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Ground covers


Thanks for the back-up, Rod. I think the watering hours for
reticulation systems are 6 pm to 9 am - and a good thing too.
Now if only they could persuade people to turn their sprinklers
off when it rains...  Mine are off after the recent showers, but
my lawn looks terrible (worse than usual) because I have been
attacking the Kikuyu which keeps popping up. We never used to
have any; I blame a careless lawnmowing contractor and doubt
that I will ever get rid of it now. Don't get me wrong, I was
not advocating Kikuyu - I know it too well and have seen it go
right under a (stump-based) house and come out the other side. I
mentioned it because it is common, since people are (or used to
be) attracted to its bright green colour and relatively soft
texture when compared to the Stenotaphrum. It is completely out
of hand in many areas especially in the outer suburbs.

I just found out that "Cynodon" is what we call "couch" (pron.
"cooch") grass - it's nearly as vicious as Kikuyu, impossible to
dig out - can go down to about 3 feet - but you can get rid of
it fairly easily by covering it up for awhile and spraying any
bits that poke out. It makes quite a good lawn - especially
some of the newer varieties - so long as you can keep it from
getting into garden beds.

Wonder why "St. Augustine's grass" has got the name Buffalo
in Australia?

Your book sounds fascinating, Rod - what's the title? 

Speaking of invasive plants, what is your opinion of Tagasaste?
Someone I know is passionately keen to promote it but says that
there is a lot of opposition in case it becomes a problem. No
doubt you are full bottle on this?

Jerry, the soil in Perth is generally sand, except where it is
even sandier. Perth is situated on a sand plain which has
accumulated between the ocean (Indian) and a volcanic plateau,
much worn and dissected. Above the scarp is lateritic clay; the
best soils are just below the scarp and then there is
progressively more barren sand, mixed with limestone ridges,
until you get to the snow-white sandhills - next stop Africa.
Gardening in the beachside suburbs on pure sand exposed to
salt-laden prevailing westerlies is a real challenge (I'm not
there). Someone has said that gardening in Perth is hydroponics;
the sand holds the plants up and you continually have to provide
water and nutrition. The water, of course, runs straight
through. Solution: Put in a bore and suck it back up :-)

The ground covers I have put in were chosen by the plant nursery
and consist of Lippia in the walkable areas, also Corsican mint
and Lobelia (don't know the proper names) and some low
plants such as Scaevola and Brachycombe. I proposed Dichondra
but it was objected to - if I remember aright, because it was too
subject to pest attack. It seems to do fine in Kings Park,
though. Their other suggestions were Ruellia, Cerastium (don't
ask me what they are) and English violets in the shady area. 
I cut down on the ground covers because I want to plant some 
things when I see plants I like. Have a fancy for some Snakebush 
(Hemiandra pungens). 

About time I shut up.

Beverly Elischer, Perth, W. Aust.


wary, as we have plenty of cause to be.
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