link for gardeners

[Peggy]

just found a great link for gardeners!!

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/hort/index.html

have a great rest of the day! peggy  

[Peggy]

Another link:

http://www.afcee.brooks.af.mil/ldg/s11PlantingDesign/c03Plants.html

I am researching grasses right now. I have decided that what I want in my lawn is called Bermuda grass.  The common type of Bermuda grass that most folks used, was considered a weed by my father, and we always pulled it out of our yard.

My dad had a much bigger leafed, thicker type of Bermuda growing in our yard. It seemed drought tolerant, but I am unsure. It took over and created a lush carpet to sit and walk on. 

I am finding out today that there are lot's and lot's of Bermuda grasses including many hybrids. I have found a picture of what I want.  But, I can't seem to find the proper name for it.  The closest thing I have found looks like it might be T 10 Bermuda, but I am not sure.

Anyways, I am looking for a local source to get sprigs from.  I saw it growing at the lawn in front of the hospital in Medford but I am sure if I borrow sprigs from them, they might not like it.

hahaha!!! hugs, peggy

[Jim]

Great links Peggy.  Post your pic of the Bermuda grass.  We have some in our yard and I wish it would cover the entire place.  It doesn't grow nearly as fast as some and is drought tolerant.

We bought some sprigs of Zoysia and plugged them in around the house but I'm not sure they took.  We have so many other types of grass.  The worst is the Bahia grass or "highway" grass.  It has the seed head (Vs) that shoot up and the stalks are tough.  If the mower blade isn't really sharp about every other one will just get knocked down and you have to go over it twice.

The Zoysia makes a great lawn and you don't have to mow or water it as often as you do others. 

[Jim]

Hey Peggy, I'm curious about your choice of grass.  Bermuda is a warm season grass.  Doing some research, almost every recommendation I saw said that for your state, you would want a cool season grass.

If I were going to redo our lawn with bermuda I would pick a medium density hybrid (EZ Turf Midiron).

The high density hybrids have way too much care required and have to be mowed with a reel type mower unless you want brown spots all over when you mow.  And to top it off, the data says you will probably have to mow it twice a week.  This is what we see on lots of golf courses in SC.

[Patty S]

Peggy, I did a lot of research when we started making plans to dig up our front & back yards & re-seed the lawn in the fall of 2005. There's a "Douglas County Lawn Mixture" that's recommended by the County Extension for this area. (DC Farmers Co-op carries it.) The seeds come from Oregon & Canada, & they are, for the most part, equal parts of Perennial Ryegrass, Creeping Red Fescue & Hood Chewings Fescue, which all have an 85-90% germination rating. Take a look at my lawn, the next time you're here (except for the burned spots where I put Weed N Feed on too heavy) & see what you think.

The DC Lawn Mixture is pretty spendy, & I wasn't happy with it at first. (I don't know that any lawn looks really good the first year.) There's a portion of our back yard, nearest the veggie garden, that I'd seeded in the spring of 2005, with a "Contractors Mix" (from Walmart) which, if I remember right, was mostly a fast-growing Fescue with a bit of Perennial Ryegrass in it. At this point, I can't see the difference between our newer (expensive) lawn & the older (lots cheaper) part.

Back when I was looking up diferent types of grasses, I had myself convinced that I wanted to invest in Zoysia. Mike Maier ("The Plant Doc", who does a plant segment on a Wisconsin radio program) made me change my mind in a hurry, when he told me that Zoysia is the last grass to green up in the spring & the first to go dormant in the fall. (Heck, that happens to lawns with no special effort, around here!) Also, because of our extremely damp winters, we'd stand a good chance of having mold & disease problems if we went that route.

[Peggy]

Hey Peggy, I'm curious about your choice of grass.  \.

Ya, Jim, I don't want Bermuda,.... not the kind they use in golf courses, here is a photo of what I want:



It looked great in Medford in October.. and that is about all I can say about it,other than it grows great in the San Fancisico Bay Area where I was a child.

I just know it makes a thick, lush, carpeting. It covers the ground well, and chokes out weeds completely.

And that is why I want it.
And when *this* girl, gets an idea of what she wants, she goes for it!
lol, hugs, peg

[Peggy]

Take a look at my lawn, the next time you're here

Hi Patty,

I actually have paid attention to your lawn.   I'm wanting to find out what it is that I want first, and see if it will grow here or not. My bet is, if it grows in Medford, it will grow here.

So, we'll see, believe me, we are in no hurry here.... the 'well' is about dry and I have flowers and stuff to keep me busy for now.

hugs, peg

[Jim]

If I were going to redo our lawn with bermuda I would pick a medium density hybrid (EZ Turf Midiron).

Take that pic to your county extension office and they will be able to tell you.  Also call your grass supplier and ask about the Midiron.  Stay away from the high density hybrids.

I'm curious if your weather is pretty much the same as the San Fransisco area?  Are you in the same zone?

[Peggy]

If I were going to redo our lawn with bermuda I would pick a medium density hybrid (EZ Turf Midiron).

Take that pic to your county extension office and they will be able to tell you.  Also call your grass supplier and ask about the Midiron.  Stay away from the high density hybrids.

I'm curious if your weather is pretty much the same as the San Fransisco area?  Are you in the same zone?

No, I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The East Bay in Newark to be exact.  Now, I live in Southern Oregon and up here, it's wetter, colder, and colder for longer. 

In Mystery plants I put the photo of this grass, and I think now it's St. Augustine Grass, and I think it's the Palmento variety which can take more cold, but I'm not so sure it would really make it through a cold snap.  I'll have to drive back to Medford and see how the hospitals' lawn is doing. 
Medford is in the Siskyou Mountain Range, and is higher elevation than where I am, which is in a valley, that is in the foot hills, or at least a lower elevation than is Medford. But, I am also North of  Medford, so I don't know.

Good idea, taking the picture to the county. 
thank you!! Peg

[Peggy]

http://davesgarden.com/

another pretty good link for gardeners!!

[Peggy]

How to make self watering flower pots using 2 liter bottles:
http://toppertwo.tripod.com/pop_bottle_pots.htm
have a great rest of the day! peggy  

[patches]

Hey, anyone wanting Bermuda grass can come to my house and dig up all they want because I hate it!!!  I know it makes a lush lawn but it is terribly invasive and I've been trying to get rid of it for years.  It gets in all my flower beds and my landscaped beds and is a royal pain!   Actually, it came over from my neighbor's yard about 10 years ago and was getting in my newly landscaped bed with all my shrubs, bushes and other plants.  Somehow it had managed to find it's way under the landscaping fabric and was choaking everything out and killing it. I took it to the nursery to find out what it was and what I could do about it.     Well, to make a long story short, the man told me it was Bermuda Grass and then he looked me straight in the eye and told me that if I had it in my yard I should MOVE!!!    Naturally, that was NOT an option, so I've been fighting a battle with it every year and it's a war I don't think I'm winning!!!    

[Peggy]

I'm sorry Patches... I don't want that kind of Bermuda Grass! lol... I think what I want is called St. Augustine grass, and I am even doubting that it will grow around here!!
Here's some hugs to help you fight the Bermuda Grass... it does try to take over the world!
Peg

[patches]

Here's some hugs to help you fight the Bermuda Grass... it does try to take over the world!
 

Peg, I don't know about it taking over the world, but at one time I think it was trying to take over my yard.  So far, I've been pretty successful at keeping it out of my beds but it's a constant battle. 

[Patty S]

Getting this thread back on track again...
Dutch Gardens is offering free shipping until September 4th. I don't normally do mail order for my gardens, but "FREE" caught my eye.
(It's my favorite thing!)