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September 2009
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July 2008 ArchivesI have been slowly removing turfgrass from my landscape since I moved into my house several years ago. Why get rid of grass? I would like to conserve water. I have also tried to devote more of my landscape to trees that will eventually give my house more shade and help take some burden away from my air conditioner. I always tell everyone that I hate mowing, but in actuality, I don't mind it. It soothes me, and I have a new electric mower that is much easier for me to start, so I like mowing even more... but there are parts of my yard I do not like mowing. The most inconvenient area for mowing and watering in my yard is the little strip of land between the public sidewalk and street. A couple of months ago I began digging up all the grass -- all bermudagrass. Unwelcome Bermuda that began moving in almost as soon as I moved into the house, because I refused to pamper the St. Augustine. My strategy -- pull up as much of the grass as possible, from stem to root. It took a couple of days to take off the sod, and a few more weekend mornings to take a few inches more of dirt out of the strip... just to make sure we had taken as many roots out as possible. Bermudagrass spreads by stolen and seed -- above ground and below. And it's a survivor. It can hang out in the ground and run under streets and sidewalks to find light. If you leave any little part... it will be back fast! After removing the dirt, I mixed compost into the remaining soil, which is thick clay. Then we spread some corn gluten on top to help prevent weed seeds from germinating. Finally we topped it off with a thick layer of landscape fabric, pinning it down the entire length, and only making two holes for the city water meters. We will not plant anything in that space until October, when the weather begins to cool off. I think most of what we plant will come from other areas in the yard -- Mexican feather grass, a small colonizing agave, maybe a red yucca. I'm trying to decide on a small tree or shrub that will fit in the space without growing too bushy and covering up the sidewalk. Once everything is planted, we'll finish the space with a layer of decomposed granite and weed as needed -- never to mow again. I don't want to kill all of my grass. I have marked out several areas where I was to keep it. But I don't need that much -- just a little in the front and more in the back where my family and dogs can play. Some of my friends have asked me lately how my garden is doing. All I can do is crinkle my nose and say -- ick. I love the idea of community gardening, and lately, I've been reading more and more stories about people seeking out local farmers, local gardens, and learning to garden on their own. I just found this article about how to avoid skin cancer -- apparently, gardeners are most at risk (duh!), but I have to admit, that I have been lax about lathering up in sunblock. Last year at this time, we were under water. This year, I've found myself praying for rain. The couple of times that it has rained this week, I've been grateful. |
