Scalped!

Well its that wonderful time of the year here in Arizona when the days become shorter and cooler and the nights start to get down right cold! (Well we say that its cold anytime it gets below 50, so we are wimps when it comes to cold weather!)

Along with this change comes the decision each year as to whether I am going to put in the time, energy and money to scalp our summer lawn (which actually stays green until the end of October) and plant winter rye, so that we can enjoy the green grass all year long and continue to mow :(. 

Before Scalping, Actually Looks Nice and Green!

After Scalping, Brown and Ugly!

Well the one year I didn't plant a winter lawn in the last 20 years, our house became the site for a family Christmas celebration, with family coming in from all over the country.  Well we had an ugly, brown, dead lawn with the kids and parents complaining about being covered in dead grass.

So this weekend, I worked for several hours scalping the lawn followed by my annual trek to Home Depot to spend $89 for 50lbs of perennial ryegrass.  I spread the seed night before last and the birds are having a field day eating it.  I thought a few were going to fall over dead or at least not be able to fly, because they were so full of my expensive ryegrass. 

So, now that the lawn is in, it will be guaranteed that no one will want to come for Christmas this year, even though our yard will look beautiful.:( 

I know many of you are reading this and saying thank goodness we don't have our sticks and bricks anymore and don't have to deal with planting grass each year.  I feel the same way and look forward to not having to do it for too many more years!  

So I will continue to chase the birds away and make sure that the water is coming on four times each day to keep the seed wet, and hopefully I will have some pictures of nice lush green grass to share in the near future.  

Thanks for the visit and hope you are somewhere where the weather is as nice as it is now in Arizona!