Re: hydroponic Bermuda grass
Dear Alessandra,
It took me a long time to catch onto the fact that your "Bermuda grass" was what
we here in Australia call "Couch grass" (pronounced "cooch"). It is just a much
of a pest here as everywhere else, of course, and it is also used here for
lawns. I have had some success in eliminating it by cutting off all light - it
appears that is one thing it can't stand. I covered it with wads of newspaper
and pulled out all shoots poking through, and after a time it gave up. However,
I don't know how you can apply this to your pond! Good luck anyway ...
Beverly
"Vinciguerra, Alessandra" wrote:
> Some time ago, I remember, during one of our recurring threads concerning
> this weed, somebody asked where did Cynodon dactylon come from. Well,I can
> answer now. Books say it is a Mediterranean grass, but I am able now to give
> some more infos. When the Almighty, in His imperscrutable sense of humor,
> decided to create the worst weed of the Universe, not only He thought he
> would lure Americans into believing that it was a highly desirable turf
> grass, thus giving us Europeans unending reasons to laugh... He also decided
> that at the end of XX -beginning of XXI century, somewhere in Central Italy,
> there would be a gardener who would need some lessons in the matter of
> humility and patience, and so He settled the origin or primigene point, from
> where bermuda grass spreads all over the world, HERE, in my garden. I am
> positive about it, because here cynodon shows every possible mutation; it
> grows horizontally, vertically, and every other fourth or fifth dimensions
> you can imagine, it is immortal and powerful.
>
> The reason for this slightly paranoid message is that I am just back from
> the garden, where I witnessed the most incredible demonstration of
> toughness, adaptation and power from this weed.
> Let me explain. I have a pond, and all around it, despite my efforts,
> Bermuda grows rampant, trying to smother all the marginal plants I
> optimistically grow there. It is a never ending war, and very likely Bermuda
> is going to win it. Having been out for a week, I set today to weed the pond
> sides, and I found that Bermuda had sent its stolons into the water. Here,
> far from rotting and dieing, these stolons kept growing (mind, UNDER water),
> developing at each node healthy aquatic roots, you know, the kind of white
> and fleshy roots you get when you root a cutting in water. The roots had not
> managed to reach the muddy bottom, they just floated in the water; then they
> sent young leaves towards the surface, so I actually had little bermuda
> blades punctuating my pond. When I set to remove the stolons, I found some
> that were 1,20 mt/ 4 ft long! I had never heard of this ability to become
> aquatic, or really hydroponic, in cynodon. I was even half admiring this
> immense strength from the dreadful weed, but I could not help thinking how
> will I ever be able to stop it?
> It was like seeing the Alien invasions, or something equally nightmare-ish.
> Well, I had to share this with people who will, I am sure, understand my
> frustration.
> Thanks for reading it through!
> Alessandra
--
Julius and Beverly Elischer
Perth, Western Australia
Ph. +61 8 9386 5244
