May 20, 2007
Putting in a lawn
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My front, left and back yards are xeriscaped, covered with gravel and having a few potted plants and a couple of small planted areas. The Leeward Coast is quite dry and we’re likely to be asked to cut back of water usage soon, as we are most years. It’s impractical and insensitive to the environment to try to keep everything green. Still, last summer I planted a small lawn, about 10 ft X 10 ft, in the little yard to the right of my house. I rather stupidly added too much mulch to the soil and it drained so well that the grass did not survive. My son and I finally ripped out the remains this week.
My community is in an area that was once seabed, and there is very little soil over the ancient coral. I had added some soil and mulch last year, but it compacted and had to be broken up before we could start planting the new sod. My son and I spent most of the week just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company after two years apart, but I’m not above using free labor when it’s available. 
Hawaiians call the pointed digging stick an o’o. This one is iron and quite heavy.
We added six huge bags of soil to the resulting mess and turned it over several times to get a rich base for the new lawn.
I chose Seaside Paspalum sod. It’s used for most of the beach parks along the coast and holds up well to the salty air. It shouldn’t require too much watering once it’s established itself.
Since I was working out there anyway, I couldn’t resist adding a red anthurium to the little corner rock garden where I recently planted some pink anthurium.
Technorati Tags: anthurium, gardening, Hawaii, lawn, photos
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May 20th, 2007 at 11:39 am, Jules Says:
It’s going to be beautiful!
May 20th, 2007 at 5:24 pm, Chigiy Says:
It looks like you two got a lot of work done. Soon you will be enjoying your new lawn.
Enjoy your so while he’s here.
May 20th, 2007 at 7:58 pm, Whim Says:
I hope it grows well.
June 6th, 2007 at 11:47 am, skeet’s stuff » The grass is growing! Says:
[…] I planted a lawn and promptly killed it. I’ve apparently learned from my mistakes because the lawn that my son and I installed Mother’s Day week is growing and healthy. The strips of sod we planted are spreading to fill […]