SOWING LAWNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1940, Page 8

SOWING LAWNS

POINTS IN PREPARATION

By this time the site for a new lawn should have been levelled, rolled, and raked down to a fine tilth. If this has been done, attention to certain points will ensure that the preparatory labour has not been in vain. The choice of grass seed must depend upon the particular soil condition.

Dwarf grasses are not usually raised successfully on a heavy clay soil: ordinary seed mixtures will not grow under the shade of trees. Seedsmen will usually supply mixtures suitable for heavy, medium or light soils, with or without ryegrass, according to the use to which the lawn is to be put. It will probably be advisable, unless the soil is known to be in good condition, to dress the site with some form of fertiliser before the seed is sown. The ashes from the garden bonfire or burned turf are excellent for the purpose. Failing these, any of the commercial lawn fertilisers, used at half strength, will answer the purpose equally well.

Some form of precaution against birds should be provided. Birds detest tar. and a dessertspoon of coal tar disinfectant, mixed thoroughly with the seed, will keep the birds at bay. This quantity will be sufficient to dress 10 to 201 b of seed. Keep a watch on the weather when sowing.

Seed sown on a windy day will come up in unexpected places. To obtain a closely matted layn the first year after sowing, two ounces of seed per square yard should be regarded as the minimum.