Top dressing and seeding a new lawn

I'm not a lawn fiend, honestly. I know they take up lots of resources.  I have planted out most of the front yard just leaving a grass path amongst the trees and flowers.

In the back yard we have the vegie patch, chicken coop and fernery. We are planning a stream and pond and a timber desk. In between all of this we have a semi-circular patch of lawn.

The lawn is under some big canopy trees. It gradually started to die off and the chickens pretty much finished the job. We had the BIG pile of dirt from the sewer tank to deal with. So we cordoned off a dog and chicken free zone, top dressed and spread lawn seed this weekend. Before the trees get their leaves back.

I'm frankly pretty tired, but satisfied with a job well done!
The next challenge is to water it every day until sprouted and ready to look after itself.

Homespun propagation or seed-raising mix

Today I made my own homespun seed raising mix. I was given the recipe a few years ago at a permaculture course but only got around to using it today.

Its simple enough. I can't testify to the results yet but have faith in the person who showed me.

1. Buy a coir block from the hardware or garden centre. Be aware that some contain fertiliser.

2. Soak the coir according to the instructions. Essentially soak in a wheelbarrow of water. My wheelbarrow has a crack in it so I divided the block between two buckets.

3. One fully crumbled add coarse sand for drainage. I used about half a bucket. Add too much and it won't hold water at all.  Add the same amount of compost or soil.

4. Throw in some worm castings. To find out more about worm farms please check out my earlier post.

5. Mix it all together and you're done.

I have set my mini greenhouse up on my back verandah in a sunny spot. I have peat and plastic pots filled with my new seed raising mix waiting to give birth to lots of wonderful vegetables.

So why go to all this trouble??

• Its a cost effective way to buy seed raising mix - the coir blocks are really cheap. I am lucky to have a bug pile of landscaping sand all ready, otherwise you'd have to buy some.
• There are lots of natural nutrients in the mix from soil, compost and worm castings.
• You can mix it up whenever you want it.
• You can control the level of pesticides/fertilisers.
• According to the packaging coir holds water and heat well.

Happy homepun gardening!

More spring flowers

Early morning Daffodil

 

Blue Marguerites

Late winter snow in Robertson

It snowed late yesterday in Robertson. Its been two years since we've had a good dump of snow and then it didn't stick. These photos show that it lasted all night. By 8am it was melting in earnest with a wonderful crackling sound. Being quite inexperienced with snow I was worried it would burn off my garden like a heavy frost would but everything is looking well.

I chided Howard to get up early this morning. I didn't think much of his, I know it snowed I saw it last night. I thought that lacked romance and a sense of childish wonder. Snow is wonderful. It shines like crsytal and the magnificence of nature. Not to be missed.

 

But I'm greedy and hope for more snow not to be content with what one night and morning. 

Spring flowers

 Spring is obvious everywhere in my garden. Here are a few cheerful pictures for you.

A giant daffodil in the early morning sunshine.

 A mixed bunch of daffodils for my desk this week.

This is the first of my two rhododendrons to flower.

The second tree has very pale pink flowers which will appear when these are finished.

Garden inspired by Monet

Monet's garden in Giverny, France is a cascade of colour, elegance and delight.  When we visited in the Autumn of 2010 I was overwelmed to be in such a famous garden, to see the mix of plants, the colours and the water lilies. I loved the weeping willows over the Japanese bridges.

It wasn't until much later when I realised the gift shop with the harried staff and the obnoxious tourist was actually the gallery where Monet painted the water lily series. I wish I had been able to stand and absorb that reality. But I will go back and I will do exactly that.

When we returned home I began to work over the front garden. Dominated by some big trees the garden was just a lawn, partly failing under heavy shade.

I chose a colour scheme of blue and yellow as Monet did. I didn't have any experience starting from scratch in a garden. I knew I needed a little structure, a layering of heights.  But I didn't really know which plants to put in. So I just did my best.

Lavender was an obvious choice. I discovered bue Marguerites which have done very well.  Daffodils for yellow in spring. Barely two years on the bones are working.

Over the winter grass encroached on the bed I built along the inside of the fence.  Most of the pansies have died off.  Yesterday I headed out to weed thinking it would be a really onerous task.

Surprisingly the weeds and grass all pulled out easily. The lavender and Marguerites have established well. The daffodils are blooming and the ranunculas are popping up.  Next week I will replace the annual flowers in time for the start of spring.

For now here are some before and after pictures as I weeded and mulched. Today Howard pulled out a dead pine which had been lovely but closed off one corner of the garden. It died back and didn't recover or we would have left it. We also pruned some other plants which were blocking the path so the lawn follows a lovely 'C' shape, winding through the garden.

Before

After

Before

 
After

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ash tree blossoms are so unique

My Ash is in flower. The blossoms are in flower and divine. The long stringy blossoms give the whole tree a pink appearance.