Thread: Lawn care and watering

I know there are old posts about this but I want to try to get some new ideas.

I have Japanese grass (normal) in my front yard and Malaysian grass in the back yard. Before both were put down I put the recommended black "soil" down.
This black soil is very light and floats away very easily. I visited one guy who packages this dirt for various nurseries and it appears he makes it from coconut husks that have been burned - thus black and lightweight. Not like the rich topsoil I am used to dealing with.

I usually water in early mornings (6 am)once a day to promote deep roots but I find the lawns only OK. I fertilize every few months with a multi fertilizer without a huge amount of nitrogen but it doesn't make a huge difference.

I am not thrilled with my success and find the Malaysian grass a pain because it keeps branching out suckers and I have to take a rake to it and remove the suckers or it looks very coarse and messy. (It would work great for orchard cover grass)

When I go by the local PTT station they have great grass and gardens and the attendant there seems to water frequently and only for a short time??? Deep watering works well in Canada but apparently not for me in Isaan.

Do any of you have any recommendations other than concrete or artificial grass!!!
PS - I do already have about half of my yard in a rock garden with selective plants and trees to reduce maintenance.

Originally Posted by gerry53

Deep watering works well in Canada but apparently not for me in Isaan.

Amnat Charoen? Reason I ask is soil conditions and other considerations vary greatly througout Isaan.

When you find a suitable answer, please convey it to the Thai Golf Course Superintendents Association. I'm getting tired of the wild local grasses, invading Thai Golf Courses. Even with a staff of 100's, the Public Thai Golf Courses, take far less care of this problem, than my Thai Farmer neighbours do with their local rice paddies. Most decent farmers are pretty meticulous with their paddy.

Pragmatic's lawn looks nice. Maybe he will have something to say.


https://teakdoor.com/construction-in-...ml#post3087144

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by gerry53

Deep watering works well in Canada but apparently not for me in Isaan.

Amnat Charoen? Reason I ask is soil conditions and other considerations vary greatly througout Isaan.

Sorry for the late answer Norton but we have been travelling in Canada lately.
Yes our house is in Amnat Charoen, I never realized the soil differed too much throughout Isaan.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Pragmatic's lawn looks nice. Maybe he will have something to say.


https://teakdoor.com/construction-in-...ml#post3087144

Yes that is a great looking lawn.

Originally Posted by gerry53

Originally Posted by Neverna

Pragmatic's lawn looks nice. Maybe he will have something to say.


https://teakdoor.com/construction-in-...ml#post3087144

Yes that is a great looking lawn.

Looks like it's just been rolled out. After my yard was sodded the lawn looked like that . . . for a few months.

It's only a small part of my garden. I first laid top soil from the rice fields. Then all I did was sit back and wait for whatever grew naturally. Obviously I got a lot of weeds in the beginning but constant mowing largely eradicated those and you're left with self seeded grass, as per the picture. I never water, and I allow the grass to die back during the dry seasons. Within 7 days of the rains I'll be mowing but I never collect the cuttings. I just allow them to be absorbed back into the soil. Nothing special, just regular cutting. The only recommendation I can give is don't try and grow grass in that volcanic Isaan soil. You have to get the good stuff off the paddy fields and overlay by about 100mm..

3 weeks ago I gave my lawn a top dressing of compost, only a light sprinkling and I have watered daily since then the new growth is vivid green and very pleasing indeed. Some recommend a top dressing of 50% sand and 50% Compost.