Re: Fwd: lawn ranger......
From: Dean Sliger <deanslgr@kode.net>
ernie henson wrote:
> From: ernie henson <erni@midwest.net>
>
> Dean, how does one go about getting this type of "lawn". Is Corsican Mint
> available as plants and how tall does it grow and does it need to be mowed.
> Moss sounds nice, too, but I've never seen Moss plants for sale. wouldn't
> it require shade and moisture to thrive. From time to time, I've
> thought some nice artificial turf would be great. Don't know how moles
> feel about any of these, but they sure like the grass we have now. Ann
> Henson
Ann --
Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii) is the mint used for Creme de Menthe. It's
available at most garden centers and nurseries which sell herbs (not usually among
the standard mega-mart selections). If given partial sun and standard watering a
4" potful will spread to cover two square feet in two months. It only gets about
1" tall. It'll tolerate moderate foot traffic, however it needs to be protected
from hot sun, really dry situations (like windy sites), and -- because it doesn't
make deep rhizomes like spearmint -- must have snow cover in the winter. This
tender nature means it's not as popular as it could be (the smell is divine!). I
use it in my fence-enclosed "courtyard" as a groundcover amidst larger perennials
like IRISES.
Moss lawns are very popular in Japanese gardening. Yes, it's pretty high
maintenance but probably no more than a grass lawn. Moss lawns are usually
started by blending a handful of moss (the kind that grows along your sidewalk,
etc.) in buttermilk and spreading the mixture on a prepared area. Suggest the
book "Moss Gardening" by George Schienk.
I've collected several different sphagnum and other moisture-loving mosses to grow
amidst the IRISES in my bog garden.
Dean Sliger
Warren, MI, USA
Zone 6B
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