Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-25
PLANTING TIME IS BIC
FACTOR IN GROWING LAWN
Early Autumn Seeding More
Satisfactory Than Spring
Seeding.
DEPARTMENT. ISSUES BULLETIN
suitable Soils of First Importance,
snyH L. =. Department OF AKricul-
ture Statement, Which Suggests
Mixture of Seeds,

The large army OF homo builders
in Richmond and throughout the State
Will be interested in the following
article prepared by the United States
Department OF Agriculture on Plant
Ing Time Big Factor in Growing
Lawn:
Spr!netime is commonly considered
TO be seedtime. but with lawns better
results often are obtained by seed :
ing at some other season Among
FARMERS the practice OF planting GER
tain crops in the fall has been long
established. but in the growing OF
lawns most persons, both in the cities
and in the country. cling TO the old
idea that spring is the time to put
in the seed. And many NANCY
lawn has been the result.
Except, perhaps, in the northern
tier OF states and in New England,
says the United States Department OF
Agriculture. early autumn seeding ia
much more satisfactory than spring
seeding. South OF the latitude Of New
York spring seeding should rarely
II ever be practiced. There are good
reasons for :his rule. Young grass
does not stool well in the spring and
summer and Is not sufficiently ag-
gressive TO combat crab-grass and
other summer annual weeds. In the
area south OF this and north of the
Potomac and Ohio Rivers the time
Is early In September. The resccding
OF an old lawn should he done at the
same season as new seeding.
Treating the Soil.
: suitable soil is OF first import
ance. especially where the climate is
not particularly favorable to the
formation OF good turf. and most OF
them can be improved by treatment
1N-.a 1, 81
ing and lining. \ deep loamy soil
Is easily prepared. az it already has
the right texture. but it may need
fertilizing with barnyard manure. or
bonc-meal in applications of twenty
pounds 10 1000 square feet. Stiff
clays need both sand and vegetable
matter before they are ready to sup
port good turf. and there is little
danger OF OVERRIDING the use OF either
of Them. An inch layer of sand
worked into the clay will produce
permanent Improvement In texture
Conversely. clay may be used TO i'm
prove light sandy soils. Dccayed
vegetable matter lightcns the texture
OF clay soils. increases their water
holding capacity. and improves their
drainage: II also improves sandy
soils and makes them more retentive
OF moisture. About a half ton TO
i.ooo square fect ordinarily is sGffi-
cient.
When white clover and bluegrass
do not grow well. il is probable that
lime is needed. One hundred pounds
of air slakcd lime to 1000 square
feet OF lawn, we'll worked In before
the seed is planted, is n satisfactory
application in most cases. 1t is not
recommended as a top dressing for
turf. and should not be used for bent
grasses or fescues unless the soil is
very acid. The soil should be thor
oughly prepared for planting several
weeks before the seeding, takes place
in order that there will be time for
II TO settle and for weed seeds to
gcrminate.
Kentucky DluegrasS
Kentucky bluegrass is the most sat-
isfactnry for lawns in the Northern
States. but best results are obtained