Lawn grass is about the simplest plant to grow so how come people find it dificult? I mean, really, what is it we're trying to do? Generally all we're attempting to create is a reasonably flat utility space that is easy to look after, something the kids can play on without hurting themselves and an area to sit down comfortably. Are you really attempting to create a bowling green? Nope!
So here's 6 simple tips to growing grass:
Lift your mower blades up. Most people mow their grass to short. Grass needs to be at least 2.5 Cm's high. This allows the grass to shade out all it's competitors (ie: weeds) and acts to conserve water. It also provides the lovely comfortable cushion of grass we all enjoy sitting and walking on.
- Buy a mulching mower - they're only a couple of hundred bucks more than a bog standard mower. Mulching not only returns the nutrients to the soil but also helps to prevent competitor plants (ie: weeds) from growing. Never, never use a grass catcher - you're throwing away all the goodness in your yard. Always mulch your grass.
- Don't fertilise (as much). That's right: CUT DOWN ON HOW MUCH YOU FERTILISE! If you mulch (see above) there's much less of a need to fertilise your grass because it already has most of the goodness it needs to grow. A light dressing of organic fertiliser (e.g.: Dynamic Lifter) once a year is more than enough.
- Never, ever, topdress your lawn.
Never hand water. It's very tempting to hand water in times of drought and water restrictions but this only encourages unhealthy shallow root growth. Healthy grass has vigorous deep roots which source water from well below the surface. Grass with shallow roots die off as soon as the surface becomes dry.
Get yourself an automatic watering system (or get someone to install it) and ensure your grass is getting about 25mm of water per meter/week. Test by putting a can under the sprinklers when they're running and if you can collect 25mm in the bottom of the can it's the right amount of water.
OH. MY. GOD! The Steven Spielberg produced, Peter Jackson directed Tintin movie is now in pre production. Looks like it's going to be a fully rendered 3D production. I know this sounds a bit giddy but, OH MY GOD!!!
Good design will always be important. Case in point: the Rozetkus 3D power socket. It hides in the wall (posing as single outlet socket) but when required it pops out of the wall and becomes 5 outlets of goodness.
Long but extremely interesting article on the Collapse of Consumer Credit. It refers to the American situation but may very well have a bearing on the world economy.
I've found a free file host that appears to be (a) easy to use and (b) easy enough to download from. They go by the name of Fileden and provide free registration and pretty much hassle free uploads and downloads. An ideal way to link large and small files to your Blog.
The much anticipated (by me, at any rate) 2009 Ashes begin with the First Test at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales tonight. Heaps of controversy about the location with Ricky Ponting apparently somewhat perturbed about the pitch and calling foul. I mean, who's even heard of Sophia Gardens? The English and Wales Cricket Board pitch panel have and they found it to be sub-standard and concluded that it: "demonstrated excessive turn and should therefore be rated poor". Indeed.
I saw Billy Squire’s video on "Spicks and Specks" some time ago and it's hysterical. It probably ended up destroying his career, which, on reflection, may not have been such a bad thing. This is gold.
Best Buy (one of the major U.S. retailers) has announced that it will be selling an electric motorbike as part of it's range of eco-friendly vehicles. The bike retails for about (AU)$15,000 and does 88 kph, has a 72 km range with a charge of three hours. Not exactly galvanising figures but it does point to the future of intra city transport.
Ever since I got switched onto "FreakAngels" I've been looking for more (free) online graphic novels (ok, ok, comics - happy now?). So, here's a collection of 17 Sensational, Free and Downloadable Graphic Novels, I haven't reviewed them but they're certainly worth a look.
I've just stumbled apon a brilliant web based graphic novel. It's called "FreakAngels" and it's totally engrosing. It's tagline:
This is an outstanding building that must rank as "the greatest office to work in, ever".
