芝生化奮闘記

　今日の電話

　ある市の住民が自宅の庭を芝生にしたくて、どこの業者だか分からないが苗を購入し、５月に植えてから、散水をしているが肥料を一度も撒いていないで、芝生の成長があまり良くないのでアドバイスがほしいという電話。

　「鳥取方式」で芝生化するという前提ならば、まずはGSTのホームページで確認して、対策を考えるのが普通じゃないですか。それも２ヶ月間以上をまたずに早めにです。このHPには植えた日に１回、２ヶ月間は２週かんに１回、その後は月１回のペースで施肥すべきと書いてある。とても分かりやすく。

　又、販売業者に言いたいことがある。少しでも誠意があれば、植えた後の最低これだけしないといけない維持管理の説明ぐらいはするんじゃないですか。できない場合はこれ以上苗の販売をするな。貴方がこのような商売をするから失敗例が増える結果となり、既に日本で非常に根強く「芝生が大変難しい」との誤認識が助長される結果となるからです。

　本当に嫌になる。

 Today's phone call.

 A resident of some city rang for advice on the rather poor condition and growth of tifton seedlings he had purchased from a company I do not know, in order to convert his home's garden to grass. He planted the seedlings in May and apparently watered them frequently. However he has not applied fertiliser even once.

 If you intend to adhere to the Tottori Style, the very least you should do it check out Green Sports Tottori's homepage as soon as possible, not waiting for two months as in this case. This HP states very clearly that you should apply fertiliser the day you plant the seedlings, once every two weeks for the next two months, then once a month until winter arrives. 

  I also have an issue with the company that sold the seedlings. If you have any sincerity, surely you should provide customers with information on how to maintain the seedlings after planting. If you can not do this, then you should not sell grass seedlings at all. What you have done is create more failures, further reinforcing the already stubborn belief in Japan that grass is incredibly difficult to grow and maintain.

 At times I get really pissed off.

 Check the photo to see what tifton seedlings look like after two months when they are looked after according to the HP, despite being used every day from Day 1.