Evening star., 1936-07-27

watering are sending their roots down
deep, and receiving their moisture as
nature intended. If certain spots obdu-
rateIy will not do this, there is nothing
to do but help them.
The other requirement for good
lawn is plenty of grass 9eed. Those who
seed a lawn once in 10 years, or there
abouts, and expect 1t to be perfect
thereafter are barking up the wrong
tree, as the saying has it. These fine
lawns you see everywhere are the result
of constant care, especially as to seeding.
Many owners keep seed on hand the
year around, and wherever they find
bare spot they put in at once handful
of seed.
The two best times to put in new
grass seed are known to most people.
Early March and late August or very
early September. 1t is the belief Of
many that the latter is the one best
time Of the year to make new lawn or
build up an old one. In the Fall the
weeds are through, and the grass has
no competition from those most ram
pant Of growers. Usually there is plenty
Of moisture. The days are not so hot
for the tender new blades then. The
one thing to keep in mind is to get the
seed in early, the last week in August
or the first week in September, for
sometimes cold weather comes early in
October, and new grass must have at
least six weeks in which to germinate
and make good growth.
r +
Low cutting of the lawn is another
requisite of good care.
Much has been said against this, but
what is meant is shaving.
To literally shave lawn is not good
but to cut it as short as is consistent
with good appearance is entirely
another thing.
More and more home owners are COM
ing around to this simple wisdom. With
1t they combine the use of the rake. A
few years ago every one was warned
against raking of the clippings. Let
them ne," the experts said. They will
mulch the ground Owners did this,
and found they had far worse grass than
their neighbors who used a rake every
moving, or a grass catcher hitched to
the machine.
It is not necessary to rake the grass
every time. Every other time is enough.
But this raking is good for it, and does
fine things to 1t. Raking rids the fresh
ly clipped blades Of litter, gives them a
chance to breathe, to get their bearings
again after the shock of clipping.
1t is impossible to look at the faithful
grass and not wonder how it stands up
so well after being mistreated every
week via the lawn mower. That this
weekly cutting really does not harm it is
a tribute to Nature, at whose ingenuity
we must continually marvel.
There are on the market several chem
icals which may be used with success
against the various types of animals and
insects which tend to throw up the turf.
Care should be used in handling these,
| whether spray. gas or as bait
Do not attempt to correct the small
damage done until the pests have been
driven out, since they will come up
| again as fast as you smooth out the
places Every one has tried it with ant
hills. After the pest is driven out for
good. or killed in the nest, the grass
itself will soon grow over the bare spot.
The spreading tendency Of most types
of lawn grass is the mainstay of the
| home gardener. Without this good ac-
tivity he would plant in vain who
| planted seed, either in Spring or
| Autumn. Always remember that the
| lawn wants to be luxuriant, even more
than you want it to be.