WORK ON THE LAWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1940, Page 9

WORK ON THE LAWN

TIME FOR WEEDING. The wet weather has been responsible for many lawns becoming infested with weeds, but if steps are taken to eradicate them now and pinches of seed sown in the bare places, the lawn will have a chance to recover before winter sets in. The most satisfactory method is by hand weeding. The application of lawn sand results in the death of clovers, daisies, plantains and other broad leaved weeds. but even then they have to be raked off. Except on very large lawns, therefore. all weeds should be dug out separately. For weeds such as daisies and plaintain, which do not make taproots, the small two pronged daisy digger is ideal. For those which penetrate their strong taproots deep into the soil, like dandelion, dock and thistle, this tool is of little use. To get rid of these a strong long bladed knife is best, as it can be thrust deeply down beside them and the roots severed several inches below the level of the soil. If a pinch of lawn sand is dropped into the hole so that it comes into contact with the stump of root left, destruction will be complete. Even if this precaution is neglected, however, there is little possibility of the plant reviving. Those which do send up more shoots can easily be removed later as they will be weak when they do appear. A damp season results in the excessive growth of moss, which is a sign that the lawn is sour or waterlogged. If it is sour, the lawn can be improved by the application of four ounces of powdered charcoal per square yard. Before the charcoal is applied the moss should be removed by scratching with a rake, afterwards brushing it off and burning it. A waterlogged lawn can be remedied by laying drains.

When the growth of the grass is about finished for the season a top-

dressing should be applied. On a heavy soil, this should take the form of sand with which a good brand of fertiliser has been mixed. On a light soil, loam peat, or leafmould. should be substituted for the sand.