More Mistakes

I have mentioned this type of error several times in various places. It is an easy mistake to make and it is usually made by two types of gardener. The complete non-gardener who wants as little to do with the garden as possible and the keen amateur who is trying to do too much in one go and is inclined to take "shortcuts". Yes I know the quotation marks are gone out of fashion but I couldn't resist.

The mistake is to cut the grass on your lawn too short. This month I was very busy with various things that I just could not get away from, so my wife decided to help out in the garden. This was going to be a surprise for me so she did not tell me until after the fact. She knew enough to know that around now would be when the grass would get it's last cut before the winter. So she decided to make it last. i.e. she cut it a little shorter than usual.

I'm sure that with the above facts you will all be cringing. The grass had not been cut for a month and then got it's last cut before the winter shorter than it should. The results were disaster. Well intentioned of course but disaster nonetheless. The grass looks like it has just come through a three month drought. It is the colour of hey and has about as much life in it. Ordinarily the slightly shorter than usual cut would not have made much difference as long as we did not get an early frost, but the fact that the lawn had been (uncharacteristically) neglected for a month meant that the green was at the top of a six inch long stalk and the grass below was yellow. My wife cut all the green off leaving the yellow.

Apart from the appearance of the grass it is most unhealthy for the grass. So let this be a warning to anyone in the same situation. Keep your relatives informed and ask them to never surprise you by helping out without telling you in advance. And if your wife does mess up like that, make sure to show your appreciation for the kind thought and effort to help out when thing were getting out of hand.

As for my lawn, feeding will not help as it is already a well fed lawn. So, all I can do is wait now and hope for a late frost.

Ah well! You learn by making mistakes.