Re: Grassland versus lawns; was Re: Now's the Time to Say Good-bye

Bargyla Rateaver (brateaver@earthlink.net)
Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:19:41 -0700

I don't have lawn, just dead leaves all over. I was told, if I wanted to sell, I
should at once get sod and plant it all over, because that is what sells the
place. I suppose that is true. I value the dead leaves, the deeper the better,
because it is organic matter that improves the soil for the trees growing there,
(and vines along the perimeter fence). but that would mean nothing to people who
just visualize a home enwrapped with green lawn. I suppose whoever has to sell
this place when I am dead will have to put down the sod, as recommended.

John Lozier wrote:

> Bill, I think you are a bit harsh with lawns. My own lawn, which hasn't
> been fertilized in 30 years, is a diverse ecosystem of clovers, dandelions,
> mosses, and other things besides grass. Now under drought it is patchy
> brown and green, still nice to have. At times of normal moisture it is a
> beautiful mini-jungle, under an intermittent mowing management.
>
> I especially love to see clovers rampant in a lawn. A couple of years ago
> I had an early morning paper route and there was a new development where
> the contractor installed a uniform sod. Somehow, one of those places got
> infested with clover and it seemed like a miracle to me. I even
> contemplated the radical action of spreading clover seed as I made my early
> morning rounds. I didn't do it, though.
>
> On the lower-budget side of the development the contractor used sod that
> had been stored on a pallet for too long, so most of it was dead. He
> spread it anyway, relying upon the adaptability of grass to fill in the
> spaces. That would have been the best place to establish an alternative
> sward.
>
> Grassland is a beautiful thing. I caught the spell of grassland in the
> plains of Venezuela. But grassland in the proper sense is not a
> monoculture, it is a complex ecosystem akin to a miniature rain forest.
>
> Instead of dissing lawns, why not promote the beauty of a domestic grassland.
>
> Sincerely, John Lozier
> harper for harmony
>
> At 05:01 PM 8/7/99 -0400, BILL DUESING wrote:
> >Living on the Earth, July 30, 1999: Now's the Time to Say Good-bye to Your
> >Lawn
> >
> >This drought and heat wave are just the impetus you need to finally get rid
> >of your lawn. While most trees and shrubs are still fairly green, lawns
> >everywhere are brown and unsightly. We are at a turning point in the
> >reputation of an American icon.
> >
> snip
>
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