Re: If you could get rid of your grass...

In a message dated 1/28/02 11:31:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
nsterman@plantsoup.com writes:

<< Following up the discusion about mowing by headlamp -- I wonder -- if 
 you could get rid of your grass, what would you replace it wtih?  And 
 if you could use something else for a green carpet in place of grass, 
 what would you use? >>

I have just returned from a trip to Sout America and saw almost no grass 
surrounding any houses except wealthy homes where someone other than the 
owner kept the grass.  I saw parts of half a continent and grass is not a 
priority.

The UK, the instigator of all this grass uses small patches in private 
gardens.  Mostly the grass is used to enhance or frame the beds or to place a 
few chairs and a table.  Often the patch or strip is perfect but it is just a 
patch or strip.

These comments are not directed toward golf course (some are sand courses 
which is more sensible in low rainfall areas) or public areas such as parks.

We have mixed beds surrounding the house and adjacent to a barn.  Overtime 
they have eaten up the grass near the house.

A digression:  When you get older you are far less likely to lay out grand 
spaces, you will become more thrifty with your time in the garden.

I think a few feet of grass strip (remember all need some sort of edging) 
framing beds is OK and keeping the fields from coming up to the door is good. 
 Beyond that hills and vales of grass are just work and are an ecological 
disaster as well.  I would like in the best possible world of my garden, 
paths with plants of all sizes and groups and small drifts all served by 
those paths.  Here there a small stone plaza for chair or bench.

Someone here who owns an armada of grass cutting machines and commands the 
fields and lawn has still not given up on being lord of the parkland.  

I am working on this.  One does not need grass cut, fertizlized, weeded, 
water greedy, and sitting out there sending guilt through the windows as it 
grows and grows and grows.  I do not think we do anything to our grass and 
like the bad penny, it returns on a regular basis needing constant care with 
the machines.

If low planted areas are wanted the ground cover list is long and fits every 
climate in the US.  

For those still in love with grass I will wager that that person is male or 
is still young and has energy to spare.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4



---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index