When we moved down to Florida in 2014, I experienced many culture and environmental shocks. One such shock was how different the grass is. It isn't the dainty, slim, soft grass of the north. It is most certainly not soft. Some grows up to be mowed, but it also grows sideways via runners. These runners are greedy little monsters, always looking to spread and establish themselves. One must admire this tenacity and will to grow. I would be more sympathetic to it if it wasn't trying to take over my sidewalk and driveway.
Edging is not a suburban vanity down here. It is essential if you don't want the grass to grow over the sidewalks or narrow the street. Mowing is Tom's job. Edging is mine. I must admit, the violent thug that lives somewhere deep in my psyche enjoys herself when edging.
I believe I have written about this before, but now I have the perfect picture to show you all. It was so satisfying to cut those off with my handy dandy edger.
That grass looks healthy. Do you have to water much?
ReplyDeleteWe never water the grass, even when it needs it.
DeleteThat looks like johnson grass. I hate that stuff. Lawns here are st. augustine but it sends out runners too, always into my flower beds.
ReplyDeleteGrass drives me crazy. It grows where you don't want it, and won't grow where you want it. Sideways grass sounds even worse:)
ReplyDeleteLovely green grass. And I love the little tortoise in your blog header.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteGrass here hates my lawn areas but loves my gardens. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteBut I do understand the complete satisfaction of a freshly trimmed sidewalk. If only it would last . . .
The thing that pleased Peter the most when we moved homes in 2022 was NO LAWN! Not a blade of grass to cut, what a happy man. We gave one mower to our grandson\s school, the other one is languishing in the shed.. I do, however, have to maintain the grass strips that edge my allotment plot but it doesn't amount to much effort, just a quick whip round with a hand pusher.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet it grows fast too. We have a problem with hemp weed. It grows by the creek and if we don't keep i down it tries to take over.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Florida grass is tough and not particularly good for sitting or lying! (Plus the sandspurs.)
ReplyDeleteGrass edging is necessary here too but perhaps not so often as yours. We don't get the runners you refer to (rhizomes?) but the grass grows like crazy anyway. If only someone would create a very slow-growing grass that only needs mowing once a year!
ReplyDeleteI'd vote for that!
DeleteAt my former address we didn't have the capacity to care for grass properly. A former HOA member got heated when I pulled what was left of the grass to replace with shrubs and perennials; a more sustainable option for our lot.
ReplyDeleteLove that you can get some satisfaction from edging.
Keep fighting the good fight with that grass/weed. It is a constant battle for gardeners, the weeds are tenacious. They grow right to the edge of my trees, shrubs and flowers.
ReplyDelete