Evening star., 1938-09-03
N A recent bulletin from Iowa State

N A recent bulletin from Iowa State
College, report of successfully
controlling dandelions by spraying
with kerosene is described. White
, kerosene, 2 quarts per 100 square
feet, gave excellent control. They
recommend the kerosene be applied
on a cool go to 10 degrees) cloudy
day in late September, and that it
be applied Uniformly Careless ap-
plications, use of any but clear white
kerosene. or an application too late
in the fall will probably injure the
bluegrass and give poor control.
An ideal lawn grass for this area
should contain about IS per cent blue
grass: 10 per cent redtop, 10 per cent
perennial ryegrass and S per cent
white clover This is for the sunny
lawn. For the shady lawn use the
rough-stemmed bluegrass (poa trivi-
alis) or Chewings fescue. The rye
grass and redtop germinate quickly
and shade the bluegrass until it be-
comes established They will not last
more than year or two. The white
clover adds nitrogen to the soil, and,
while dstasteful to some, it gives color
and variation in the texture.
fall feeding. Two to pounds OF
complete fertilizer per 100 square feet
is the recommended application A
485 or similar mixture is suitable
for the lawn. If applying by hand,
divide the application in two parts
and spread the fertilizer in two diff
ferent directions to get more uni
form distribution. A small fertilizer
distributor may be rented at some
of the hardware stores.
Garden work which was started in
August and which should be contin-
ued in September, includes disbudding
dahlias and chrysanthemums and
fertilizing and watering them il you
desire show bloom. Divide and reset
phlox, shasta daisies, Japanese iris
and daylilies (hemerocallis).
September is the time to give the
evergreens their annual pruning.
This year it is a bit late, since they
have started their fall growth. but
it is not too late to use the shears.
Annual pruning does much to retard
their upward growth, keeps them COM
pact and bushy, and avoids a ten
dency on the part of certain kinds
to become bare-legged or open. Trim
off the tips of the Misunderstanding
only an inch or two of the tip. 1t
is preferable to avoid giving them
smooth shearing, for then they lose
beauty Close cropping tends to give
formal appearance.
1t is time to transplant many Of
the seedlings from early August plant
ings. The sooner they are moved to
their permanent locations the longer
time they will have in which to be-
come established before winter sets
in. If the ground is dry when you
start transplanting try digging the
hole and filling with water before
digging the plants. The moisture will
help to give them good send-off.
It Is not too late to root-prune shrubs
and trees that are to be moved this
fall or early next spring. Dig narrow
trench around them and cut the roots.
Then fill the trench and allow the new
roots to form before the moving opera
ton.
Roses cut back now will give a good
display of fine, long-stemmed flowers
in early October. Remove the small,
weak growth around the base Of the
bushes and cut the tops back to about
a foot and a half. Water well, but do
not fertilize.
Fall is the ideal time for trans
planting lily of the valley roots. They
are dormant now, while in the spring
they start growth so early that they
receive a severe setback If disturbed.
Prepare the soil deeply and incorporate
plenty Of peat moss, leaf mold or COM
post so that the roots will have q cool,
moist root-run. The lily Of the valley
likes light shade and . moist, acid soil
to do its best.