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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-29, Page 51New Grass Plants Need Water at .MOISTURELEVEL • On your lawn Those roots Failure to keep a newly seeded lawn moist during the first weeks after the grass seed has germinated is one of the most common reasons for unsuccessful seeding, ac- cording to experts at O. M. Scott & Sons, the lawn people. After germination of the ,moi, which takes a week or ten days for most grasses, the first tiny root probes into the grand seeking moisture and nourishment. Then the tender young plant sends up its first Ai, 01 IluCtut leaf or blade. This is the critical period, say the agronomists, when the top inch or so of ground must be kept moist if the plant is to survive. To provide the right con- ditions for success when ad- ' ding seed to a thin lawn or one with bare spots, the Scotts experts add these recom- mendations: + First, mow the grass short about ane. inch high, and remove the clippings. + Scratch up the soil to a Turnc iippings into compost..., Fertile -smelling, brown decomposed -organic matter -- great stuff for improving garden soils. If.you •are not 'turning weeds. leases, lawn clippings; and kit- chen refuse intotompost, you are o'u'ting a good, cheap way to im- prove your soil: You can speed up composting by adding extra nitrogen and a lit- tle lime. Keep .the pile molsi and turn it occasionally. When the compost is no longer hot to touch, spread it on your garden and add lite to sour soil. depth of one-quarter to one- half inch with an iron hand rake or similar tool to create crevices where the seed can lodge and grow. + Using a precision spreader, apply 'a good quality seed at the recommended rate. + The same day you seed, spread a fertilizer that is a.i2lly flacig nc.d to give a boost to new seedlings. A Tight rne,lrh of straw or peat moss can help to retain moisture and protect against water run-off. + Keep the soil moist but not flooded, and when the seed has sprouted don't let that top inch or so become dry untilthe roots are established. + Mow at one -inch for the first four or five mowings to prevent existing grass from smothering the seedlings coming up. +• Four. to six weeks after seeding, give the lawn another feeding, using a regular high - nitrogen fertilizer that releases its nutrients ,at a controlled rate. \\\ \\\\ Vik\ \\\‘\. IT'S.TIMEFO.RSOME Off to a g9od start Getting your lawn off to a good start will prevent many problems later in the season, says Bob Hamersma, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food horticulturist. Start your spring' lawn maintenance with a general clean-up. Rake the lawn lightly with a leaf rake or wooden rake to remove debris. Don't use a heavy steel rake because it will disturb the grass roots. While the ground is still wet, it's a good idea to avoid walking on the lawn. Unnecessary traffic can cause soil compaction which will reduce the amount of oxygen avaiinble to gra roots. To get the best mileage fr-om your fertilizer dollar, wait. until daytime temperatures reach 10 degrees C (50 degrees F) and the soil temperature is six degrees C (40 degrees F ). "Applying fertilizer too early won't hurt the grass, but you may be washing your money away," says Hamer- sma. "The grass can't use the nitrogen until it starts to grow. Iff the fertilizer is applied too early, spring rains will wash it down into the soil before the grass has a chance to use it." Garden centres and other commercial outlets offer a wide range of fertilizers which can be confusing to home gardeners. Basically, fer- tilizers fall into two categorien — fast -acting chemical fer- tilizers, and those with part of the nitrogen in a slow-release form, usually urea for- maldehyde. "Straight chemical fer- tilizers are the cheapest of the two, but they provide shorter term benefits," says Hamersmi . "Their benefits are usually exhausted in three to four weeks. The slow release - fertilizers provide nitrogen to the lawn in two stages. Some of the nitrogen is available immediately, while the remainder is released over a six toeight week period." Hamersma recommends applying fertilizers at a rate of 0.5 to 0.9 kilograms per 10 square metres (one to two PageAr. pounds per 100 square feet) in two separate applications. Apply fertilizer once length- wise and then once across the lawn to prevent burning and to ensure complete coverage. Crabgrass. is the only, lawn weed which is commonly . controlled at this time of year. This can be done with a spray or with a granular application of crabgrass killer mixed with fertilizer. Fertilizers with added weed control for broad- leaved weeds should not be used until mickMay. These herbicides are effective only on actively growing weeds. You' can also reseed bare patches in lawns when the soil warms up. Scrape the soil with a heavy rake to level the surface and break, the soil up into a seedbed with two cen- timetre (one -inch) lumps or. clods. This type of seedbed will provide shade for the seeds. After seeding, rake lightly to ensure that the seeds are in contact with the soil; it is not necessary to cover the seeds. Keep the soil moist to ensure germination. aking mowing easy A well-maintained lawn mower will help reduce the frustrations and backaches that can make . mowing the lawn a chore. 8 Ross. Irwin, of the School of Engineering,- Ontario Agricultural College, says. pre -season• maintenance of. the lawn mower will help the Cutting season go smoothly. To begin, clean the un derside of the mower to remove stray bits• of grass• . and dirt. Use a putty knife, screwdriver or wire brush. If you didn't remember to' do it last fall, drain the gasoline and oil from the lawn mower and wash any rust -or sediment from the •When • sharpening the blades, don't try to file away all the nicks. That ' un• balances the blade. Using an angle of 45 degrees, file or grind the same amount of metal from each side of the blade. Don't grind the bot- tom of theblades. If the blades are bent or damaged, replace them. Don't try to straighten them: Be sure the bolt holding the blade in place is tight, and the lockplate is in place. For, maximum engine effeciency, ..Mr. .I.rwi.n. suggests cleaning the air .filter by rinsing it in detergent 'and water. Replace when dry and re -oil. The spark plug should be replaced each year. :Adjust the cutting height to leave the -grass a bit longer in the spring. The cutting height can be • adjusted to give the lawn a closer cut as the season progresses. IMPROVEMENT AT YOUR HOME Improvement in your TV Reception. We can do it quickly and easily by replacing your old system with.... TOWERS, AERIALS & BOOSTERS 1 and got better TV Reception Ask us about Delhi's New antennas featuring SUPEP PECEPTPOfl® 11111 with ATO/^u,u+ and the many other Delhi Products we stock that will give your TV and FM "RECEPTION CLEARANCE" for a long time to come. Let us Install one for you Today! 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