The Grass is Greener (May 19, 2012)

In less than a month, we’ve gained the upper hand in our standoff against weeds that were outpacing new grass shoots in our front yard (Weed, Seed & Feed). We took the offensive position on Earth Day and aggressively weeded, raked, and then sowed a pre-mixed blend of Kentucky bluegrass and rye in the barren patches shown below right.

After a month, the same patch of lawn (above left) is deep green, coarse, glossy, and so lush I was loathe to mow it. Kevin wanted to let it go to seed and spread, but our still-unpainted house is enough of an eyesore without an overgrown lawn.

We borrowed a mower from our park supervisor, Richard Scott (shown here with our ranger, Kathryn Ward); weeded some more; and cut the new growth back to three inches. Too bad a Reuters photographer showed up before we even finished weeding, but we should be ready for the next photo-op by June: Richard said the mower would shake up and aerate the barren patches, and the cuttings would fertilize them, so we’ll keep tending it and post more photos next month.