Comments on: The Not So Guilty Planting of a New Lawn

By: LisaPie

LisaPie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:29:53 +0000

My backyard is terraced and the top section is in direct sunlight and gets almost no water as it all runs down to the next 2 lower areas. Plus the people behind and to the left have bamboo whose root system sucks every last drop of water from 30 feet around. It is a huge water hog! So we are putting clover seeds up there and giving up on the grass idea. It is still green and keeps the ground covered. I have been trying to get some blueberries or blackberries going up there, but no luck. I am blaming that blasted bamboo forest that surrounds and invades my property.

By: Kristie-ND

Kristie-ND — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:20:56 +0000

btw, your patio is gorgeous

By: Kristie-ND

Kristie-ND — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:17:53 +0000

I live in the badlands, so I admit an obsession with having a lawn, that green loveliness to counteract the beauty, but “brown-ness” of the summer in the badlands. I live in the Northern Badlands, not the southern Badlands, so it is greener, but I grew up on the CA central coast, and loved my front lawn, walking barefoot, etc.

We have 2 acres, and most of our property slopes upwards, so you can’t plant a garden, etc. We are planting trees galore this year for shade and fruit, so I am doing the ants in my pants dance to see if my husband has been the mighty badland weeds slayer and gets that grass growing. Ahh, to sit in the shade on lush lawn watching the lake and the badlands behind it, brings great peace.

The rest of the property has gardening, flowers, etc.

The beauty of our place is that we back up to CRP land(Conservation land) so I can have my lawn, but we have natural prairie grass that surrounds us, and helps keep the moisture in the ground all around our place.

By: thenonconsumeradvocate

thenonconsumeradvocate — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:12:42 +0000

Camelama,

You read my mind on the croquet thing.

Katy Wolk-Stanley
The Non-Consumer Advocate

By: camelama

camelama — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:40:10 +0000

I know this goes against all “green” thought, but I *love* lawns. I love walking barefoot in grass. I love sprawling out on it to read a book. I love the smell of cut grass. I love playing croquet on the lawn. I will always have at least one miniature lawn (chemical-free, of course!). Right now I have a big lawn because I must follow the landlady’s dictates, I’d rather have 4/5 of the yard in flowers and veggies but alas.

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:03:45 +0000

My husband and I did plant zoysia grass in our very tiny front yard last summer. It did require lots of watering last summer, but now that it is established, not so much. Very few weeds, and when they do pop up we just pick them out by hand. It is also a slow grower so we hardly have to mow. This summer we might only mow it four/five times. In our back yard we have a natural lawn full of weeds, clover and wild strawberries. We never have to water but like they say, it grows like weeds. So this summer we will have to mow just about every week in the back, but we won’t water. So what is better watering less or mowing less?

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:29:44 +0000

I do not have a lawn in my backyard. It is walkways, palm trees and exotic plants all around the pool (this is SoFl). Plus a container veggie garden on the patio. Unfortunately we have to have some lawn in the front, but I plan on removing some to put another walkway and plants. We have never used any chemicals on any of our plants etc. and they do fine. We just let nature take its course.

As for the ferns, we have those and they grow like crazy. Katy if you were to plant some in your yard, within a year they would be all over. I actually have to go out and pull some out because they grow soo much. Good luck with the grass.

By: thenonconsumeradvocate

thenonconsumeradvocate — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:20:55 +0000

Meg,

I won’t use chemicals, I promise.

My lawn area is edged with hydrangeas. The lawn area is approximately 200 square feet, so that would be A LOT of ferns.

Katy Wolk-Stanley
The Non-Consumer Advocate

By: Meg from FruWiki

Meg from FruWiki — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:47:43 +0000

So long as you’re not using a lot of chemicals on it it’s ok, but there are more interesting alternatives, imho. A lot of herbs & “weeds” don’t need a lot of sun, but have edible & medicinal uses. And if it is really shady, ferns can look really lovely. Maybe you can still work some in — if you want, of course.