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.

....................................

"'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.

....................................

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

I'm never tempted to water my lawn. I find it rather convenient when it doesn't grow very much, as I don't have to mow it as often. But if you think I am not going to let vegetables or costly shrubs die for lack of water... I'm metered and pay for every drop.

Grasses are interesting. We have lots of Timothy in flower at the moment, and Sweet Vernal grass just going over. But grasses repeatedly chopped to 1 or 2 inches aren't interesting, I agree.

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

"'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

"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.

....................................

"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.

....................................

On Thu, 2 Jun 2011 16:26:30 +0100, Mike wrote:

Concrete it and paint it green

Or lay astro turf.

--
Cheers
Dave.

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.

"'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

"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

"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

"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