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Rip up your lawn
Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if
you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Who said that? Someone on the Radio a few minutes ago. So, get digging. Mike -- .................................... Remember, a statue has never been erected to a critic. .................................... |
Rip up your lawn
"'Mike'" wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Who said that? Someone on the Radio a few minutes ago. So, get digging. It was Carol Klein who suggested you gave up your obsession with lawns Mike -- .................................... Remember, a statue has never been erected to a critic. .................................... |
Rip up your lawn
On 02/06/2011 09:05, 'Mike' wrote:
wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Who said that? Someone on the Radio a few minutes ago. So, get digging. It was Carol Klein who suggested you gave up your obsession with lawns The most sensible gardening presenter on TV. But then she's a plantswoman, so she would say get rid of the lawn - as it takes up space where other, more interesting (or should I just say "interesting" - grass is not interesting at all) plants can be grown. -- Jeff |
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Rip up your lawn
On 02/06/2011 14:32, Janet wrote:
In , lid says... On 02/06/2011 09:05, 'Mike' wrote: It was Carol Klein who suggested you gave up your obsession with lawns The most sensible gardening presenter on TV. But then she's a plantswoman, so she would say get rid of the lawn - as it takes up space where other, more interesting (or should I just say "interesting" - grass is not interesting at all) plants can be grown. That's a very narrow view of the purpose of a garden. People use lawn areas for childrens' play, dog games and excercise, badminton and croquet etc. I prefer a washing line strung above lawn rather than paving (cleaner if you drop the washing). You wont find me disagreeing with what you say, as that is what a "garden" has become. Basically you could concrete it all over and it would still be the "garden" which is effectively and extra room for the house. However, most definitions of a garden do not mention those (recreational) activities. A "garden" was defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as an "enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables". That has been somewhat modified of late to include such things as wild gardens. But you don't need a lawn for the activities you describe - all could be done on any flat surface. Of course, the strange thing is that those who strive for perfect lawns would never allow any of those things on them! -- Jeff |
Rip up your lawn
"'Mike'" wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Bring it on, I have my well pump nicely set up ready to irrigate. Mike |
Rip up your lawn
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message ... On 02/06/2011 14:32, Janet wrote: In , lid says... On 02/06/2011 09:05, 'Mike' wrote: It was Carol Klein who suggested you gave up your obsession with lawns The most sensible gardening presenter on TV. But then she's a plantswoman, so she would say get rid of the lawn - as it takes up space where other, more interesting (or should I just say "interesting" - grass is not interesting at all) plants can be grown. That's a very narrow view of the purpose of a garden. People use lawn areas for childrens' play, dog games and excercise, badminton and croquet etc. I prefer a washing line strung above lawn rather than paving (cleaner if you drop the washing). You wont find me disagreeing with what you say, as that is what a "garden" has become. Basically you could concrete it all over and it would still be the "garden" which is effectively and extra room for the house. However, most definitions of a garden do not mention those (recreational) activities. A "garden" was defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as an "enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables". That has been somewhat modified of late to include such things as wild gardens. But you don't need a lawn for the activities you describe - all could be done on any flat surface. Of course, the strange thing is that those who strive for perfect lawns would never allow any of those things on them! -- Jeff 'Of course, the strange thing is that those who strive for perfect lawns would never allow any of those things on them!' ""KEEP OFF THE GRASS"" ;-)) Mike Concrete it and paint it green -- .................................... Remember, a statue has never been erected to a critic. .................................... |
Rip up your lawn
"MuddyMike" wrote in message om... "'Mike'" wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Bring it on, I have my well pump nicely set up ready to irrigate. Mike We have a well which we have not bothered to use as with half a dozen butts off various roofs, we will manage. And we are on the cursed water meter too :-(( Mike -- .................................... Remember, a statue has never been erected to a critic. .................................... |
Rip up your lawn
On Thu, 2 Jun 2011 16:26:30 +0100, Mike wrote:
Concrete it and paint it green Or lay astro turf. -- Cheers Dave. |
Rip up your lawn
In article , Jeff Layman
