How to make your grass glorious (SOP) A good tawn is a delight to the eyes and the bare feel, but that’s not all. It acts as a sponge, allowing rainwater to enter the soil slowly, without flooding. _ And it improves air quality by ‘trapping airborne contaminants, absorbing carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. To cultivate a healthy lawn, you must observe a few basic niles: Getting started; Lawns can be grown in any area that receives a’ minimum of three hours direct sunlight cach day. If your garden gets less than this, a Shade-tolerant ground cover would be a better choice. For grass to grow well, you also need a~ minimum depth of. 15 centimeters of good topsoil. You should rake the soil level and then pack it lightly with a lawn roller, -- Grass seed germinates well in daytime temperatures of 15 Celsius, which means spring or ‘eatly fall sowing works best in most areas. Sod, on the other hand, can be used any time during the growing scason. But before you slart either seeding or sodding, apply a Jawnstarter fertilizer (7-21-7), and when you have finished, water the area regularly for the first six weeks. Seeding: Betwecn 50 grams to 1 kilogram of grass sced will be required to cover 40 square meters of new lawn, depending on the blend you choose. Rake the grass seed lightly into the soil surface. Never bury it in the soil, as this will reduce germination, Fertilizing: To maintain healthy growth, you should fertilize four times each growing spason: cS In early spring, use a slow- release or organic fertilizer with a three parts nitrogen, one. part phosphate, one’ part potassium formula (e.g., 21-7-7), Use il as soon as the frost is fully out of the ground, and again-six wecks Tater, , . , — In midsummer, fertilize - with either a 3-1-1 or 2-1-1 ratio fertilizer. During very hot dry summers, the 2-1-1 ratio ‘is usually best. Because of higher soil temperatures at this time of the year, organic fertilizers work very well, The fall — fertilizer application is the most important of the year, The ideal fall fertilizer has a 1-2-3 ratio. The higher phosphate and potassium proportions encourage better root and rhizome growth, which helps grass plants survive the winter in a healthy state. Apply this while there are at least three weeks of aclive growth remaining. : Mulching: Healthy lawns Tequire constant additions of organic matter to the soil to keep their roots healthy, In many cases, the fine clippings left to decompose after grass culling are sufficient, but only if the lawn was started on high quality topsoil, If your lawn is difficult to maintain in a lush state, in spite of careful fertilizing and watering, the annual addition of ail organic mulch will solve your problem, The most convenient source of weed-free organic matter is your composter. Simply spread a one-cenlimeter layer of compost over your lawn each spring or fall. This will substitute for one of the fertilizer applications. If compost is not available, a layer of peat moss may be substituted, but in this case, the fertilizer must still be used, Cutting: The ideal length for lawn grass is five centimeters. Shorter than this causes the lawn to “brown out” during the heat of summer, Ideally, two to four centimeters is all that should be lopped off at a time. This usually means twice-weckly cutting during the very active spring growth period. Weed Control: The best weed control is dense healthy . grass. Weeds only take over when a lawn is poorly maintained. If they do get out of hand, a broadleaf weed killer spray or a weed-and-feed fertilizer will control them. But remember that broadleaf weed killers only control existing weeds; they have no preventive qualities. Watering: Many people try to “green up” lawns by Plant New Bulb Varieties in Spring Bulbs are among gardeners’ favorite plants, thanks to their self-dividing and natural disease and insect-resistant qual- ities, Even if you missed the traditional fall bulb planting season, you still can have glorious beds of-bulbs with new varieties you plant in: the spring for sum- mer and fall blooms. These include ever-: + blooming: daylilies: such .as: "Chicago ~- Wine,” both ~ Sunrise” and "“Sunmer Hemerocallis hybrids. (°° ‘ Before: planting, make sure the area in which you want to-plant the bulbs is sunny.and: well-drained. Use only plants which thrive.in -your region, Good varieties: for.all-areas are. daf- fodils, ‘grape: hyacinths and ‘gregi-type tulips, ep ee The most important step before planting is to properly. amend your soil, Most soil: contains too much sand or clay and néeds:to be amended with Canadian. sphagnum peat mass. Sphagnum peat's unique cell structure gives it-exceptional.water-, nutrient- and air-holding capacities to promote goad-root growth and healthy. plants. lf you're:amending an’ existing bed, dig:2 to’3-inches of sphagnum peat into the top 8. inches-of--the soil. If you're creating a n¢w bed specifically for your bulbs, dig out-any existing sod first (you can‘use:the sod in areas of your lawn that need patching). Then, dig.a hole 5 to.8. inches deep — depending on the bulb sizes you're planting — saving the soil on a tarp, -In general, bigger. bulbs require 8- inch-deep-planting holes, while smaller bulbs ure planted 5 inches deep. If you're planting a variety of bulb sizes, dig to the point required by the largest bulbs. Combine one-third peat moss to the amount of garden soil on the tarp, and put | to 2 inches of the newly~ amended soil into the hold. Before placing the bulbs snugly in the soil, look. for the dried, fibrous roots at the bottoms ‘ofthe bulbs,'and' make'stire: -the. other, pointed:ends are facing up. iH, un 4 THE MOST IMPORTANT step when planting bulbs is to amend the soil properly with Canadian sphagnum peat moss, Dig 2 to 3 inches of sphag- num peat into the top 8 inches of soil prior to planting bulbs. Fill the new bed with the rest of the mixture, mounding it above pround level for good drainage. For more planting tips, send a self- addressed, business-size envelope with 52 cents postage to The Secret of Great Gardening: The Soil, COSPMA Dept. M2, 8400 Normandale Lake - Blvd, #500, Minneapolis, MN 55437, CPOAOY] - 4.5 H.P. 4 cycle self propelled engine’ - - Single speed drive system - 14 gauge steel housing - Two year limited warranty - 21" side discharge cut NEID ENTERPRISES LTD. Recreational Sales and Service 4925 Kelth Ave., Terrace, B.C. Phone 635-3478 Fax 635-5050 overwatering instead of maintaining the soil's~ proper organic content and fertility. But lawns only require extra water during the hottest part of the summer, Even during dry periods, a well-maintained lawn can last at least one week between waterings. If water is required, the sprinkler should be used two to three hours in each lacation, these great features; - Five Speed Transaxle - Wraparound Headlights - Two-year Limited Warranty Murray is tha ane to choose when you're in the market for a superior mower, Murray in ovation and dependability give you the quality you need, regardless of the season. 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