clovers overpowering the LAWN

[FishermanTim]

Originally Posted by Raven

========================================
Humus

without sufficient quantities of it (humus) in the soil
it cannot handle heavy rains

this is basically what comes out of the south end of an earthworm in the form of castings...and bacteria make it too...just slower

without the earthworm burrows
there there's no freakin drainage holes

organic matter or humus holds
ten times its weight in water
a virtual sponge...

chemical farming not only depletes the existing organic matter
but creates havoc....|LATER|
especially after the soil gets "mined "of certain minerals that used to be there in abundance...

then weird diseases show up or bugs start finding the vegetation more appetizing due to these mineral deficiencies,,,

so the farmers have to spray even more insecticides or herbicides to get that big product that used to be easy to get originally.
a vicious circle

now, ya take that same patch of ground and ya encourage worm growth and roto till in seaweed and compost and maple leaves real heavy along with grass clippings on top to keep it cool and weed free so that the worms thrive....and no chemical "run %$%$%$%$ fertilizer would even be required.

Run off would be drastically reduced and the soil wouldn't be laced with so many chemicals. Bugs hate seaweed spray and it gives the plants a special resistance to bug infestations.

Well said!

I used to find it amusing when people would spend tons of money to get a "manicured lawn" that they NEVER set foot on, or play on. I guess the thought is that a "perfect" lawn is like a priceless picture: basically useless except to look at.

I can remember the tug-of-war I had with my parents when I started them on composting. Once it was set up, they couldn't believe how truly clean and simple it really was.
Collect organic kitchen waste: fruit cores and peels, coffee grounds, corn husks and cobs, moldy bread, egg shells (worms LOVE bread and egg shells) even old newspapers if you don't recycle.
I start off by digging a small pit and layering the materials in a brown/green/brown alternating fashion. after a couple of weeks, depending on how "inocculated" your soil is, the bateria and worms will be well on their way to creating some really great organic compost. Think of the best potting soil you can get for virtually nothing. All you need to do is turn the pile, which I do whenever I add new material, and sift whatever you plan on using (to remove large uncomposted pieces).

The only chemicals I use (on RARE occaisions) is to kill poison ivy.
I do make a mean bug spray from chewing tobacco and dish soap, but that's a different post entirely.

[missing link]

White clover is one of the best things to have in your lawn , it is mixed with some of the best seed mixtures just mow it it has so many good things to add to your lawn
DON'T KILL IT I might not know much but you go and kill it say GOODBYE to the rest of the lawn trust me ,
if your on the Cape or SE ma. just GOOGLE //// C.L. FORNARI and ash HER the Question /// 95.1 FM Sat morn. GARDEN TALK
ML

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Well said!

I used to find it amusing when people would spend tons of money to get a "manicured lawn" that they NEVER set foot on, or play on. I guess the thought is that a "perfect" lawn is like a priceless picture: basically useless except to look at.

I can remember the tug-of-war I had with my parents when I started them on composting. Once it was set up, they couldn't believe how truly clean and simple it really was.
Collect organic kitchen waste: fruit cores and peels, coffee grounds, corn husks and cobs, moldy bread, egg shells (worms LOVE bread and egg shells) even old newspapers if you don't recycle.
I start off by digging a small pit and layering the materials in a brown/green/brown alternating fashion. after a couple of weeks, depending on how "inocculated" your soil is, the bateria and worms will be well on their way to creating some really great organic compost. Think of the best potting soil you can get for virtually nothing. All you need to do is turn the pile, which I do whenever I add new material, and sift whatever you plan on using (to remove large uncomposted pieces).

The only chemicals I use (on RARE occaisions) is to kill poison ivy.
I do make a mean bug spray from chewing tobacco and dish soap, but that's a different post entirely.

Doesn't everybody in Hyde Park cover their property in concrete, not grass anyway? The only grass I thougt was located there was on the Golf Course.

[FishermanTim]

Not out towards Dedham and the Blue Hills section.

We actually have trees, birds and other wildlife in our area.
I used to live in Jamaica Plain, where our lawn was a driveway, and our garden was a 3X6 plot in front of the house.

Now we have a back yard, a front yard and a side yard (as well as a driveway).