I am most happy with the gardens long 12 x 55 strip which borders our shitty neighbours illegally built wall.
Thats where the Verandah area is where I have a few drinks and have hosted friends so far. Its where the Dogs are too.
I grew up with a Garden, and it was important to me to have Grass as well in our Home, so one day using this space for Children for Games becomes part of being active, closer to nature and a proper functional space. Kicking or Throwing a Ball, playing Catching, Badminton or playing with the Dogs, everything was about Grass and fun.
2021
I decided on Cowgrass because it looked right with the theme we wanted.
From Green, Lush new Grass and a fresh newly painted wall on the neighbours shitty side. Watering was done everyday for a whole month to encourage strong roots and growth. Watered 3 times a day generally. Image was during MCO 3.0
April 2021 during MCO 3.0
After its first cut using a Reel Mower bought on Shopee due to MCO
July 2021
Signs of first Bald Spots begin to emerge where the Grass meets the floors. Didnt think much of it and continued Watering now and then.
17 September 2021
We bought more Calatheas, we had some originally, but they were not enough. We love these plants due to its glorious presence, height and impact it has. It makes any property look 'Atas' to me.
31st October 2021
24 September 2023
Sometime between May and October there were not many images. Other things kept us focused. Work etc.
One thing was for sure, the Garden had lost its welcoming Presence of the Calatheas, and as stubborn as I was, I had to grow them again.
More bald spots begin to show closer to where the Grass meets the floor at the Verandah. We still dont have a Dog / Puppy yet at this time. Looking back, I might have been confused why this is happening.
14th November 2021
2022
This is where things will take a long and confusing turn to whats happening to our Garden. While the Dog had help Drag the frisbee across the areas that were showing problems on the grass, causing it to bald, this didnt make it any better. Nevertheless, it was not the Dogs fault,...not entirely.
9 Jan 2022
Her favourite Toy, Frisbee. On the now bald spot of Grass near the Verandah.
28th May 2022
I was Upset of course. The Garden in our books had been destroyed by the Dog. But that was not entirely the case.
Meantime, by July,
1. Our Calatheas had Grown well and fast. They look Rich
2. The Grass was bald where the Floor meets the Grass
3. Only a thin strip was left in the middle
2 July 2022. Hot season, Grass destroyed, and looked bad
August 2022
Soon, our first Child was born, and there were no images of the Garden. But at some point between September 2022 - January 2023, the Calatheas had to be removed.
2023
Wifey was concerned about Mosquitoes biting our child. I couldnt spray Mosquito repellant every day and I blamed the Calatheas because the Mosquitoes were there too. So, I decided to get them removed. This is how the year started.
We were back to facing our shitty neighbours illegally built wall with windows.
6 January 2023
By March, just over 2 months, the Grass had returned and almost to its former self. It could have been because of the Weather due to its rainy season. Even the Grass slowly crept back to the Verandahs Floors.
We planted Tomatocaucus plants instead because it was the closest in appearance to Calatheas, they were not as shady as Calatheas, but in the end they could hide Mosquitoes.
12 March 2023, Grass almost fully recovered. Tomatocaucuses Planted replacing Calatheas
The Grass was beginning to Grow again, but by September, the Grass refused to grow closer to the Verandah. This was puzzling. Why grow so well but just the last bit ?
The Garden looked really shitty and while the Tomatocaucus plants were doing okay and the Grass was growing all around them right to the border wall, it was obvious something was wrong with the Grass not growing near the Verandah.
The question was narrowed down to possibly being
A) The Overhang (Cantilever) is causing shade to the Grass ?
B) Not enough Water was getting to the Grass ?
The Puzzling fact was, Cowgrass does well in shade, so why isnt it growing in shaded soil ? Was it Water ? What was going on ?
It was Frustrating. By September it could not have been even more Obvious how bad it looked on one side, and how the Grass was doing on the other side.
24 September 2023
It was beginning to feel like we are going to have to accept that this is what we are going to have as a Garden in the long run, and we were never going to know what is causing this baldness.
