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Mind your own business
Hello, not a regular forum user but looking for advice about Mind your own business / Soleirolia soleirolii. Everything I can find on the web is about getting rid of it in a lawn but I'm thinking about using it where a grass lawn has been tricky. We're north facing in deep shade between the house and woodland at the back. The garden is quite small, about 5 metre square. I'm aware it can be quite invasive but likes to stay damp.
Any advice about using it for a lawn would be welcome. Does it need mowing? How often? Is it suitable for the kids to run all over it? Best ways to get it established?
Thanks.
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Funnily enough, I'd never heard of it until last night's episode of Gardeners' World - it was used as a lawn in a garden that was featured on it (and looked really good). The presenter did warn that it could be a problem if it encroached on borders where you didn't want it to grow, but it worked really well in this particular (shaded I think) garden.
Can you watch it on 'Catch Up'? It was on BBC2 last night.
Thanks, I did see last nights Gardeners' World, I'd always assumed it was a difficult one to grow until I looked into it today. Just wondering if anyone has any first hand experience of using it before I start digging up what's left of my lawn.
It can look fantastic - for a few weeks - then it gets straggly and spreads over everything. I once thought it was a good idea. Reader .... I moved house
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We inherited MYOB when we moved into our current house. Still trying to eradicate it 9 years on. It creeps and spreads very easily and forms mats which make it difficult to pull up as it always leaves roots behind. It thrives on damp and shade and grows rapidly- virtually anywhere!
Move any soil to another part of the garden and - bingo! - any roots accidentally carried with it will establish another happy little colony of creeping, green evil. Sorry! It doesn't even look that good unless you like the 'green algae on land' look.
Was surprised to see it featured on GW! What's coming next week..how to fill that damp, shady spot with Bindweed and Goosegrass?
As Verdun and everyone else has said... DON'T (unless, of course, you are of a masochistic bent). And if you do want it.....come and help yourself to mine!!! All of it!
Well..... got that off my chest....(breathe and relax).
All the best
Adam
Any ideas then on a suitable replacement to grow in a shady area where a lawn just does not seem to want to grow?
My partner, Brenda has just received a mothers day pot plant feature that includes helxine. (Sorry I don't use new names).
I won't be putting it in my garden although I would expect my glyphosate to control it.
My neighbour next door has it covering some crazy paving, it looks quite nice.
I have a very peculiar objection to it. It gives me a headache! I must have worked with it for a client in the past and I must have a sensitivity to it. I just need to think about it and I get a twinge. Psychosomatic I call it. Others think me crazy.
Gravel not really an option for me, as it is the top section of my lawned area, and is quite large. Tried everything to re-seed, but no success. May need to re-think this space I'm afraid.
We have Mindyourownbusiness in our shady areas. We have had it for several years and didnt introduce it, it just appeared on its own. We have a relaxed style of gardening and it suits us well. if it gets into the borders it can easily be dug out and I Have never found it to be a problem. It's lovely and cool and soft underfoot and helps the lawn to stay green even when the weather gets hot and dry.