Online Reporter
Andrew Mangwarara
THE Eastern Highlands are home to the vibrant city of Mutare, the gateway to Zimbabwe’s eastern border with Mozambique.
It was a pleasure to descend the Christmas Pass and arrive at the vibrant Redan Service Station on the way to Sakubva Market.
This filling station boasts a well-designed landscape, built to modern standards, with a beautifully maintained Kikuyu lawn.
It is truly a green oasis in the city, offering a place for people to enjoy nature and relax.
This brings us to our topic of the day: how to cultivate such a lush, life-filled lawn.
The starting point is effective land preparation, as this is your only opportunity for many years to directly access the soil.
Some gardeners use a technique called double digging, which breaks up the soil pan of the subsoil.
This involves first placing the topsoil to one side, then digging the subsoil and finally returning the topsoil to its original position.
The next crucial step is to incorporate good manure, preferably one that has been sterilised to kill weed seeds and other pathogens.
Cow or horse manure are generally preferred over chicken manure, which can be too strong.
However, for the best results, well-rotted compost is ideal.
This is also the opportune time to incorporate inorganic fertilisers like Compound D or X, at a rate of 5g to 50g per square metre.
Now, it is time to begin the planting process, which can involve laying instant lawn sprigs or planting small pieces of grass.
Instant lawn offers immediate results but can be quite costly. Once the grass is planted, regular watering is essential for a lush, green lawn.
Lawns require regular fertilisation with a compound fertiliser like D or X. Ammonium nitrate can also be applied during the rainy season.
Well-rotted animal manure can be applied as a liquid by immersing it in drums of water.
Regular mowing is preferable to long waiting periods, as this can result in an uneven surface.
Lawns also require aeration, achieved by spiking with a fork or mechanised equipment, to allow for better fertiliser penetration and air circulation after extended periods.
The result will be a pleasing green lawn, much like the one at the above-mentioned service station, which is at the Mutare flyover.
If you would like your green space to be featured in our green-up campaign, please contact us on the number provided above. Feedback: [email protected] or [email protected]
