During “My New Car” articles I mentioned that I was in dire need of landscaping. As over the years all my grass died. The first estimate was around P 22,000.00 which I politely declined. I wanted to buy grass but at those prices Maui Wowie would have been cheaper. I put out feelers to find a reasonable landscaper and on 15 April, as I was reading about tax deadlines my phone rang, and low and behold it was a landscaper. Next day they dropped by and with their own tape measure told me how much grasses I need and the price P8, 000.00 less than the other guy. Then I found out that the other guy buys all his materials from my new guy. Shocked I was, but I got over it quick.
Saturday morning 17 April, 07:30 (am) for those who don’t understand the “0”, my new crew show up, with every tool required and start tilling the soil, prepping it for fertilizer and compost. There were two workers and two supervisors, which brought back memories of my time in the Navy. Then they started ripping out my old grasses which had turned into a weed patch in sand over the years. Okay I’ll admit it I was lazy and barely watered the lawn. I’ll pay for that this later this week.
Sunday morning the truck shows up and they drop off bags of fertilizer and compost to mix with my dusty soil. Later in the afternoon a second truck arrives with tiny little squares of grasses in large bags, and the most minuscule little old guy starts humping those bags into the yard. Not wanting his death on my slate when I get up to see Saint Peter, I hired three local kids to help the old guy unload. I made a friend, and we had a beer while youth worked and made enough money to load their cell phones.
I believe my army of dogs, realize something good is in the works as I’m watching then practice their, deposit and scratch moves on the dry ground awaiting the new soft grasses. The reason I refer to it as grasses vice grass, is simple, that is what my wife and the professional Landscaper call it, and I’ve learned never to contradict my wife. I handle paperworks also.
The lady who owns the company was very much hands on, I don’t mean with the tools of the trade I mean supervising the guy doing all the real work. But work steady and hard they did, and transformed my mini-Sahara in to a green oasis. The price was fair, the quality of the project very good, and the lectures on how to keep my new lawn forever green, extensive. I have to call my friend Sonny (the well guy) to maybe drill another well just to water the lawn. But the rainy season starts next month so it’ll be fine. Anyway I have their number, I can always re-sod next year. Now for the humorous side to the story, while commenting on Bob’s story about departing Foreigners, I mentioned that I was putting in the new lawn, when a long time LiP reader named Hudson wrote in and reminded me that while laying sod, the green side goes up, which made me fall down laughing, and to him, he gets my thanks for that, and I named the article after him.
Oh! Why do I call the lady landscaper my “new guy”? I’ll let you figure that out!
There is something to be said about new grasses, its feel underfoot, the smell after it gets wet, or just trimming it every two weeks, or just the way it looks. Wish I could buy Astro-turf instead.
Hi Paul, That’s great that you’ve been able to get all that new grass put in. It’s quite a job, but worth it when it’s done. I remember when we first put ours in and then flew back to the States. Later my gardenero called with a frantic message that one of my nephew’s had gotten drunk and peed a yellow a spot over near my new fountain. He was scolded by them later, and the green soon returned. Just keep on eye on your little doggies!
Queeniebee;
I grew up in New England, and fully understand the concept of yellow snow, this grass has to worry me and my friends around the comfort tree.(lol)
Hi Paul,
Have you noticed the soil under any mango trees around your area?
I think mango sap kills any plant underneath it.
Mangoes have plenty of leaves too, so it is very shadey under. Acidic sap plus not enough light, plant underneath dies.
Toting
Hi Toting;
If it boils down to a choice between grass and the mango tree, the mango tree wins every time. I can’t tie my hammock to grass. I’ll ask my landscaping “Guy” about that sap thing and let you know.
Hi Paul – Good to see you working a little. Nothing wrong with that, but be careful. It could be habit forming. I prescribe a cold San Miguel (or six) while confining yourself to your hammock until symptoms disappear. 😉
Oh, by the way, you missed a spot! 😆
Hi Paul;
Work is just another four letter word that ends with “K”. The spot I missed was where my cooler was sitting. And yes I always follow the Doctors orders; did you hear that bottle cap hit the grass?
Opening a bottle is work – see I told you it was habit forming. 😉
Please double your prescription, have a nurse or someone else serve it to you, and confine yourself to your hammock until my next visit.
btw, I’m not a real doctor, but I play one in comments. 😆
Paul;
You’re not a real Doctor? Well, your advice is better than the one I see!
Wow, that’s a good price for Maui Wowie |-}
Hello Gary;
Got the munchies do ya? Can you hear your eyelids go squish-squish? Do you hear colors? If there are three yeses, you’re breaking the law.
Dude, you’re seriously harshing my mellow…
Gary;
Is that Purple Haze by Jimmy Hendrix I hear playing in the background?
Hayseed Dixie should cover some Jimi!
Paul,
The maui-wowie would have been more interesting, but too sticky to lay on. Good to hear you made a new friend with “a boy named sue”. Was it Korean grass that they put in?
Mike2
Hi Mike;
All that resin stuck to everything, who’d want that. My grass “Guy” called it caribou grass that must be watered a lot while taking root, and there lies all I know about that subject.
I wonder how much an irrigation system would cost, then you could water it while in the hammock.
Richard;
Last night we had a 10 hour thunder storm here in Bataan, which pretty much solved the watering problem. With the commencement of the rainy season a bit early, I’ll put the hammock away until the October/November time frame. With no city water yet (they said it will be installed real soon, or when pigs fly) and using my pump, irrigation here is impractical.
Hey Paul,
Thanks for mentioning me in your article. When you mentioned about putting down sod, it reminded me of a joke about the Texas A&M football team laying down sod for the play field. The punch line was the coach had to keep telling them green side up 😀
On a seperate note, my definition of work is anything with a handle.
Hudson;
I had a good laugh over that line for the whole day, you deserved the credit. BTW beer cases have handles, as do 1.75 bottles of Wild Turkey.
Hi Paul
The gras looks great, we built a nice fountain and put in a walk way and some plants, the grass is next and with the rainy season on its way, it will be a good time to start, I will send pics.
James;
I’d enjoy seeing the pictures of your yard, it sounds like it gonna’ look great. The rainy season is for sure the best time to lay sod. The sound of water flowing is relaxing, Hmm, is that why I stayed at see all those years?
Sir Paul,
Your yard is looking good and the idea of having that soft green carpet under your feet as you lay in your thrown under the Mango tree sounds sweet. Oh yea just remember this work rule 10:1.
For every ten minutes of work you get one beer you should knock out the beer before the work ever gets done. (Good reason to stop and get more). 🙂
By the way Paul I can’t remember do you have dollar weed in the PI over here in J-ville that s**t won’t die has to be a curse.
Shipmate;
I like the work rule! But my knowledge of weeds is limited to just the illegal ones. Remember grass don’t grow at sea. But, I’ll ask my grass “Guy”.
Senior,
Had a funny thought today and just wanted to share it with you.
with all this talk about your mango tree and hammock I put together a great english name for you. Sir Paul of the Hammock.
And your coat of arms would be a sheild devided into four
1. a Mango Tree 2. Bottle Of San Migel 3. A Hammock and 4. Wood working tools. All you would do is have it made and placed above your mancave and your royal.
Sounds stupid but just wanted to throw out a little humor.:)
Bruce;
Stupid idea, I think not, I thought it was funny. There are people at Pag Asa Market who can carve anything onto wood. I might just check it out! Thanks Shipmate.