Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Classy grasses

For most of us, grass is what lawns are made of and the stuff we have to mow to keep under control. In their book Grasses of the Tweed Valley of NSW, authors Penny Watsford and Margaret Elliott argue that there's a lot more to grass than just lawn turfs. Inspired by a Natural Heritage Trust course on local grasses, the two realised that this group of plants, considered by many to be weeds, was in fact a fascinating topic to study further.

Throughout the world there are about 10,000 different types of grass, 700 of which are found in New South Wales. In clear and concise English, Watsford and Elliott describe the growth characteristics and appearances of 35 species, each of which are illustrated with line drawings, making identification in the field easy. They cover both introduced and native species, some of which are beautiful enough to be grown as ornamentals, while others have become horribly invasive weeds. Often it's the flowers and seedheads of grasses that are their most appealing feature. Some have lovely Latin names, such as Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) and others intriguing common names like wiry panic (Entolasia stricta) and lovegrass (Eragrostis interrupta). Grass plays many vitally important roles in the landscape, providing food, habitat and nesting material for native and non-native fauna as well as preventing erosion by anchoring our precious topsoil against wind and water.

Next time you're out in the bush take a closer look at what's growing under your feet.

Copies of Grasses of the Tweed Valley of NSW cost $8 ($5 for orders of five or more copies) plus $2 postage and handling. Please make cheques payable to Nullum Publications and mail your order to PO Box 1152, Murwillumbah, 2484. Enquiries can be made via email nullumbooks@optusnet.com.au or by phone on 6672 5558. The authors are generously donating all profits from the sale of this book to local Landcare projects.

J Freebie: The Echo has one copy of Grasses of the Tweed Valley of NSW to giveaway to one lucky reader. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.15am on Monday, November 22, and answer this simple question: How many different types of grasses are there in New South Wales?

Lismore Garden Club News

The Garden Club Raffle results: Mitre 10 $40 voucher won by Marion Johnson.

After the rain, grass and weeds are invading our gardens. You could do the easy thing and part with some cash and buy some glyphosate herbicide and spray the offending grass and weeds. However, there is a question mark on the safety of glyphosate to both humans and wildlife such as frogs and lizards.

Personally, I won't take the risk, preferring to hand weed and get a bit of exercise.

Gardening Tip: Boiling water is the cheapest and safest weedicide.

If you walk past a garden in the early morning or late afternoon and notice a lovely sweet fragrance, chances are at present, it will be a gardenia in flower. No home garden should be without at least one. They are easy to grow and there are some really lovely varieties available. The most popular are 'Florida', 'Grandiflora', 'Magnificia' and 'Professor Pucci'.

Happy gardening
Ron Burns