writes The most sensible gardening presenter on TV. No she's not; she's a silly old woman, but she is partly right in this case. Most people have no idea how to have a decent lawn - not an immaculate bowling green but something pleasant to sit on, play games in, etc. They scalp the grass to within an inch of its life with a cylinder mower, pile the cuttings in a noisome heap or chuck them over a fence onto a grass verge to rot, then buy expensive fertiliser to make it grow again. (see the recent thread 'OT? - joke'. Spot on.) Then as soon as there are a couple of days of dry weather they start panicking and wasting valuable water by watering it; a process that is quite unnecessary if the lawn is treated right. In any case, even if the grass does go brown it will soon green up at the first lot of rain. I use a hover mower which puts the clippings back on the ground as a mulch. I have done this for years so the soil contains plenty of humus. Treated this way the roots go down very deep so that even in the driest weather the grass stays green. The only watering it ever gets is by Mother Nature and any drippings from the clothes line. The only treatment it has had is a light application of sulphate of iron last year and this year to kill a very bad infestation of moss due to shading by trees. Never, ever any fertiliser or weed killer. The result is a pleasant area of green which as well as grass grows daisies, dandelions and one or two other plants which are not affected by the cutting. I have a huge vegetable garden and don't need to dig up the lawn for any reason. Talking of daises, we recently visited someone hosting an art exhibition who asked everyone to keep off the grass because it had been sprayed to kill the daisies. Now there is a fool! Roy. -- Roy Bailey West Berkshire. |
Rip up your lawn
"'Mike'" wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Who said that? Someone on the Radio a few minutes ago. So, get digging. Mike Nicked from another NG GOD said: "Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colours by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles." St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass. GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colourful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures.. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there? ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn. GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy. ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week. GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay? ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags. GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it? ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away. GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away? ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir. GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work. ST.. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it. GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life. ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have made a new cycle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away. GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose? ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves. GOD: And where do they get this mulch? ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch. GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight? ST. CATHERINE: 'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis Pete C |
Rip up your lawn
"Sacha" wrote in message ... On 2011-06-02 18:49:59 +0100, "Pete C" said: "'Mike'" wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Who said that? Someone on the Radio a few minutes ago. So, get digging. Mike Nicked from another NG GOD said: "Frank, you know all about gardens and nature.snip Without wishing to be rude or dismissive, this must be about the 10th occasion on which this has been posted here.... -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon No t either Sacha.....I didn't know and it kinda fitted the thread. Apologies :) Pete C |
Rip up your lawn
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message ... On 02/06/2011 09:05, 'Mike' wrote: wrote in message ... Well that's the suggestion because we are due for a heat wave Summer and if you rip up your lawn then you will not be tempted to break the hose pipe ban. Who said that? Someone on the Radio a few minutes ago. So, get digging. It was Carol Klein who suggested you gave up your obsession with lawns The most sensible gardening presenter on TV. But then she's a plantswoman, so she would say get rid of the lawn - as it takes up space where other, more interesting (or should I just say "interesting" - grass is not interesting at all) plants can be grown. -- Jeff Not everyone enjoys a lawn, especially some old folk who have difficulty in mowing and caring for a lawn. I got rid of one smallish lawn and replaced it with 2 tons of slate chippings.d now I have pots It looks great anof various sizes planted. Bill |
Rip up your lawn
"Janet" wrote in message ... In article , lid says... On 02/06/2011 09:05, 'Mike' wrote: It was Carol Klein who suggested you gave up your obsession with lawns The most sensible gardening presenter on TV. But then she's a plantswoman, so she would say get rid of the lawn - as it takes up space where other, more interesting (or should I just say "interesting" - grass is not interesting at all) plants can be grown. That's a very narrow view of the purpose of a garden. People use lawn areas for childrens' play, dog games and excercise, badminton and croquet etc. I prefer a washing line strung above lawn rather than paving (cleaner if you drop the washing). Janet My lawn became a "playground" for my two Labs - they virtually destroyed it. Now I only have one, aged Lab who is too tired to do any damage. He's 12 and failing fast :-( Bill |
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