Re: RV: QUESTIONS RE GRASS GROWING - HELP

Susan Silva wrote:
> I have recently moved to a home with a rather large yard outside of
> Madrid, Spain. Previously, I had a small terrace with some simple
> potted plants. Also, I have no idea of Latin names for plants and it
> seems from the emails I am reading, everyone else does. Need I
> mention that I am a complete novice at gardening?
>
> The lawn in my new home is beginning to show the stress of the cold
> winter nights. I assume that sometime between now and the Spring, I
> need to reseed or something to make this into a lush Summer garden. I
> have no idea in what zone I am in (if anyone does, please feel free
> to let me know) and what sort of products (and when) I should use for
> the grass. Can anyone help me out?

Hi Susan
Welcome to the list! I hope we can in time help you to learn something about your plants so you can really enjoy them.

I really don't think you need to worry about your lawn. Grasses are very tough plants and will certainly survive the worst a Madrid winter can can throw at them. Your lawn is simply showing signs of hibernation (winter dormancy) and I am sure come warmer weather it will once more spring into life, though I would not be surprised if it also has another little rest in the middle of summer. Madrid I gather has very hot dry summers and unless regularly watered most lawns will also stop growing for a while during the hot weather and look quite yellow or brownish. Unless you have a lot of water to spare (unlikely I shuld think) it is really not worth trying for all-summer greenness as it will do the grass no harm to aestivate (take a summer rest) and it will get green again as soon as the winter rains get under way.

As to knowing nothing about the plants which people on the list discuss just under their scientific names, I can asssure you there are quite a few which are so unusual I don't immediately recognise the name myself and I am a trained botanist! Many of these special plants are so uncommon or so recently introduced into cultivation they have not had time to become familiar to the general run of gardeners and consequently are unlikely for instance to have even acquired a common name! Quite a number are also little known because they are difficult to grow and so appeal mainly to the specialist who has tried all the ordinary plants and is looking for a new challenge.

For the ordinary run of plants one of the best ways to learn names is to get hold of any of the good modern garden picture books where you will usually find good clear illustrations of plants you might commonly meet, along with both the common and scientifc name. Though it may sound daunting the latter is really much the more useful, as it is always unique to the plant and never shared with a whole lot of others which may not even be closely related.

I suppose you will have garden shops or garden centres in Madrid and an occasional walk round these will turn up plants in flower which should be labelled with both scientifc and common names. Presumably the latter will be in Spanish, but if you are as I suppose English speaking you could note the scientific names to compare with those in your picture book and so find the English equivalent if there is one.

I do hope you come to enjoy gardening now you have the chance. Many people find it a most absorbing and delighful hobby.

Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm

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