Evening star., 1942-08-29

while this initial outlay may seem CO,
remember 1t Is not as large as the G.
and half measures that result In =
temporary improvement only.
And In the second place, 1t is
The following technique. the result
OF practice and experience, is ample
insurance against failure.
Taking for granted the most dis
couraging of situations-a lawn that
has gone almost or completely to
crab grass. the first step is to decide
on the time to begin operations.
Many excellent authorities advise !
making lawns in late August or early |
September. Stop here and do some |
thinking.
Crab grass terminates all summer
from seed sown the previous season,
or any time seed OF crab grass be-
comes covered with the soil. And
though you have probably moved
close TO prevent seeding. it is most
difacult to outwit entirely the
growth habits of this most prolific
Of annual grasses
Germinates Best In
Cool Weather.
And remember that blue grass
terminates best In weather q little
cooler than Is usual here In late
August and early September. So do
not be in . hurry. Let the seeds OF
the present years growth which
may have returned to the warm soil
in spite of your best efforts, come
up. And in mid-September. when
conditions are likely to be favorable,
start your operations.
II the weather should be dry.
sprinkle the lawn fairly we'll the
night before you plan to begin work.
With . sharp, broad blade hoe, skin
Oh all the old grass. This Is neither
q difficult nor lengthy step. When
this Is done, rake OF all that has
been skinned and, using q small
front-wheel hand plow, turn the soil
and cover 1t with inches of peat
moss.
There is still good quality peat
moss to be had and the quantity
used will vary with the grade OBJ
tanned. approximately l bale to 100
square feet, using 1t as advised.
Follow this step by raking the soil
till 1t Is very fine and level, using
whatever grade has been established
and which provides necessary drain
age. This should distribute the peat
to depth Of 5 or inches where 1t
is most needed to hold moisture.
The next step is fertilization.
In the present emergency it is not
possible to buy the l0-6-4 CONNER
cial fertilizer. which has been con-
sidered most preferable for grass, SO
q substitute must be used-one rich
enough In nitrate, which Is essential
to the growth of grass.
There are commercially prepared
: manures which meet the need
I Shredded COW manure, sold under q
trade name, gives excellent results
Use so pounds to 100 square feet
and work it thoroughly through the
f1ne soil. This material will be found
preferable and safer by the average
home owner than the use of some
Of the chemicals, most of which are
good, but In the hands of one not
thoroughly experienced their use
could easily produce an unbalanced
condition in the soil
, Buy Finest
Mixture Obtainable.
Now you are ready to seed, and il
. Is impossible to emphasize sum
! ciently that 1t Is imperative to bu,
the best grass mixture obtainable-
, one that Is composed of well.
, cleaned seed, tested for high germi.
!. nation and adaptability to this gen.
eral locality. Order the shady mix
ture for shady areas; but since cral
> grass does not grow in the shade
, you will need probably only tn,
straight sunny mixture, though th'
;. procedure outlined serves both shad,
, and sunny conditions.
Sow at the rate of S pounds Il
1000 square feet and follow with
!, sowing OF Italian rye grass, usinl
! one third the quantity of the regu
lar mixture. The rye not only act
: as a nurse crop to the slower germi
mating grasses but remains greer
i through the winter.
rake In lightly, making the stroke
OF the rake in one direction only
This is important for an even dis,
tribution of seed. Roll lightly ane
water gently and thoroughly. Al
5 this point remember that grass seee
5 once allowed to dry out seldom OF
l never terminates. so freshly -sowr
: lawns must be kept continuously
T moist. There is no rule for water.
}. ing except that made by the weather
5 Cool, cloudy days after the com.
7 pleted work will call for no more
water; hot, dry ones require it
Always and under all circumstance.
the soil must be kept continuously
moist until the new grass appear!
and while it is young and tender.
: At this point a start has beer
made toward permanent lawn, arfe
the next steps, while essential, arr
easy and make only slight demand.
: on time and pocketbook.
S The spring following this frs
1 autumn of the new lawn, it will b.
1 necessary to reseed few inevitably
r weak spots. Do it early-by tn,
d middle Of March-so that new gras.
S seedlings will become well estab
4 lished before possible hot spell
e of spring weather, and fertiliz,
: again as will be necessary eacl
spring and autumn.