Lawn Care 2012

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by kevman

Um... no idea! Some are kind of bunchy - almost like parsley? Some are clovers - these don't really bug me. Some are "quack grass" I reckon - the grass that quacks when you blow on it? Some are suckers - coming from the poplar trees in the area? I actually had a good dozen or so poplar suckers that needed a saw/axe for removal since despite being in the middle of a obviously previously neglected lawn had gotten to big for the mower to handle.

first thing, is try to identify the weeds. things like clover are great and you should leave them if you can. they fix nitrogen nodules to their roots, and when the upper part of the plant is cut, the roots die back and release the nitrogen into the soil. very good for soils!

i guess in your case being a lawn, you might be more worried about the appearance more than anything. for that i say some good ole elbow grease might be the trick. could you dig up the weeds?

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

did anyone try this? Did it work?

Ya I have and it works otherwise I wouldnt have suggested it...

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

i can't believe how many people on here feel the need to have a lush lawn and to what chemical extents some of you will use.

seriously, watering your lawn every 2nd day all summer?

To each their own, don't chastize people for wanting to maintain a well manicured, nice looking yard. I'm not saying you can't have one without watering, fertilizing, spraying, etc. but without knowing everyones individual tastes and circumstances you can't be so quick to judge.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by return to the red

To each their own, don't chastize people for wanting to maintain a well manicured, nice looking yard. I'm not saying you can't have one without watering, fertilizing, spraying, etc. but without knowing everyones individual tastes and circumstances you can't be so quick to judge.

in part i agree, i don't mean to chastize people who want a good look to their lawn, to each their own. my front yard is a lush green lawn that i do nothing to other than cut.

it's the method in which people try achieve the desired results that is the problem. and it's those methods, that affect us all, we as a community really need to think about and address sooner than later. we can't have people doing the right thing, subsidizing the others so they can continue on doing the wrong thing..

so, have your nice green lawns and your curb appeal, but do so in a manner that does no harm the rest of us or future generations. really, just think about your actions and the reactions it will cause.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by return to the red

Ya I have and it works otherwise I wouldnt have suggested it...

thanks I was looking for corroboration......

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Drive me nuts when you see folks watering thier lawn in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is blazing.

Yeah, putting water back into the environment that is cleaner than when we extracted it from the river is a crying shame.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Yeah, putting water back into the environment that is cleaner than when we extracted it from the river is a crying shame.

The grass won't absorb the water as well at the hottest part of the day, and the water being "cleaner" = chlorinated/chloraminated to disinfect it, means that it's not just wasting water, it's wasting treated water that costs the city money i.e. ratepayers.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

in part i agree, i don't mean to chastize people who want a good look to their lawn, to each their own. my front yard is a lush green lawn that i do nothing to other than cut.

it's the method in which people try achieve the desired results that is the problem. and it's those methods, that affect us all, we as a community really need to think about and address sooner than later. we can't have people doing the right thing, subsidizing the others so they can continue on doing the wrong thing..

so, have your nice green lawns and your curb appeal, but do so in a manner that does no harm the rest of us or future generations. really, just think about your actions and the reactions it will cause.

Well i'm a little bias too as I make a living selling underground irrigation

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by billybob123

The grass won't absorb the water as well at the hottest part of the day

Because of a biological process in the grass, or evaporation as is often trotted out?

[GGG]

I just dont get why people like grass. It is green and boring and the water could be used for irrigation. The watersheds in alberta have a finite amount of water each year that can be used. The more the city uses the less that can be used for down stream users. The most extreme examples are in the Southern US where you have green lawns in the desert. It just doesnt make sense.

Nicely landscaped yards with shrubs and bushes and mulch in my opinion look nicer, require less work, are cheaper in the long run and are better for the enviroment.

I am down to a small 35 x 20 area of grass in the pack yard for kids to play on. The rest is Garden or deck/ patio in the back and shrubbery in the front.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by GGG

Nicely landscaped yards with shrubs and bushes and mulch in my opinion look nicer, require less work, are cheaper in the long run and are better for the enviroment.

