Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
6th April 2024
Gather No Moss
I think the world and his wife have asked me about the moss in their lawn during the last few weeks as lots of lawns – mine included – seem to have transitioned from grass to moss.
The good news is that it’s not permanent – well, sort of. It is ‘winter moss’ which thrives on wet and cold conditions, which of course, we have had a-plenty this winter – or since last summer, even. As soon as the weather warms and dries up, then the winter moss will disappear as quickly as socks in a washing machine. But – it will have sowed it’s spores and be back next year. If you’re like me and heed the advice of ‘living in the moment’, I tend not to worry too much about next year and am just glad to see the lawn ‘grassing’ back up. I suppose the real issue is when the moss has taken over to the extent that you don’t have any grass – then that’s a case for re-seeding or re-turfing and a whole new column. For now the advice is ‘don’t worry about your moss’, in a month or so it will be forgotten about.
However, if you would rather be ‘pro-active’, then you may want to try the Richard Jackson Moss Remover. The natural product claims to be a much better alternative to chemical based moss killers which turn the treated moss black – and which often means you end up with an almost completely black lawn. And that can be daunting! You also have to rake out this dead, black moss and then over sow with a suitable seed – which can all amount to a serious amount of work – and work that your back won’t thank you for. Richard Jackson’s option claims, “It’s natural, high in potash, and will gently feed the lawn for up to 12 weeks. As the grass grows, the potash in the feed ‘over feeds’ the moss, which then gradually (after 20 days or so) dies back naturally, you’ll see it slowly turning brown. The granules also contain naturally occurring ‘friendly‘ bacteria that then start to ‘eat’ the dying moss which gradually disappears as your grass grows, so there’s no need to rake out the dying moss, nature does the work for you.”
As well as containing ‘friendly bacteria’, it is also child, pet and wildlife friendly – and, therefore, I think has potential to be become the “Lawn Ranger’s” best friend.
H-enjoy Weeds
I have been ‘bringing my work home with me’ this week – in the guise of bucketfuls of weeds. My hens absolutely love certain weeds – especially chickweed (as the name suggests) shepherd’s purse, dandelion leaves and bittercress. So I am selective and bring home their favourite weeds from client’s gardens. It never ceases to amaze me that you can actually buy these ‘weeds’ as seeds too. All of the aforementioned weeds, and many others, are now available to buy as seed – as foraging for ‘wild plants’, and the use of them, has increased and also as food for tortoises – and possibly chickens, I suppose.
Chickens are far more intelligent than people give then credit for and I try to keep mine as entertained and happy as possible. Tying a lettuce from a low branch keeps them entertained for ages and I’ve noticed that you can now buy vegetable hanging feeders for them too. There are a few different types to choose from including a ‘veggie skewer’ that looks like it would be effective but I wouldn’t want to use the ‘net feeders’ that are advertised on the internet in case the hens got caught in up in them.
Although chickens like to scratch about, and will spend ages rooting through my ‘delivered weeds’, leaving vegetables on the ground for them can attract unwanted pests (with long tails). Tying veg from a branch or using a ‘veg hanger’ will stop the veg from getting mucky and then wasted, and will increase the hens exercise and stop them getting bored. It’s good entertainment for their owners too! I quite often take a cup of coffee into the hen pen on the weekends and just ‘henjoy’ their company.
Water Water Everywhere
It already feels like a treat to have an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day or as my brother said, ‘an extra hour of rain’. I think the April Showers slid into the end of March. Last year’s March was the wettest on record for 40 years and guess what – yup, I don’t even have to write it, but I will – we had twice the average rainfall during this year’s March. But scientists are still predicting record high-temperatures this summer with several heat waves already being forecast for later in the year.
It is worth setting up water butts and water catchment systems now – just in case. There are lots of different styles and sizes to choose from, from traditional wooden barrels to slim (and clad) tanks and even clay effect urns. If you can’t find what you want at your local garden centre, have a look at www.waterbuttsdirect.co.uk. They are a family owned business and offer all the accessories too – like the award-winning Gutter Mate Diverter & Filter which channels and filters all the rainwater coming down your downpipe. They also have some great blogs and latest news on their website.
A clever ‘device’ is the H2go Wheelbarrow Water Bag. This 80 litre water bag allows you to transport water effectively in a wheelbarrow and is then simply tipped up into buckets or watering cans where you need it.
I know it’s easier to just moan about the rain at the moment but trust me, you’ll be glad that you ‘saved’ it when the heat waves eventually arrive.
One of the good things about the April Showers are the magical rainbows that they leave in their wake. I defy anyone not to be impressed by a good rainbow. It’s no coincidence that National Find A Rainbow Day is held in the showery month of April every year.
And as they say, “If you want to see rainbows, you’ve got to put up with the rain.”
Leave a Reply