HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-05-07, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7,1997 PAGE 17.
Lawns need preventative care
A preventative health care
program for your lawn is very
similar to one you would use to
maintain your own health. The idea
is to prevent problems from
occurring so you don’t have to
treat them. A healthy lawn can
withstand most stresses such as
weeds, insect attacks and other
diseases. Use the program outlined
below as a general guide to
growing a healthy lawn.
1. Develop healthy soil. Good
soil is the foundation of a healthy
lawn. To grow well, your lawn
needs soil with good texture, some
key nutrients and the right pH
balance. Most lawns need to be
fertilized every year, because they
need more nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium. Soil that is too
acidic can be “sweetened” with
lime; soil that’s not acidic enough
can be made more “sour” by
adding sulfur.
2. Choose a grass type that
thrives in your climate. The right
type of grass — one that suits your
needs and likes the local weather
— will always give better
results. "dP
3. Mow high, often and
with sharp blades. Mowing \
high — that is, keeping
your lawn a bit long —
will produce stronger,
healthier grass with
the lawn really needs it, and then to
water slowly and deeply.
5. Correct thatch build-up. All
grass forms a layer of dead plant
material, known as thatch, between
the grass blades and the soil. When
it gets too thick it prevents water
and nutrients from penetrating the
soil and grass roots. Reduce
thatch by raking the lawn or
using a machine that slices
through thatch to break it
up. Sprinkling a thin layer
of topsoil or compost
over the lawn will also
JIM ANDERSON
TREE MOVING SERVICES
fewer pest problems.
The rule of thumb is to mow often
enough that you never cut more
than one-third of the height of the
grass blades.
4. Water deeply but not too
often. It’s best to water only when
help.
6. Set realistic goals. Even a
healthy lawn is likely to have some
weeds or insect pests. But it will
also have beneficial insects and
other organisms that help keep
pests under control.
• We supply and plant large trees - many varieties to choose from
• Fine quality trees at prices you can afford
R.R. #1, LONDESBORO 523-4894 Evenings
10 tips for pool purchase
A pool is a lasting investment in
your family life and in your health.
So you should select a builder or
dealer as carefully as you would an
architect or builder for your home.
Here are some simple steps to
follow:
1. Read all about pools. NSPI has
a complete range of consumer
publications to help you leam about
pool planning, maintenance and
safety.
2. Call NSPI for a list of our
member builders and dealers in
your area. The telephone number is
(905) 676-1591 or toll free 1-800-
879-7066.
3. Verify references. Most
builders and dealers will be happy
to supply you with names of
previous customers. An important
guide is the logo of NSPI, the
official national association of
more than 4,300 leaders in the
swimming pool and spa industry in
Canada and the United States.
4. Ask for two or three written
bids to get an idea of the market in
your area.
5. Call the Better Business
Bureau or Chamber of Commerce
in your area to check on dealer
reputation. Some areas require that
builders and dealers are licensed
and insured.
6. Make sure your builder
follows a nationally recognized
standard, such as the ANSI/NSPI
standards.
7. Review contracts carefully
before signing. A clearly written
contract protects both you and the
builder.
8. To save money, check several
sources of financing. The interest
Continued on page 18
We Have Our Own Little
Show Every Day!
We invite you to see us at our Showroom
* R ill
iL j a
Marquis
Spas and
Fox Pools
Aqua Leader"
^yS^Above Ground
Pools
Enjoy the summer with an
in or above ground pool
• Pool & Spa Chemicals & Accessories
• FREE Water Testing
BLUE HORIZON
POOLS & SPAS
2 miles East of Goderich on Hwy. 8
RR #2 Goderich 524-9804
iMoSreAl
^PAINTS
Color .
L VoWlP"*'
Beautiful
Savings
VALUE
Beautiful!
Regal* AquaVelvet*Satin Impervo*
Blyth Decor Shoppe
Don (Barney) &L Linda Stewart
523-4840 or 523-9448 (home)
■' Right now,
you can get
expert advice
from your
Benjamin
Moore dealer
Paint A Great Impression book
(with this coupon and the purchase of any
three gallons of featured product)
• Over 100 pages of home decorating ideas
• More than 30 color and paint projects
• Painting techniques including smooshing,
tickling, ragging... q
_______________________________________