Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-09

the weather may not be con-
ducive to active work in the yard
and garden but the fall planting
season should be in full swing
during the next week or two
The reseeding and fertilization oil
old lawns, the planting of new
lawns. as we'll as planting daffo-
dis, evergreens, peonies and fall
Towering bulbs should not be de-
layed longer than absolutely
necessary if they are to be well
established before cold weather
is due. BY starting early the soil
can be properly prepared, thus
ensuring good growth and
health
Recommended Grasses
In buying grass seed for either
the new lawn or reSeeding the
old, avoid mixtures containing
coarse-leaved and clump-growing
grasses such as timothy. Alta OF
Kentucky 81 fescue, perennial
ryegrass and common ryegrass.
The recommended fine-leaved
grasses for this area are the
bluegrasses, Chewings, red and
creeping red fescues, and High
land Bent.
Sow the fescue seed first and
rake them lightly into the soil
The bluegrass seed should then
be sown and lightly rolled to
firm it into the soil. If a roller
is not handy lay boards and
walk on them to give the seed a
firm bed.
Lime and fertilizer may be
spread at the same time as the
seed is Sown. Lime is needed
about once in four years-25 or
80 pounds of ground limestone
per 1000 square feet. A 5-10-5
fertilizer will suffice for the lawn
grasses-about Is pounds per
1000 square feet. The ground
limestone will not injure the
foliage, but the fertilizer, ex-
cept the non-burning type. will
need to be washed into the soil
with the hose to avoid burning
the grass.
Grass for Slope
To establish grass on a slope
the seed should be planted and
rolled or firmed into the soil,
then covered with a thin layer of
weed-free straw. FaSten the
straw down with string (binder
Irvine or similar) by crisS-cross-
ing is between stakes. Wire pins
may be used to hold the Irvine in
place if the distance between the
stakes is long. 1t will not be
necessary to remove the straw
mulch or the string as the grass
grows.
The new grass should be CIV
en- the first cutting when it is
about 3 inches tall, but do
not cut it shorter than 2
inches.
House Plants
1t will soon be time to bring
the house plants indoors. If pos
sible this journey should be made
in two or three stages. * shady
place in the garden might be the
first after the pots have been
lifted and washed. A porch or
terrace might well be the next
stop. This is to adjust them to
the drier conditions indoors.
And. they should be indoors a
week or more before the windows
are closed.
Perennial TranspIants
AS soon as the perennials
(Which were raised from seed)
are large enough they should be
transplanted into the flower bor-
der. The purchase of small per-
ennials at this time of the year
is not general practice except
for the pansies. but it might well
be done. Setting the plants out
now should save a season and
provide bloom next spring or
summer.
WebwOrms Like Locust
The moraine thornless honey
locust. a tree that seemed to be
well suited to the needs of the
gardener, has shown one serious
weakness. The mimosa web
worm loves it and is much more
damaging to the locust than to
the mimosa. The webworm can
be controlled by spraying but
that may be too much of chore
once the locust reaches maturity.
PeOnieS
In planting peonies make am
pie allowance for settling so
that the buds will not be more
than 2 inches below the surface
OF. the ground. 1t is better to err
on the side of shallow planting
rather than have the plants too
deep. Avoid competition with
tree roots If you would have the
plants flower freely, peonies do
not seem to be able to with
stand the competition.
Small Stock Is o. X.
1t is seldom wise to buy the