THE LAWN

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 19

THE LAWN

During the holiday season the lawn sometimes gets neglected for a while, and the process of getting it back to a nice green sward is rendered more difficult if warm weather has intervened. Keep it cut regularly if you can, and remove all weeds. Fill up any little depression with fine soil, and roll occasionally. Keep the edges neat and clean. Many requests have come to hand recently for information as to the making of‘a lawn, and as the time should soon be opportune for that work the following may be helpful. The ideal sril for a lawn is a deep, rich loam, with an even bottom as well as a level surface, with equal and regular firmness all over. To express this another way, if the lawn is clayey in patches, and contrasted by light, friable soil, in portions, subsidence will be greater m parts, and in addition the clayey portions will retain the moisture longer. Then in hot weather some portions would be able to withstand drought, and some would dry off rapidly—the grass would deteriorate. Then, if the surface is not thoroughly level, cutting is rendered difficult and unsatisfactory, because the mower is unable to trim the depressions as closely as the elevated parts. Therefore the digging is important, and even more necessary the treading and raking, as only by such methods can a good level patch with a fine friable surface be attained. Good well-rotted manure that has been frequently turned and sweetened, and that is free from weeds, is undoubtedly best for enriching the soil, and is especially suitable for gravelly or light, sandy soils. Organic manure, or course, should bo dug in when the ground is trenched. Artificial manures should be evenly spread on the surface, while in a rough state after digging, and then well, raked in during the* surface preparation. Artificial manures that are suitable are phosphates, guano, K o meal, and potash. • Wood ashes from the rubbish fire is. splendid when raked in during the final rakings.- A fine and friable surface is necessary ,to ensure favorable conditions for a satisfactory germination of the seed, and frequent ratings, rollings,., and, J>read»

ingg will help in this direction. When treading place the feet close together, and, placing your weight on your heels, proceed over the whole of the ground. You will discover that your heels will find many a soft spot that the roller h;. missed. Rake again, and, preferably in different directions, removing stones and lumps that do not break up readily. A good mixture of seed is necessary, as it is foolish to put inferior seed on to a patch after so much trouble has been spent in preparing it. The quantity of seed necessary for a good lawn is somewhat about 801 b per acre. The seed to be sown on a given space should be divided into two parts, c part being sown over the whole are., one way, and the other part the other way. More uniform sowing is attained this way, and there is less likelihood of a patch being totally missed. When all the seed is sown give a good raking, not too deep, -■d just sufficient to cover the seed, and finally roll the area first one wav and then the other. When prolonged drought follows-the sowing give a good watering, if possible, and when die grass is nicely through _ give another rolling to settle the soil around the roots.