Gardening Notes

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 43, 3 April 1930, Page 4

Gardening Notes

REGARDING LAWNS.

As this is the season for t&e construction, overhauling, and top-dressing of lawns, it may not be out of place to offer a few remarks on the preparation, and future care, of what should, be one of the leading features of every garden. The finest mansion and the lowliest cottage are both improved by tihe '.'green patch" surrounding tihom, whether "on top of "the hill" or in any other position, and in these day© -add considerably to t!he monetary value of the house. Before describing how to make a lawn, I propose to tell you how not to do it. ■-.-■■■>■■.. .

Too often lawns, are snade in a very sli-pshod way—l am speaking from personal observation-—the ground being meTely dug Kghtly over, or just loosen* ed with the point of a pick, or worse still, chipped over with a chipping &oe. The surface is then levelled more, or less carelessly, and the turf laid thereon. If a moist season happens to follow, the "so-called lawn may look fairly well for a time—especially.at. a dis* tanee—but in any case, no lawn made after the fasMon I have just described will be a permanent success, or a credit to the man who made it.

The preparation of the ground to make a really good lawn requires quite as much care as the malting of flower beds and borders; drainage is as necessary, and the deep working..of the soil as indispensable, to grpw good turf,,as it is in the case of growing good Roses or any ot&er plant.

This is easily proved by aa-inspection of a tennis court made on a sloping piece of ground; the raised portion will always be found to grow tihe best turf.

Draining the area proposed to be used for a lawn is the first operation, and roust be done in -conjunction, with the draining of the whole garden. The' dept& of the drains5 should be well be« low the depth you intend to work the ground; they are better if made wito. agricultural pipes, and tJie number of drains will vary according to the nature of the soil. •

After draining comes the trenching, and tibis should be done not less than eighteen inches in depth. After trenching, tne soil can be allowed to settle for a time, while other operations' are proceeding/:

If-the ground is of-a sandy nature, it will be advisable to bring in heavy loam to make the whole more retentive, and give the lawn a better chance. 1 am not saying that a lawn cannot be made on a very sandy soil, but I do cay that it will require more attention

in tie way of top-dressing and watering than one made on heavier soil. After settlement, the surface must .be raked over and levelled (in accordance witih the Revel pegs previously put down), ready to receive the turf, and, if .dry weather prevails, the area should be thoroughly watered. After placing the turf, it must be well soaked witk water, and tihen beaten level with the back of a spade for preference. I am not an advocate for Tolling a lawn at thissage^as until the turf has ■" caught on" more harm than good is the result.

Top-dressing then follows, as a matter of course. A fairly, light Joam put through a half-inch screen will be the •best, and the first application need not be a heavy one. The back of a rake, or, better still, a T s&aped inplement made,. of wtaod, should {be used far levelling the top-dressing' over the turf. This latter is made of- -a three feet piece. 3x 1 batten, with a rake han« die attached. -

In wheeling the top-dressing on to to newly-made lawn, it will be neceseaTy to use planks, so as not to cup up the turf. -

._ When the lawn has made a few weeks' growth, any weeds showing; must be carefully taken out, and a, second dressing of soil given. This will fill up any hollows showing as a restdt of settlement, and finally you will have a lawn worthy of the name.

... Some gardeners object -to the time spent on lawns, and begrudge labou*. whichjthey think ought to be utilise^ oo the flower border. Anway, in a com•petition I know which garden would land the prize; t>he one with well-kept lawns and a fair amount of flowers, as against one with indifferent lawns and a blaze of flowers.

The care and attention of lawn.—^Before anything in the way of top-dress-ing is done, the lawns must be goiie over and all weeds taken out, and this can best-be done with either a weed exterminator sold for this puropse by any of tike various seedsmen, or with a pair of worn sheep-shears tied so as to allow the points to be slightly apart. I have used this home-made aTtiele for years, and use no other.

Cut the lawn down with a mae&ine close to the ground, after which a good raking with an iron rake, is necessary to break the surface, and the lawn* i» Teady for top-dressing. It is a debatable question as to whether tlie soil used should be applied "in the rough" or screened; personally, liam in favour of the former method, for, by applying Tough, a lot .-of .vegetable matteT that would otherwise be removed by screening over, and while the soil is on tie ing is saved. After spreading and rak-

dry "side, the roller may be put over

the lawn, and the work is finished. A

good friable loam is the best for the above purpose, and in the case of an old worn-out lawn, will be all the better if an equal part of good old manure is mixed with it. If none is available, an application of bonedust immediately before top-dressing will answer the same purpose. " "*?V: r: ■■■■:: Wit>h regard to" stimulants for "putiing a face" on a lawii duxitig the growing period, individual opinions are many and varied. Some gardeners swear by one thing, some by another. For my own part, I always find No. 4 superphosphate tihe best thing, especially on the heavier soils.