For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Gardening and lawns: a cultural dichotomy -- stripes (weed free) or wildflower (mini-meadow).

The best way to kill weeds is to start by killing the most weeds first, and then moving on to harder to kill weeds. Getting rid of weeds is actually easier than most people think. Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts2lInounxk

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In the UK your existing lawn can be removed (i.e. poisoned) by commercial "lawn care" companies by weed killer and best Fescue and Rye cultivars reseeded for a monoculture specific (or more accurately diculture) lawn.  Or you might even lay plastic imitation grass to eliminate nature entirely.  Foxes evidently still poo on plastic grass though, it seems.

Alternatively, allow "weeds", native flowers that is, to thrive.  Instead of a monocutural desert you may delight in what follows...

CAUTION: "Stripey lawn mentalities" must be abandoned to avoid PTSD (Post Transformed Single species, stripey lawn to Diverse species wonderland) anxiety, which might upset rigid domestic routines.

Consider carefully how life might be challenged if, instead of worshipping a lawn, (i.e. religiously mowing, scarifying, drenching in feed and weedkiller) you must relax and just watch nature's wonderful wildlife... as some pictures below from a High Weald garden in West Sussex, UK from today show.

Wildflower lawn achieved by not mowing and spreading some Yellow Rattle seeds.

Yellow Rattle is loved by bees and reduces grass vigour: it is hemi-parasitic on grasses.

Solitary bee on Cat's-ear flower

A patch of Mouse-ear-hawkweed, Pilosella officinarum allowed to thrive

 Mouse-ear-hawkweed, Pilosella officinarum

Honeybee on Mouse-ear-hawkweed, Pilosella officinarum

Honeybee on Mouse-ear-hawkweed, Pilosella officinarum

Malachite beetle, Malachius bipustulatus on buttercup. The adult beetle feeds largely on pollen.

Pollen beetles on Ox-eye Daisy

 Greenfinches enjoying eating the flowers.  They and Greenfinches too, love to eat Cat's-ear leaves in the lawn.

Bumblebees love wildflowers too!
The dichotomy: to kill nature or embrace it.
A simple cultural decision.

It is your choice.

Click on any picture to expand it.
For a talk on this matter please see: http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page19.html




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