This is going to be boring to many of us because I am going to talk about grass. As gardeners, we do not think about grass, we think mostly how can we get rid of most of it and have more room for our plants.
I do not have much grass. In fact, my husband says a gerbil could mow our lawn! However, the little grass that I do have I treasure for my dog to go out and run around, for my grandchildren to go under the sprinkler and most of all to add an inner frame for my garden.
We have had a great deal of snow this year, and a few years ago when we had unusual snow our grass came back as almost non existent. I was sure we would have to sod the whole back yard. Before we resorted to this we thought we would try a seeding process. Believe me, we were not optimistic about this project. We could see our neighbors passing though our alley and actually stopping their cars to look at our desert-like property. We do receive sun in our backyard, so we purchased a good Kentucky bluegrass seed, a seed starting fertilizer, some high quality topsoil and shredded peat moss. I know peat moss has come under fire lately, but it seemed to work for this application.
The first task was to rake the grass that was left into a standing position, sprinkle the topsoil in all the bare areas, sprinkle the seed on top of this and then sprinkle the shredded peat moss on top. The next task is to water, water, water. We even put out a large garden pinwheel to keep aways the birds, but this may not even be necessary.
Lo and behold, the grass started to sprout, it became beautiful, neighbors stopped in the alley to look at the beautiful grass. I can't believe we did it, and we may have to do it again this year after all the snow we've had and the dog walking on the snow and us walking on the snow!
***BOOK REVIEWS
If I have a review that has to do with the outdoors or gardening I will post, any other genre I will give you the link.
The Book About Tony Chestnut (Childrens Book)
http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/2145/1/The-Book-About-Tony-Chestnut-Reviewed-By-Eileen-Hanley-of-Bookpleasurescom/Page1.html
11 comments:
Dear Eileen, You may call me old fashioned but I really do like to see well tended, mown, weed free grass. In fact, a lawn. Grass is, after all, a plant and so is deserving of as much care and attention as we give to those in the flower borders.
I am able to understand why grass is out of favour as it is, certainly, an enormous amount of work if it is to look pleasing. Clearly you care about your grass, evident in your photograph, and your treatment of it after snow sounds most professional indeed.
I was much amused by your husband's comment about the gerbil!
Thanks for your comments Edith. I do like a little grass. It adds a calming effect to all of the plants. I even had less grass as a child and I was the one in my family that had to mow it. I remember dragging the reel type mower up the basement steps!
Great ideas and thanks. We have 2 huge lawns, one here (that has dwindled considerably over the past 34 years ... my husband sighs each spring when I get that 'expand this bed' look in my eye) and a another hilly one at the lake that 'is what it is' ... mowed dandelions, violets, wildflowers ... :)
I have had very large lawns,sparse shade lawns, a 30 foot city lawn and now a 50 foot suburban lawn. I really do like to look out on some lawn.
Eileen
little sections of lawn are great... although I'm partial to veggies! :)
I like veggies too! That's how I began gardening as an eight year old by planting carrots around the catch basin. I will visit and see what you are going to plant this year. I do not have much room but will be planting veggies in my raised bed.
Eileen
I am one who likes good grass in gardens as well. Living in the country, it is very hard to find a happy medium in terms of lawn weeds... seeds are always blowing in from farm fields so I have to deal with weeds occasionally. I'm to the point where I really shouldn't remove any more sod for the sake of my design... but there are always more plants that need a home! I am enjoying your blog! LC in Wisconsin
I am enjoying yours also. You are my new lily expert!
Great tips:) But alas I got rid of ALL my lawn 2 yrs ago...ran out of garden space! LOL
*hugs*Deb
I totally understand. I have to keep thinking dog, kids, dog, kids!
Eileen
I love my grass....I fertilize and admire how green it gets!!!
I have had to do the same thing with mine as spots from the female dog we have seem to appear yearly and more abundantly each year!
good luck this year!
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