2024
The Gardener said to try and till the soil or spot turf it and it should work. It clearly didnt. But by February, the Grass was starting to attempt to grow again to the Verandah's Floors again. Maybe tilling worked ? Maybe the Soil was loose enough to allow Grass to Grow ? Im still not sure exactly whats going on.
The Tomatocaucus plants were growing taller again, though slightly bushier. We kept 1 Calathea because we couldnt let go of them. That was just a good reminder of how nice the Calathea looked compared to the Tomatocaucus plants.
9th February 2024
Somewhere in between February and likely April, I decided to remove the Tomatocaucus Plants completely, and the Calatheas at the rear were trimmed down.
Voila, the Garden is starting to come back again. Sure, where the Tomatocaucus plants were dont look great, but this now showed that even the Rear of the Property with Calatheas trimmed off was beginning to have Grass grow again. It was looking positive for the Grass.
I still could not figure what the real reason was for the Grass not growing to closer to the Verandah. At times, it would come really close, but the bald spot would always remain.
5th May 2024
Sometime between May and October there were not many images. Other things kept us focused. Work etc.
But by October or May, I decided to Till the land where Grass was not growing for the 2nd time. And then plant Grass on top. I added Compost to the soil, and got the bed done right. I Tilled for a whole day, hands blistered and all, a good 6 inches at least.
The Grass at the Rear was also bald again. This time I knew the Calatheas were the reason for Baldness. But why isnt our Grass Growing well near the Verandah ? See how fast Calatheas Grow in 6 months !!!????
I bought Grass, and said if it doesnt grow this time, Im not going to care anymore.... famous last words
9th November 2024
Being outside at the Verandah without them felt empty, and so I decided to just plant them further apart and not have them close by in hopes they wont cause a lack of light onto the Grass as badly as before.
Grass was planted near the Verandah, and it was watered religiously. I felt like I almost had a complete garden again. All I had to do was wait for 6 months, and all will be back again !
This time, I wont plant just Calatheas, Ill plant Colocasia's as well so that it wont be that bad. Right ?
17 November 2024
2025
July 2025. Who am I kidding. The Calatheas Grew like they do always. The Grass almost died in the middle. And all the Grass died at close to the Verandah. Why ?
I thought I was going to be able to hide the shitty neighbours with just a couple of Calatheas, and maybe some Colocasias. But it was not working.
The Grass was almost thinned to nothing by now. But enough was enough. This shit is not going to work regardless of how many Calatheas less I plant. Its not going to work if I plant Grass anywhere as well.
26 July 2025
Although some Grass was growing around where there were a lack of Calatheas, it was not Good enough for me.
It was frustrating that the Grass didnt work out near the Verandah as well. Regardless of Hot or Rainny times. New Grass didnt work. By the way, I actually planted new Grass twice near the Verandah, this is the 2nd time !
July 2025
Desperate and Frustrated, I contacted a Garden specialist who quoted me a decent price, and had the right equipment to do the job. Though Lawn Renovations are not popular here in Malaysia like they are in the Western world with Detaching, Scarifying, Core Aeration, Leveling etc, Im glad that they are being done here now and peoples lawns are beginning to look better.
I did though, after contacting this guy, finally understood what was wrong all these years with the Grass that didnt grow at the Verandahs area after 4 painful years. It took me 2 days and nights to think about this specific problem to the Grass not Growing, and I had to assure myself why it wasnt Growing.
The Worst part is, sitting in the Verandah and having dead grass nearby. But finally, I got answers to the Garden and how MY Garden works.
PROBLEM FINALLY IDENTIFIED
The Garden is Broken up into 4 Portions
1. Left Side (Verandah Side Covered by Overhang / Cantilever)
Grass Never Grows here due to no Water. No Water means Soil Dries out. Soil that Dries out becomes hard, and no Grass and Roots can grow except Weeds.
2. Middle Side
Grass Grows due to Moisture and Light, but has no growing areas due to Shade from Calatheas and Plants. But receives most of the Light
3. Right Side / Shitty Illegal Neighbours Wall Side
Soil is Great and moist, but has no Light. Receives enough water, but Grass cant Grow because it is Fully covered by Calatheas and Plants with Big Leaves. Total opposit of the Verandahs grass area.
