HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-04-15, Page 34Page 10
Ten common questions about lawncare
My Lawn Is Lumpy,
Should I Roll It?
Lumpy lawns are often thin lawns. A long-
term quality fertilizer program helps to
reduce the lumpiness. Rolling tends to com-
pact the soil which reduces air, water, and
root penetration. Rolling can even damage
tender grass plants in spring! However,
newly installed slid should always,be rolled
to make good, firm contact with the soil.
Why Won't Grass Grow
Well Under My Tree?
All grasses need lots of light to grow
strong and healthy. Even special shade
grasses require more light than most people
think. Shade provides an ideal climate for
the dusty, white fungal disease - powdery
mildew - to brutally attack turfgrass. Apply-
ing a suitable fungicide - necessary every
week - is just too bothersome for most home
owners. It is best to reduce the shade any
way possible. Regular, thorough trees prun-
ing is an excellent method for reducing the
shade.
Choose trees for the landscape which pro-
duce only light shade like: honey locust and
mountain ash. If trees cannot be pruned or
replaced, forget about growing grass under
trees completely. Try a shade tolerant
ground cover - an attractive, low growing,
spreading plant which requires minimal
care. Examples include: Periwinkle,
Oregon grape, Lily -of -the -Valley,
Euonymous, Plantain Lily.
How Do I Get Rid Of
Moss In My Lawn?
Moss thrives in a cool, moist, shaded en-
vironment. In most parts of Canada, simply
reducing shade by pruning trees, improving
drainage and implementing a good fertilizer
program will reduce a moss problem. Iia
coastal British Columbia, where cool moist
perly. If soil is acidic and lime is alkaline
lime is added to neutralize the soil. A soils
laboratory can test your soil to check the
soil acidity 1pH i.
conditions prevail, moss control and moss
removal may be necessary.
How Do I Fix Dead,
Brown Spots On My
A few simple steps in spring
can mean a lush green lawn
How Do I Get Rid Of
Mushrooms In My Lawn?
Mushrooms are a type of fungus. They
cannot produce their own food. They live on
decaying plant matter and use that for food.
Mushrooms love warm, wet conditions and
are often a problem following summer
rainfall.
Conditions when mushrooms grow well
occur rather infrequently. The most prac-
tical method for controlling mushrooms is to
simply rake them away when they occur.
Mushrooms may indicate a more serious
disease problem like fairy ring.
How Do I Get Rid Of
Strange, Ugly Grasses
Iaa My Lawn
First of all, don't assume that every weed
grass is crabgrass. Good horticultural books
or your Weed Man can help to identify your
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Lawn From Dog Urine?
Urine contains very concentrated fer-
tilizer salts which burn your lawn. You can
often see lush, green rings surrounding the
spots.
Dead patches should first be watered well
to flood the salts away. A small amount of
potting soil can be added to each spot for a
seed bed. Seed the area and rake the seed in
gently. Stamp the seed into contact with the
soil and water regularly for at least one
month.
A good fertilizer program helps to blend -
in green patches. If possible, isolate a small
hidden area for your dog's business. Fill
that patch with gravel and train your dog to
use it.
Does My Lawn Need Lime?
Certain pockets of the country suffer from
acidic soil. Acidic soil prevents plants from
absorbing sufficient nutrients to grow pro -
weed grass problem Unwanted grasses can
include: Quackgrass, Tall Fescue. Annual
Bluegrass. Bentgrass and Crabgrass.
Crabgrass can be selectively controlled.
Some of the other weed grasses must be dug
out for control. A strong. fertilized
weed -free lawn which is properly mowea
and frequently watered. helps to reduce a
weed grass problem.
What time of Day Is Best To Water My
Lawn?
If your lawn is seriously dried -out for
some reason — due to a long weekend holi-
day in summer — water as soon as you
notice the problem. Ideally. water
penetrates into the soil with little evapora-
tion. Leaves must be dry by nightfall. Water
on leaves overnight can increase disease
problems.
If I Get My Insect Problem Treated Now,
Does That Mean That I'll Never Have To
Worry About Them Again?
Insect problems treated by the The Weed
Man will be controlled for a spring, summer
or fall season. There are many different
types of turfgrass insects that attack at
various times during the year. You could
have problems with two different insects at-
tacking during different times of the same
year. Remenber that insects are always hat-
ching and fly too' Your lawn is just too
valuable to be ruined by insects:
Nly Lawn Feels Spongy, Why'.
Sponginess can indicate a heavy buildup
of dead plant parts called thatch. If this
thatch layer is deep, it can reduce the
penetration of water, air, nutrients and
grass roots. Thatch can also harbour insects
and disease. He may suggest raking,
aerating and recommend some changes in
your present methods of caring for your
lawn.
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