A mesmerising garden that abounds in trees

Andrew Mangwarara

ON the Harare-Kadoma highway is a unique landscape that is hidden from passersby.

We are talking about a mesmerising garden that abounds in trees. It is part of the Luna Lodge in Kadoma.

The manicured lawn at the place is adorned with a variety of both indigenous and exotic trees. The result is a well-shaded garden that is ideal for relaxing.

To establish and maintain a good lawn, various technical issues must be observed.

For instance, the secret of a green lawn lies in the soil. Till the soil thoroughly. Any large stones or leftover bricks should be removed so that you end up with fine-textured soil.

You then incorporate manure or basal fertiliser like compound C or D at a rate of 10 grammes to 15g per square metre.

One can use horse, cow or chicken manure, or well-rotted compost manure.

Apply these to a depth of 10 centimetres to 20cm.

A lawn can be established from seed, cuttings or runners. Once the soil is ready, the lawn can be planted.

Lawn maintenance involves watering, fertilising and regular trimming or mowing. If a lawn is left to grow for too long, an untidy appearance is the result.

Keep the grass well-watered. However, allow it to dry out in between watering as this promotes a long root system.

Long roots ensure the lawn can survive drought periods.

Try having four fertiliser applications per year — in April or May, then in July or August. Other applications can be from October to February.

There are different types of lawns found in Zimbabwe. They include Kikuyu grass (pennisetum clandestinum), Durban grass (dactyloctenium australe), buffalo grass (stenotaphrum secundatum) and couch grass (cynodon dactylon).

Once the lawn is established, watch out for cutworms, crabs, mealybugs, nematodes, fusarium blight, powdery mildew and rust, which all require quick identification and spraying before the grass is damaged.

It is possible to establish a lawn as good as the one in Kadoma.

If you would like to be featured in our green-up campaign, contact us on the number above. Feedback: [email protected] or [email protected]