Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-15
Repoir That Lown. Soon
Late August and Early September
Recommended for This Area
Grass Restoration
BY Wilbur H. Youngmon
The Stars Gurdsn Edites

Many lawns in the Washing
ton area show the effects Of the
drought. AS usual, the crabgrass
got of well with early summer
rains. and when it dies in Oct
ober there will be some blank
spaces where it snothered the
bluegrass. This, plus the usual
damage from the ordinary wear
and tear. makes repair Of estab-
lished lawns more essential than
usual. Building a new lawn
should start soon so now is the
time to get ready. Late August
and early September Is the time
for most lawn work in this area.
The choice Of kinds Of grass
seed to be sown is the first step.
Kentucky bluegrass has been the
standard. It Is more expensive
than formerly, so perhaps it Is
worth while to think about some
of the other kinds of fine-leaved
lawn grasses. The disease re-
sistant variety of Kentucky blue
grass, called Merton bluegrass, is
somewhat lower in price now
that supplies are larger and it
will merit consideration. 1t has
one outstanding trait-it is re-
sistant to a leaf disease that
normally defoliates Kentucky
bluegrass during the heat of the
summer. In other words, it Is
more likely to be green through
the summer. However, it is sub
ject to a rust" disease and no
one knows as yet just how much
of a problem that will be. So
far, the disease has not been
found on Merton bluegrass in
this area.
The Fescues
Chewings fescue is a we'll
known lawn grass, primarily for
dry shade. The Danish blue
grass CASUALLY sold as Poa tri-
vialis) has received attention
because it was ideal for moist
shady situations. 1t is a fine
leaved grass and makes beau
tiful lawn, but will hardly last
a season in dry situation or
in the sun.
Red fescue, sometimes called
creeping red feScue, will tolerate
shade and will do fairly well in
full sun. However, it tends to
f1atten out too much for the best
appearance unless mixed with
Chewings fescue or bluegrass.
The other commonly planted
grasses are either too course
leaved or too clumpsy for good
lawns, but are used for large
areas where the fine-leaved
grasses would be too costly. They
include Timothy, Alta and Ken
lucky 81 fescues, redtop, peren-
NAL ryegrass and meadow fescue.
The hot weather grasses which
are receiving an increasing
amount of attention - Meyer
zoysia and the f1ne-leaved hardy
Rermuda-are usually planted in
May or June. The fall is not the
time to consider them.
Weed Killer Warning
Having decided upon the grass
or grasses that are to be used
in rebuilding the old lawn or a
new one, the next step is to de-
eide upon the amount Of seed
to buy. The usual rule is one
to two pounds per 1000 square
feet OF area for reseeding and
twice that for the new lawn.
The weeds and the crabgrass
ought to be killed 2 to 4 weeks
before seed-sowing time. Potas-
s1um cyanate has shorter
period in which it inhibits the
sprouting of seed than does
phenyl mercuric acetate. Ap-
parently 2,4-D does not injure
newly sprouted seed. To be on
the safe side use these weed
killers as far in advance of
seed sowing as possible. How
ever, they should be used to
reduce the poponatifio,, weed.