We gave up growing grass...

[Greynomad]

Until recently, there were 13 mature Eucalypts along our back fence. (The original owners apparently planted Eucalypts at 3ft intervals, judging by the stumps we've found!)
They were sucking all the moisture out of the soil, to the point we have a distinct line in the yard, beyond which we simply can't grow grass... (Not even weeds! )
Just before Christmas we had six trees removed, hoping that would improve our chances of gaining a lawn.
No such luck.
And we don't want to remove the last few shade trees.

So we've abandoned the idea of grass further south than the Maginot Grass Line... put this in instead.

Rock Garden.jpeg

[Noggins]

Not only do mature Eucalypts suck all the moisture from the soil they also excrete a sap that blankets the soil underneath themselves for "This is Mine" growing.
I used to live where the eucalypts excreted a sap all over the roads giving beautiful traction and cornering in the summer but became like an ice rink with the first rain.


Ron

[T1 Terry]

Not only do mature Eucalypts suck all the moisture from the soil they also excrete a sap that blankets the soil underneath themselves for "This is Mine" growing.
I used to live where the eucalypts excreted a sap all over the roads giving beautiful traction and cornering in the summer but became like an ice rink with the first rain.


Ron

Had a few that did wonders for the paint job on the work ute when I parked it under them for shade, the sap took the paint off right back to the metal Boss wasn't real happy

T1 Terry

[T1 Terry]

Until recently, there were 13 mature Eucalypts along our back fence. (The original owners apparently planted Eucalpts at 3ft intervals, judging by the stumps we've found!)
They were sucking all the moisture out of the soil, to the point we have a distinct line in the yard, beyond which we simply can't grow grass... (Not even weeds! )
Just before Christmas we had six trees removed, hoping that would improve our chances of gaining a lawn.
No such luck.
And we don't want to remove the last few shade trees.

So we've abandoned the idea of grass further south than the Maginot Grass Line... put this in instead.
Rock Garden.jpeg

Looks good Ray, are you going to add fake grass for the last bit?

T1 Terry

[Dot]

When I worked in the neighbors apple orchard the trees within 20mts of the gum trees the fruit never was any good. Go the All Blacks

[supersparky]

It could have been worse Ray, they could have planted pine trees. They suck the life out of everything. Love the emu.

[Greynomad]

Emu's name is "Ollie".
Blame John (Riverlander).
Ollie was a custom build by a craftsman in Loxton. Took a few weeks after we ordered him (about six).
John 'minded' Ollie until we could get back across the border to collect him ... (pre-Covid) about a year ago.

BTW, we can grow daisies under the Eucalypts... can't stop the bluddy things. Worse than rabbits!
PS to the BTW: There's three tonnes of river rocks there. Dumped into the end near Ollie by a small tip-truck, then spread by hand by both of us on our knees. Bed is 7.8m x 3.6m. Took us three days — all day.

[Cuppa]

Here 'Oop Norf' we grow weeds in the paddock. Green last April, not so now! Waiting for rain.

DSC01622.png

IMG_1904 1.27.57 pm.jpg

[T1 Terry]

PS to the BTW: There's three tonnes of river rocks there. Dumped into the end near Ollie by a small tip-truck, then spread by hand by both of us on our knees. Bed is 7.8m x 3.6m. Took us three days — all day.

We were impressed when we first travelled to Mannum via Pinnaroo that they grew rocks in the paddocks where nothing else seemed to grow and they had trained sheep to eat them it seemed. The next trip over it had rained and apparently all the rocks had sprouted because it was green as far as we could see ......

T1 Terry

[supersparky]

If you have even owned property in the times of drought, you would understand what the term 'lickn' dirt' means.
Its amazing how quick a touch of green pops up after a good bit of rain.