Re: RV: QUESTIONS RE GRASS GROWING - HELP
- Subject: Re: RV: QUESTIONS RE GRASS GROWING - HELP
- From: "francisco" b*@eresmas.net
- Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 23:49:59 +0100
Hi susan I am near barcelona.
madrid is zone 8 .
francisco
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony and Moira Ryan" <tomory@xtra.co.nz>
To: "Mediterannean Plants List" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 8:58 PM
Subject: 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
>
>
