Lawn--do you bother?
#31
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
I think it may have been even less back then. My wife can remember filling up when it was 75c/gal up here and she wasn't even born in 1975. It would have been mid-90s, for reference, around when she started driving.
No, I only saw the one that showed 20 gallons for $8.xx and did a quick calculation
No, I only saw the one that showed 20 gallons for $8.xx and did a quick calculation
#32
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
Most people in our neighbourhood have wells and irrigate like crazy. We have a smart water timer (connects to the internet to look if there's any rain forecast) and it also has a rain sensor attached so it doesn't water if it has rained recently. The grass grows well enough to need a cut once a week. We sometimes apply weed killer and fertilizer but it generally grows well enough on its own.
I'd be even more wary of water use on a well.
#33
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
During the summer of 2014 I was rolling up a monster discount for late in the year, ..... then the price of gas started to collapse, and I had enough points mathematically for the price to be in negative numbers. ...... And the minimum price under the scheme was 10.9c/gal.
Last edited by Pulaski; Sep 4th 2015 at 10:39 am.
#34
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
That's excellent to hear. I wish more of the automated sprinkler systems around here had that kind of timer. There's nothing so horrible to see in a mostly-dry summer than the sprinklers merrily spewing up wasted water when the rain's pouring down already on the grass....
Last edited by WEBlue; Sep 4th 2015 at 12:37 pm.
#35
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
Do you compost? Everything vegetable that comes out of the kitchen goes into our tumbler, and that really helps to improve the soil. I also put in shredded paper, wool from when I clip the dogs, anything that might break down. My best tomato plant this year is a "volunteer" that sprung up from a tomato seed in the compost!
I've recently started adding torn up newspaper to the mix, but I hadn't thought about shredded paper, interesting. The instructions with my composter said dead leaves were needed to make a good compost, but I find myself leaving these on my garden beds, so I thought the ripped newspapers might substitute as a "brown" ingredient, those along with the many many ripped used teabags I add in (tea being ground leaves as it were)....
Last edited by WEBlue; Sep 4th 2015 at 12:39 pm.
#36
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
Here's a picture of the corner of my lawn near the mailbox, taken last year, though that is irrelevant because it looks the same every year (the light patches are sun shining through gaps in the trees). When we moved here 12 years ago it was a small patch, perhaps six feet wide parallel to the edge of the road, and has spread at the rate of about 18" per year since then.
Below the picture I will list the complete details of my lawn care regime:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...5-36-20_54.jpg
Mow, about once every two - three weeks, from spring to autumn.
Rake the pine needles off it during the fall.
Full stop. * .... For the last ten years!
Questions anyone?
Yes, that means no fertilizer, no reseeding, and no weedkiller
Below the picture I will list the complete details of my lawn care regime:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...5-36-20_54.jpg
Mow, about once every two - three weeks, from spring to autumn.
Rake the pine needles off it during the fall.
Full stop. * .... For the last ten years!
Questions anyone?
Yes, that means no fertilizer, no reseeding, and no weedkiller
#37
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
Inspired by this thread, I spread 120lb of limestone powder on my lawns this evening. It was enough for about 20% of my grass. Thankfully it only took me just under half an hour.
The last time I spread lime it did help the grass, which grew thicker and greener. This time I am also hoping it will discourage the moss.
The last time I spread lime it did help the grass, which grew thicker and greener. This time I am also hoping it will discourage the moss.
#38
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
I had a moss problem this year. And I already have a big bag of dolomite lime that is just taking up space. I didn't realise I could solve bother problems at once!
#39
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
Yup, moss likes acid soil, and lime(stone) being, well, just ground up rock, isn't going to do any harm, but will neutralize acidity in the soil and enable the grass to gain the upper hand against the moss. Lime also provides calcium and magnesium which helps the grass.
#40
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
I have to say that I love the mossy areas in my lawn. We have a great one in our back garden where the shade from the house is deep, and two under the trees in the front garden. I must really research how to encourage it. (Not spread lime there obviously. ) Unfortunately it's not surviving this drought any better than the grass is....
Well we finally did it! We purchased (supposedly) excellent grass seed, formulated specifically for our sun/shade combo and the drought-like conditions on this part of the coast. We went to a very good seed outlet recommended by locals & spent a bomb on that and some organic soil "conditioner". I had an online coupon but it still cost too much--I'll be really irritated if this stuff doesn't sprout!
The husband mowed very short (scalped) and caught the clippings, then I raked the bejeezus out of the worst patches before sowing. Been sprinkling it every day since then, so we shall see what transpires....
Well we finally did it! We purchased (supposedly) excellent grass seed, formulated specifically for our sun/shade combo and the drought-like conditions on this part of the coast. We went to a very good seed outlet recommended by locals & spent a bomb on that and some organic soil "conditioner". I had an online coupon but it still cost too much--I'll be really irritated if this stuff doesn't sprout!
The husband mowed very short (scalped) and caught the clippings, then I raked the bejeezus out of the worst patches before sowing. Been sprinkling it every day since then, so we shall see what transpires....
Last edited by WEBlue; Sep 9th 2015 at 2:30 pm.
#41
Re: Lawn--do you bother?
we have mowers every week. to farking hot for us to do it. They blitz it in about 15 mins with their equipment and cheap labor.
we have someone else fertilize/weedkill occasionally. and we use the auto watering system (came with the house) twice a week for a little time. its mostly green trending to yellow, and not too bad for weeds. We are on a corner plot so everyone sees the lawn and it needs to be hoa tidy!
we have someone else fertilize/weedkill occasionally. and we use the auto watering system (came with the house) twice a week for a little time. its mostly green trending to yellow, and not too bad for weeds. We are on a corner plot so everyone sees the lawn and it needs to be hoa tidy!