Algae and Chamomile

A gooey dark green algae has taken over my garden. It started innocently enough when I compacted a bit of the lawn when I set up the shed a couple of years ago. There were a couple of small isolated patches of some slimy stuff and I didn’t really pay any attention to.

Big mistake.

Over the course of two years it has spread from the damp, compacted shady area at the side of the shed and taken over nearly all the garden. When it rains now all of the water runs off the ground without sinking in. The takeover didn’t just confine itself to the grass either. Slowly but surely it has crept over the concrete path making it really slippery to walk on. It didn’t stop there either as it  worked its way up long wooden planks and totally engulfed the soil and chamomile plants I have growing in a row the length of the tunnel exterior. 

I have researched the algae and most people say it’s non-pathogenic, meaning it doesn’t cause diseases to plants.  But it does seem to be killing the chamomile and by starving the roots of other plants with rain washing off before it gets time to be absorbed by the soil. So I would say it is quite damaging, not in a chemical way but an environmental one in a garden setting. 

I need to take some action then, which is pretty unusual for me as I just tend to let the garden do its own thing.  I have already put sharp sand down on the grass. I did that last winter. The algae has just grown over it and engulfed it totally.  I’ve tried using some Jeyes fluid on the paths to no avail and even bleach (don’t tell anyone) but it goes to show what lengths we go to when there’s an issue.  My next product will be something containing iron sulphate as that’s the wonder chemical for keeping algae and moss under control. It pains me to have to go to these extremes but as my balanced eco system collapses I feel drastic measures are needed.

Chamomile

On the subject of chamomile, I have managed to salvage a huge amount of offshoots and cuttings from the plants before the mould took hold. For the last few years I have been selling the small rooted plugs on eBay to people who want to create their own chamomile lawn. The plants I have are the non-flowering chamomile ‘treneague’ type that is related to the variety produced In the 1930s by Dorothy Sewart who lived in in Cornwall.   Her garden chamomile spread to form a low growing plant which never flowered. It formed a fragrant, neat, rich green lawn which did not turn brown in dry weather. I acquired some original cuttings in 2004 and also was given some cuttings from a very generous lady in the heart of Donegal.  Since then they have gone from strength to strength and do make a great ground cover. The spacing is important to ensure the plants cover the ground quickly as almost any weed getting a foothold in the gaps will smother the chamomile quickly.  I’d say that having a “Chamomile lawn” does sound like it’s easier to look after than normal grass as it doesn’t need cutting, but from experience It’s not the case. They are labour intensive and best for just small areas. I tell my customers the same too as I wouldn’t like them to get any nasty surprises. 

Spread

Over the last few years both types of plants have spread really well. For some reason the Donegal variety grow to about twice the size of the original Cornish type so I think I could market these as something a bit different and have an Irish connection to them.  I’m not quite sure what to call them but it’ll probably have “Donegal” in the title. Chamomile ‘Donegal Wonder’ has a nice ring to it although in hindsight it does sound a bit like a potato variety. I’ll think about it.

Chamomile is so easy to propagate, all you need is a bit of time to pull off the offshoots and either replant them in a weed free place or put them in pots for a while to allow the roots to develop a bit more. Most of the offshoots I have small roots already, especially if they are touching soil.  I have mine in trays of moist, loose compost and even in the cool spring weather have grown new roots within a week - Some of them up to an inch long.  

They will grow well in water too but because the roots haven’t met any resistance growing they aren’t really tough enough to cope.

A bit like life really.