4. Rear
Nothing Grows here especially in the middle because the Calatheas Leaves completely shade even the Middle Portion where light should reach. When the Calatheas grow to about 10 feet in height, the shade from the leaves cover even the middle of the Garden, No Grass can ever grow here because there is no light.
Left, Middle, Right and Rear
4 Years of trial and error, and now I understood, that everything had to be looked at seperately for its failure and success for the growth of Grass.
WHY DOES IT GROW IN OTHER PEOPLES HOMES AND NOT OURS ?
1. North - South Facing Houses
Our Home faces South. Our Sun crosses from East to West and with a small opening of just 8 feet of exposure to Light and Rain, we cannot block Either Light or Rain. We only receive about 6 hours of Sun at this section. Which is Why the front of our Home has no issues with Grass as it is open to Water and Sun.
2. East - West Facing Houses
If our Home was East - West Facing, we would receive Sun practically all the time, allowing for more longer Light to reach all parts of the Garden.
Armed with this Eureka moment, for the 3rd time, and final time, Calatheas were removed. Unfortunately, we are unable to plant them in this area of the Garden.
27 JULY - AUGUST 9TH
1. The plan is, to Lawn Renovate first myself. And try and Recover the Lawn First, This would include Aerating the Lawn, using Dolomite, Gypsum, Fertilizer, Raking and Detaching.
2. Removing the Calatheas one Last Time as we now knew, they cant be planted without the Grass being able to Survive due to a lack of Light once they grow Huge and shade the Grass.
3. Cover the Shitty Neighbours Wall and at the Rear with Wooden Battens (Real Wood Battens)
4. Aerate the Verandah area's Soil, so Water can go in and soften the soil again, allowing for Grass Roots to spread, worms to come etc.
1. FERTILIZING : I used a typical 15-15-15 Fertilizer on the Grass to boost it. Some burnt marks are expected, but its ok.
2. AERATION : I poked Aeration Holes in the Grass near the Verandah to allow water to be able to allow water to come in when I sprayed water in the Evenings. In 2 days, Aeration allows for all the good stuff to get into the soil such as Fertilizer, Nutrients, Air, Water and some Light too which helps the Ground.
3. DETACHING & RAKING : I did this after Aeration, should have done it before. Basically I removed any Dead Grass in between the living grass, and opened up the Grass and Soil a bit
4. DOLOMITE : I have no idea what my Lawns PH Level was despite buying a cheap Shopee Soil Level Tester from China that didnt work. No harm, I applied DOLOMITE on a Monday, and let that sink into the Holes poked into the ground for Aeration.
5. GYPSUM : Gypsum has Calcium to help break up Clay Soil, and this was applied to the Lawn as well. I wouldnt buy Gypsum which is used for Plastering, but one specifically for plants. This helps the soil from sticking together. Gypsum takes about 6 months to slowly break down. The Aeration Holes help to absorb this into the ground as well.
10TH AUGUST - 16TH AUGUST
I removed the Calatheas one last time at the sides first to help give back much desperate Light that was long overdue to the Grass. In 6 short days, the Grass turned Greener without any Fertilizer. This means Nitrogen and Light was good, being exposed to more Rain Water as well.
The Soild near the Verandah is also starting to turn darker from Water being able to come in. Worms had started to come back to the Middle of the Garden again.
10th August 2025
16th August 2025
Im expecting this Grass to make at least an 80% Recovery by November since the Rainny season will help water things and losen the soil further.
Every night, I water the Verandahs soil to help it soften always. The holes of the Aeration are almost all closed despite poking over 150 holes, so new holes will be poked once a month for the first 6 months.
In the Meantime, whats for sure is that only thin plants can be planted along the Shitty Neighbours wall. Nothing that would cause big shade or big clustered leaves to prevent Sunlight and Rain being robbed.
What we wont do is put some low plants which have no impact to the landscape, and we may plant instead Frangipanni's in Red and Pink, more Pink ones. Considering that Light still passes through their branches, and the Leaves although are in a clump, are not as shady as the Calatheas that were Large and Clumped together.
Poor Calatheas. Unfortunately we cant keep them as much as we love them.
Sometimes, we have to work with what Nature needs. It took me 4 Years to figure this out.
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