Droughty lawns and alternatives at Stonehouse Gardening Club

IN A question and answer session last Wednesday, the Stonehouse Gardening Club learnt a lot from their resident guru, Austen Perkins, about managing their lawns.

Starting with: “Grow the grass and you’ll smother the moss,” Austen advised us to feed the grass in spring and not mow too close.

When the grass is long, set the blades for a higher cut and then mow again lower after a week, ie, don’t scalp your lawn.

Worried by persistent weeds?

Use a systemic weed killler when they are growing strongly, then leave for three days for the poison to reach down to the roots before mowing.

Don’t put these mowings round roses, but let them decompose in the compost heap.

As for drought, leave the lawn alone, applying no weedkillers or feed.

The grass will revive.

If you wish to tidy away the seed heads, use a high cut.

Shady corners?

Well, a mossy lawn under a tree can look lovely in dry weather, especially when planted with primroses, cowslips, early crocus, even cyclamen.

The members of the club were then invited to consider alternatives to traditional lawns.

Led by Elizabeth Goddard, a club member, they admired graceful contrasting stone effects in Japanese gardens, substitute plants to use such as Blue Star Creeper, Thyme, Corsican mint, even Creeping Jenny, bark areas, parterres, wild meadows and even artificial grass, all with advantages.

The club will be handing out their programmes, holding a treasure hunt raffle and selling good second hand garden equipment at their stall at the Stonehouse Jolly on Sunday, August 12.

Their next two events are a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 5, at 7.30pm in the Community Centre, a talk on growing fruit in the small garden.

Their annual coach trip is to Waterperry Gardens on Saturday, September 8.

Please contact Clive Boardman on 01453821809 if you are interested in this.