Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-20
RENOVATING OLD LAWNS
Best 10 Create New Ores hut Neglect
May BE Rcmcdicd.


fresh and velvcty again." This is the
question that liz asked in the springtlme
by 81 per cent. of all who take an inter
est in their home grounds and wish to
keep the general appearance at par. AS
matter of fact, the question Is usually
more than justified The lawn does need
renovating.
But how shall it be done" The most
effective result is attained by the most
radical course. The best and simplest
way to renovate the old lawn is 10 make
new one. Many times it will not pay
to patch. and work unfortunately over Il
badly conditioned grass plot, because the
necessary soil conditions for a good lawn
simply are not there
If the result that presents itself TO the
ques,oner is merely that of recent neg
lect-that is to say, heretofore good
lawn has been allowed to get out of
control-it may be rccovcred in one season
without an undue expenditure of either
labor or money. In such case the fol-
lowing course of treatment is recommend
ed:
Early in the spring the surface of the
lawn should be scratched up with a rake.
Any bare spots should he dug up to
depth of several inches If the roots
/
he pulled out or dug up. Sow grass seed
| literally over the entire lawn, the amount
depending upon how badly the lawn needs
re-en forcing.
! Apply good coat of fine compost or
rich loan if IL can he obtained. On top
of this apply very evenly 3 to 10 pounds
of good high-rrade commercial fertilizer
to the square rod $50 to 1909 pounds per
| rreyiollS n ar during "A rain
! 1t can be applied in dry weather if fol-
lowed with thorough hose sprinkling.
( If applied early in the season before grass
growth has started, rake the entire sur
face of the lawn, thoroughly mixing the
compost or loan with the fertilizer and
working this mixture well down around
the roots of the old grass removing tho
coarse portion of the compost Do not
apply too heavy a coat of compost or
loan as to bury the grass. Simply cover
and mulch the old grass roots and make
n covering for the new seed, In purchas-
ing your fertilizer he careful to get one
high I'm ammonia and available phosphoric
acid; mixture containing four per cent.
to five per cent. ammonia, eight per cent.
to ten per cent. available phosphoric acid
and two per cent, to three Per cent, potash
is about right
If the soil seems to be acid in character
rs indicated by the presence of certain
weeds, like red sorrel, an application Of
b one ton to the acre of fine ground lime
stone or slaked lime should he given but
do not apply the lime at the same time
that the fertilizer is applied. Late fall
or winter is the best time for lime treat
ment.
! After the spring treatment above indi-
Gated. the lawn should be thoroughly
firmed down and Inc grass roots pressed
into the ground by the use of a heavy
roller Do not roll the lawn soon after
| n heavy rain, but he sure that it is mod
era ely soft at the time of rolling. Free
quent watering and moderate trimming
at frequent intervals throughout the sea-
son will aid very materially in producing
n pleasing and satisfactory lawn.
/ Many lawns are hard to keep in good
condition from year to year for the simple
reason that they were not correctly mado
/ at the beginning. \ lawn should not
pc expected to do well when the grass
seed was merely planted in the ordinary
clay usually found around n house after
excavation and building are completed.
Nothing but large quantities of manure
and commercial fertilizer together with
deep and prolonged working of the soil.
ran render such soil suitable for sue
cessful grass growing.-O. NJ. klc