Anyone that knows me,knows I hate to mow,this is the side of my deck.
Less Grass
I scaled out the grass.
It needed organic matter,so I gave it some compost.
And planted.
Root:
It looks great. How did you remove the grass? I would like to remove all of the grass in my front yard and replace it with tropical plants and palms.
Looks like that grass is lawn gone! Great job! This is my own current project too. I started tearing out grass three years ago. The front yard is almost done and I have a good start on the sides. The back belongs to the dogs. Grass is boring in big swatches and I think monoculture is unhealthy. I have so much more wildlife since the grass went! I still like little bits of grass around for accent but those rolling lawns have to go!
Thanks! De what I do is take a shovel,make sure it is sharp and run it just under the roots,just the same as when they cut sod,I use the pieces to patch places that need it,it is kind of a skimming motion,not easy,but it beats tilling it in and having to pull it as weeds later.
You really are making a tropical paradise there Root!
Thanks Root. I bought a square shovel yesterday so I'll try it out this weekend. I can't wait to see the demise of the grass in my yard! :-)
A new shovel should have a good edge,I still file mine,makes it cut better,be sure to get your before pictures!
Darn Roots I would love to have no grass, but there is an acre of the stuff in my yard and it would take everyone a long time to fill it. Slowly inch by inch it is shrinking with flower beds and a pond.
Root how are all those trops going to make it through the winter? are they secretly in pots?
No,every thing is in the ground,I find mine do better this way.
Delph, he has a greenhouse in his basement for the winter months. I don't remember how many lights he has, but I'm glad it is his light bill. LOL!
RD - Dont' the EEs and bananas and stuff freeze??? And BTW what kind of lights do you use in your greenhouse?
Sorry Delph,I did not see your ?,I was oggling Teds yard,boy what I could do with that room,LOL!
I run 24 4ft grow lights in the basement,I have added a sun room on the back,so I am sure a few will go there,and I use all window light,our living space doubles in the spring!
Are they just regular old shop light fixtures with gro-tubes or something special? Greenhouses are a problem down here - it gets into the upper 70's frequently during the winter, sometimes even higher. Then it will plunge to near freezing the next day. So the plants tend to cook if you heat em too much but you have to have something for emergencies. Thats what I'm working on - I have a small storage building, was thinking of just running cheap lights and throwing everthing in when there's a freeze threat. Gotta be cheap though.
I get the shop lights on sale at HD,usually around 7 bucks,I run one cool white and one Aqua.
REALLY?? Just regular florescent bulbs? Cool! - sorry to keep asking so many Q's but what is Aqua?
Root looking just Fab!!!
Yep plant them babies right in the ground,and get the most growing you can before October sets in,then its dig up everything repot,prune,spray for bugs,when you grow tropicals up north,you have to love what your doing for sure!!!
Thanks Tman,you know the drill!!
Aqua are aquarium lights,gives me the good blue spectrum.
Ask away Delph,shoot like Tman says,it is work,but anybody can do it.You set up a little shed and you can keep lots of things.
Root, your yard is a tropical paradise. Beautiful.
Ok then, here goes one more Q: how far away are the lights from the plants? I have this huge Medinilla that I'm really concerned about (assuming it lives to see the winter) It needs light but can't take below 50 degrees so I'm going to have to stow it somewhere. To big to fit in the house. Why, oh why did I let myself get this thing? (Because its stunning of course) See pic below...I've NEVER paid this much $$ for a single plant before and I'm terrified of losing it.
Break...
Just went outside to take this pic and guess what? IT'S RAINING!!!!!! Now there's a big surprise. After all its only rained everyday for about 20 days now...Hope this doesn't mean we're going to have the world's worst drought come Aug.!
As Tman says,we prune,and I myself prune hard! my basement is short,I am not familiar with this plant,so I can not say if it will like pruning,also when I prune,I try to root cuttings as back ups,I like to have back ups,only one may make the winter,and if 3 make it,I have more plants.
Tman,are you familiar with her plant? I sure like it.
A couple of good links................
http://allserv.rug.ac.be/~dvcammen/Greenhouse/medinilla.htm
http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/medinilla_cumingii_thumbnails.htm
I always think plants look better than just patches of grass too. Grass has so many problems too unless you put alot of chemicals down and water alot.
Your tropical bed looks great! Much better than grass! Are you going to replace them next year or just dig them up when it gets cold?
Doc,I've never grown the medinilla,been waiting for one to go on sale!!!LOLI'd probably overwinter one like I would a peace lilly.
Thanks Capt! I dig and over winter them,and buy new ones,it is a never ending cycle,LOL!
Tman,I have not tried a lily.
If you make it down sometime.I have a big one with your name all over it,its the vareity you see with the huge leaves and flowers,In fact I tradeed for it from Sue in the KCM area,so it would just be going back home after about a 5 yr vacation,well actually its a pup from the mother,but just as big as the mother.
Delphiniumdiva, I just love that palnt. I have never seen it before. Just lovely! A Medinilla !!!
They only had one at the nursery and they didn't even know what it was! I snagged it and just gritted my teeth and paid...not an easy plant evidently, and I would never try it if I didn't live in a zone 9 natural greenhouse. I am amazed at you guys growing all this stuff in Kansas!
Tman and Kell - Not easy to root cuttings from what somebody on the tropical forum told me - narrow window of opportunity on new shoots. I am going to try though and keep you posted! The panicles of flowers can be up to 18 inches long! Then they turn to purple grape-looking fruits. Like this..
My I have wandered off topic, haven't I?
Wow almost looks like poke berrys
Cover your ears Medinilla! I'm sure he didn't mean it!
Was just thinking out loud,and what the heck was I thinkin!!!!
Great job Root! It looks too darn good. Your yard is getting better and better.
When we moved into our house, the previous owner - a 73 year old lady, mind, (and a very sweet person) - used to go along the edge of the lawn after the lawn guys were done and "neaten up the edge" WITH A PAIR OF NAIL SCISSORS! I saw her do it myself - lying on the ground in her housedress, snip, snip, snip...Our whole yard was one big square of perfect, even, green green grass. My would she pass out if she saw it now! Every year there's less and less...if we had a small yard like you appear to have Root (judging from the pic, can't really tell) there would be NO grass!
Why have grass when you can have flowers, fruit, veggies and foliage?!
The previous owner sounds just a bit obsessive compulsive.
I have a very small yard,I love your place,so smooth and green,don't get me wrong.I love nice healthy grass,I have good grass out front,once a year,I walk barefoot in it,it is the mowing I hate!LOL!
Thanks Mitjo,I m so glad yours are doing well,you have a good touch yourself!!
CaptM, I totally agree!!
Doc that looks great. You have really worked hard on getting it together.
She also used to have her closets painted every year - the INSIDE of her closets! All that dust you know... Definitely the kind of person you want to buy a house from!!!