Evening star., 1942-06-07

semitic to kill them, while common
salt, kerosene and low-grade fuel
oils will be found effective under
certain conditions.
In addition to the chemicals and
oils listed above there are a num-
ber of commercial products on the
market that have proved relatively
satisfactory. In using any of these
so-called chemical controls the gar
dener should follow directions care
fully as an overdose may kill the
grass as well as the weeds. In gen.
eral they do kill the tops of the
bluegrass and the appearance of
the lawn Is for a few days as though
the grass were killed.
CrabgraSs, an annual, is our most
serious lawn pest. 1t starts into
growth in May and June about the
time our summer heat checks the
growth of bluegrass. Hand weed
ing is effective, especially while the
plants are small. 1t may be kept
cut back by lifting the low-lying
branches with rake and then mow-
ing. However, this Is seldom COM
pletely effective. The use of am
monium sulphate. iron sulphate, So
dium chlorate, or one Of the COM
mercial products is generally to be
preferred. To discourage crabgrass
refrain from watering the lawn any
more than necessary during the
summer and then thoroughly soak
the soil to depth of to 6 inches. |
Chickweed, an annual that shows
up in the fall and lives over win |
ter, is seldom serious pest. 1t
cannot stand summer heat and soon
dies out (after maturing a gener-
Gus supply of seed for the next sea-
SOM. Ammonium Sulphate and iron |
sulphate are effective controls.
Dandelion, a perennial with a long
tap root, seemingly is one of the
most widely spread of the lawn
pests, probably because the seeds
are so easily carried by the wind
Hand cutting is generally practiced, |
although most gardeners are unwill-
ing to cut the root far enough be-
low the surface to kill it. Deep cut
ting is necessary, although a very |
shallow cut, plus pinch Of salt, or
couple of drops of kerosene, will |
also kill the root. Sulphuric acid,
sodium chlorate, ETC., may also be
used. Where the number of plants
to be eradicated is large it may pay
to use a spray.
Buckhorn and plantain, peren-
mails, have fibrous root systems that |
are not so easily cut of as the
dandelion. However. where their
numbers are few they may be dug
by hand. In general they are re-
moved by the same methods as dan
delions.
Ground ivy. a creeper that be-
comes matted in the grass and is
quite persistent. However, it is cas-
lily killed through the use of sodium |
chlorate, the same as crabgrass.
Sodium chlorate. IA ounces to a
gallon of water to 100 square feet of |
lawn. Or dry, pound of sodium |
chlorate mixed with 20 quarts of dry
soil or sand will cover 1000 square
feet of lawn. Before using note
cautions-sodium chlorate rend- |
ers combustible material explosively
inf1ammable. Any clothing that
comes in contact with either the
powder or liquid should be thor
oughly rinsed. A treated area should
not be disturbed until after heavy
showers or sprinkling.
Iron sulphate. IL to 2 pounds
per gallon of water. Use at the rate
of l gallon per 300 square feet of
lawn. Use as fine spray. 1t may
take from 4 to applications at 10
day intervals to get well-established |
dandelions Do not use during hot |
or dry weather. It kills white clover |
and bent grasses.
Ammonium sulphate. pounds per
1000 square feet of lawn when the
grass is wet with dew. Allow to
stand for one or two days and then
sprinkle to wash the ammonium
sulphate into the soil where it acts
as a fertilizer. May need to be re-
peated two or three times.
White kerosene. In the late fall
(during cool weather only clear
white kerosene may be sprinkled on
the lawn at the rate of quarts per
100 square feet for dandelions.
The use of lime encourages the
growth of dandelions and plantain.
The use of iron sulphate and am
monium sulphate makes the soil
more acid and usually checks the
growth of chickweed.