(Editorial note: no groming is not a word. Can’t believe I didn’t get more corrections. Sorry for the error.)
Gave a talk on native grasses in the garden at Theodore Payne Foundation on Saturday (powerpoint is posted on my website). It got me looking at my own grasses and I realized that they needed some grooming. So on Sunday I pulled out a rake and gave them a good combing. The pictures don’t really do it justice. Raking out the dead blades cleaned and greened up the grasses. Since both deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) are warm season grasses, as the temperature rises they will start growing and the clumps will look even greener. I also thinned the purple three awn (Aristida purpurea).
Raking the grasses (When will I learn to change into work clothes before I get involved?)
Deergrass before combing…
after combing
All of this work generated about a can and a half of thatch which I mowed over and spread in the path in the back.
that looks like a lot of work!<br /><br />Cheers!
With the garden tour not far, I actually cut my deer grass by hand. Quite a job. And now I think I should follow up with a little raking…<br /><br />Just hope I'll find time for a hike as well.
You "forget" to change into work clothes, too? The upside of it is that if you do it long enough, all your clothes become work clothes! Can't wait 'til my muhlies look half as splendiferous as yours.
Funny–I did some grass grooming myself not long ago. I like your approach. I ended up cutting individual blades with pruners and it took me over an hour to do one clump. As far as your gardening clothes–at least you have something presentable on when being photographed. I'm afraid to be caught on pixels the way I usually appear in the garden…
Your talk Saturday at TPF was outstanding! Happy I was able to attend. Really great to hear all the tips to go along with the slide show I'd gotten a sneak peek at on your website. Avocados shared from your own garden — a very special treat! Grass raking — good on you, and cheaper than joining a gym!
thx u very much, i learn a lot <a href="http://www.show-387.info/index.phtml" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="http://www.girl-ut.me" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="http://www.show-555.info/index.phtml" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="http://www.room-av.info/index.phtml" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="http://www.room-show.info/index.phtml" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="http://www.5320-free.info/index.phtml"
No grass grooming yet for me. Still under snow! I am giving several grass talks in the next couple weeks and wish I had pics of myself combing/raking out my semi-evergreen grasses. You have inspired me to get some photos of clean up this spring.<br /><br />Warm season grasses don't do all that well here…unfortunately.<br /><br />Christine in Alaska
Thanks everyone you for your comments. James, I may look presentable for the picture but as Christine mentioned, all of my clothes are beginning to look like work clothes. Oh well.<br /><br />Christine B, can't wait to see your garden as it comes alive in the spring.