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Winter lawn in PNW :-) | (Read 530 times) |
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Joel Hollingsworth
Posts: 1623
zone 10: Oakland, CA
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November 09, 2009, 01:55:54 PM |
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Corsican Mint was the first thing that came to mind. Does that sound appropriate?
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"the qualities of these bacteria, like the heat of the sun, electricity, or the qualities of metals, are part of the storehouse of knowledge of all men. They are manifestations of the laws of nature, free to all men and reserved exclusively to none." SCOTUS, Funk Bros. Seed Co. v. Kale Inoculant Co.
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Jami McBride
Administrator
Posts: 815
PNW - Oregon Zone-6
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November 09, 2009, 03:35:57 PM |
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I like mint.... but will it take over?
I ask because this lawn feeds my ducks, and sometimes chickens and they don't eat the mint I currently have in my flower beds.
It's my fault I didn't make this requirement clear - whatever I plant needs to be fodder as well as soft and pretty (grass like).
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it.
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"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 5600
missoula, montana
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November 16, 2009, 09:24:18 PM |
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The mint will take over.
Can you post pics?
So the problem is that your soil gets too squishy and you would like to be able to walk on it still? Plus, it would be nice if it stayed green all winter like some lawns do in such a warm climate?
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Jami McBride
Administrator
Posts: 815
PNW - Oregon Zone-6
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November 17, 2009, 12:29:58 AM |
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I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post.....
Yes, to all you said. It isn't, and has never been thick. It doesn't get full sun being trapped between the house and the neighbors trees (west - east), and it gets pine needles which mess with the ph.
Since I've gotten the lawn-ducks it's better, much much better, but still a little thin in general and bad in a couple of spots due to the rain and cold now.
I friend suggested Canadian grass, whatcha think about that?
It is normal for us to have grass year round in the Umpqua Valley along I-5.
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"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 5600
missoula, montana
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November 17, 2009, 08:22:10 PM |
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Have you read my lawn care article?
I think the focus needs to be on soil drainage. It's too swampy. Maybe shape things a bit so that it can drain.
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Jennifer Smith
Posts: 546
Zone 5 South West Missouri
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November 17, 2009, 11:29:31 PM |
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How about wheat? In Colorado we used it was winter pasture for the horses and cattle. i plan to use it here too.
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Jennifer Smith
Posts: 546
Zone 5 South West Missouri
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November 18, 2009, 08:20:52 AM |
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My solution to so much water is going to be a pond or ponds.
I also have another idea...dig holes and put 55 gal drums with top and bottom cut out ,.. thoughts anyone? Paul??
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 5600
missoula, montana
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November 27, 2009, 01:30:28 PM |
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My solution to so much water is going to be a pond or ponds.
I also have another idea...dig holes and put 55 gal drums with top and bottom cut out ,.. thoughts anyone? Paul??
That's sort of what a dry well is about. Getting the water out of the area short term so that it can drain into the soil eventually in one spot.
I doubt that will help much. I think on the surface shaping will be a better long term solution.
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Jennifer Smith
Posts: 546
Zone 5 South West Missouri
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November 27, 2009, 02:48:50 PM |
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This photo was a couple days after the rain and this spot is holding water even now. I think it might be a good place for a pond. of course there are some problems with this, it is right at the gate and up grade from an "automatic waterer". This is not the only obvious pond site.
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Jami McBride
Administrator
Posts: 815
PNW - Oregon Zone-6
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January 03, 2010, 05:59:35 PM |
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I think the focus needs to be on soil drainage. It's too swampy. Maybe shape things a bit so that it can drain.
Okay - this 'shaping the land thing' do you know of any good books on this?
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"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 5600
missoula, montana
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January 18, 2010, 04:20:47 PM |
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I hate to build ponds unless there can be year round flowing water.
I think that if you can get rid of the excess water, you would have grass all winter.
A french drain would be optimal, but I think that some mild reshaping of the land would be far cheaper and easier and would give you 85% of the benefit of a french drain.
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Hank
Posts: 40
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March 11, 2010, 03:36:57 PM |
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If you are anywheres close to Portland you can stop in at the Metro Demonstration Garden. About 6000 SE 57st.
They have an 'Eco Lawn' there that stays green all winter and summer with no watering and very little mowing.
It's next to the community garden.
Hank
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Do not go gentle into that good night,
rage, rage against the dying of the light
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Jami McBride
Administrator
Posts: 815
PNW - Oregon Zone-6
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March 11, 2010, 04:58:16 PM |
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Eco Lawn - is this something I would buy or learn to do myself?
Is this a process/method or a seed/chemical - what is eco lawn?
Thanks - thick. lush field grasses still elude me.
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"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Paul Cereghino
Posts: 180
Olympia, Washington, USA
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March 14, 2010, 03:24:21 PM |
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Ecolawn was one of a number of brand name lawn seed packages when I was working at the garden center.. a couple grasses, clover, daisies, and a few other forbs. I recommend buying seed separately based on conditions... you can focus on the species you believe will suceeed, and ramp up the clover proportion... also with the seeding.. teh grass seed likes to be lightly covered, while ive been told and so have always planted the small seeded forbs (yarrow, daisy, etc..) on the surface. By buying your own, you can sow the bigger seeds, run over with a leaf rake, then sow small seeds. I am a big fan of the lawn roller (or a really thorough walking meditation) after seeding to get good seed/soil contact.
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 articles by paul wheaton: [diatomaceous earth] [Sepp Holzer] [cast iron] [flea control]
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but still not thick.