My dream backyard would be enough mature trees to have a small forest canopy. Whatever low light plants want to grow on the forest floor in my backyard would be welcome.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Because of a biological process in the grass, or evaporation as is often trotted out?

from what i have heard, warm or sunny soils repel water and cool or shaded soil absorbs. i don't know the mechanics of it, but i've heard sepp holzer mention this many times from his observations.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Because of a biological process in the grass, or evaporation as is often trotted out?

You say that as though you don't believe it. Does it not make perfect logical sense that putting water on a warm surface while the sun is beating down is going to result in less absorption into the soil and more evaporation, as opposed to watering while it's cool and/or dark?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You say that as though you don't believe it. Does it not make perfect logical sense that putting water on a warm surface while the sun is beating down is going to result in less absorption into the soil and more evaporation, as opposed to watering while it's cool and/or dark?

It's not that I won't admit that evaporation rates are higher when its warmer out, but I do think the evaporation from daytime watering idea is greatly overblown.

1. It comes bundled with other ridiculous beliefs like the idea that the water droplets act like magnifiying lenses, or turn to steam, and burn the grass.

2. The temperature of grass, and especially the soil underneath the grass, is consistently cool - pull a plug of soil out of your lawn during the day and see what the temperature is like at root depth. Lawns insulate the ground, relative to just about any other surface you could have. So the sun's evaporative effect is clearly diminished relative to other surfaces.

3. We apply water at rates that are tremendously greater than that of evaporation. If the evaporation rate was as significant as people say, with the volume of water a sprinkler puts down we'd see steam rising off the lawn.

4. Regardless of when you water, a good watering, at a rate that promotes absorption rather than pooling and runoff, will result in soil that is moist for a long time - let's say 72 hours, which is probably conservative. So the difference between watering early in the morning and at sun's peak is maybe 6 hours, or a difference of only 8%.

I'm certainly willing to admit that I'm wrong and learn why, but without conclusive info demonstrating its a significant loss of water, I don't feel its significant.

[Wormius]

Just a hypothesis, but I think some of it comes down to how much you are watering and what time of time. Obviously if you are saturating your lawn with water, it won't evaporate before the roots can absorb it. If you're going by the recommended "frisbee" full of watering guideline, then that would probably evaporate before the plants/lawn/etc had time to absorb any of it between waterings.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GGG

I just dont get why people like grass. It is green and boring and the water could be used for irrigation. The watersheds in alberta have a finite amount of water each year that can be used. The more the city uses the less that can be used for down stream users. The most extreme examples are in the Southern US where you have green lawns in the desert. It just doesnt make sense.

Nicely landscaped yards with shrubs and bushes and mulch in my opinion look nicer, require less work, are cheaper in the long run and are better for the enviroment.

I am down to a small 35 x 20 area of grass in the pack yard for kids to play on. The rest is Garden or deck/ patio in the back and shrubbery in the front.

I know eh? I'm always amazed that everyone doesn't have the same opinion on things as me, as well.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I know eh? I'm always amazed that everyone doesn't have the same opinion on things as me, as well.

I have just never seen anyone describe reasons for liking grass. People have grass, people want their grass to look nice, people want their grass to look better than their neighbours. None of those things have to do with why grass vs. The alternatives.

So why does the majority grow grass? What do you like about it? Do people choose to grow grasx or just maintain it because that is what everyone has.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GGG

I have just never seen anyone describe reasons for liking grass. People have grass, people want their grass to look nice, people want their grass to look better than their neighbours. None of those things have to do with why grass vs. The alternatives.

So why does the majority grow grass? What do you like about it? Do people choose to grow grasx or just maintain it because that is what everyone has.

Personally, I love the look of a nicely maintained, lush green lawn. It seems most people prefer it, as well.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

I am considering giving Green Drop the reigns to my front lawn. Any opinions on "Green Drop", if so any would be appreciated.

[Hockey]

We have lots of mushrooms growing on my lawn. Ive heard the best way to get rid of them is to air raid the lawn and fill the holes with sand. Is that true or is there any other way to get rid of them?

Also whats the best way to get all your grass green. I have lots of dead brown grass too.