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Plant Quotes
"If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people."
"The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love."
"It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees."
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered."
"I plant a lot of trees. I am a great believer in planting things for future generations. I loathe the now culture where you just live for today."
"Bamboo is not a weed, it's a flowering plant. Bamboo is a magnificent plant."
"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows."
"If a tree dies, plant another in its place."
"If you want to be happy for a year, plant a garden; if you want to be happy for life, plant a tree."
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now."
Garden Plants
Laying a Lawn – Initial Decisions
In the UK as in many other countries, a lawn has been the central feature of most gardens for decades, if not centuries.
There is little doubt that a well-maintained lawn repays many times over the cost and effort for its upkeep. It is the equivalent in the garden of a carpeted floor in the house. When looked after, it is pleasing to the eye, it provides a backdrop for most other elements of garden design and it provides a safe play area for children and pets.
Purpose
When laying a new lawn, first decide why you want it.
If it is for ornamental purposes, then you will need to use fine grasses that don't normally stand up well to heavy use such as children playing ball games or regular garden parties.
In fact, it has been said that you cannot have a fine lawn and children at the same time. Whether or not you agree with that statement, it is certainly wise to consider the main intended uses so that the lawn can be established with appropriate grasses.
The second decision is whether to buy turf or to grow the lawn from seed.
Turf
Turf is certainly the option of choice for quick results and you can generally create the lawn at almost any time of the year. Laying a new lawn with turf has been likened to growing the lawn in one place and then transporting it, almost like a carpet, to be laid in another location.
Seed
Growing the lawn from seed has the advantages of being the cheapest option and you generally have a wider selection of grass types from which to choose. However, the lawn takes longer to be established and you are more restricted as to the time of year.
Whichever approach you choose, however, careful preparation of the ground is essential.
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