4076877/drip-irrigation-scheduling-for-young-lavender-low-water-plants?n=1

Water will soak into clay if you use successive on-off cycles. Water until it begins to run off and then stop. Wait an hour or so before you turn on the water again. Continue as needed.