Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-05-10, Page 342i I & GARDEN''iMPiROy,,Eh Ef " WEEK OF MAY 7, 1979' 1.eeping your !awn in .min coedit o If you have planted a new lawn, you'll want .to ensure that it grows into a perma- nent ,part .of your landscape, A beautiful lawn doesn't: happen by magic but lawn care doesn't have to be a problem as long as you re-. member the basics—provide proper watering, feed it good' nutrients, keep it well - Mowed and weed -free, How much water you should give your lawn really depends on variables like the climate, type of soil, and sea- son, You can learn by, work- ing out a flexible watering schedule and noting how, your lawn reacts, ' Keep in mind that grass. roots will extend themselves only airy illioist areas. so with just a superficial sprinkling. the roots won't penetrate deep into the soil, A water .supply six inches to one foot' deep will be adequate for >. most lawns. You; can test for water. depth simply by poking .a - screwdriver into the ground. 'fit slips in easily, to ti inches,. the soil is properly moist, Like all living things, your lawn needs nutrition and the recommendedmenu is a bal- anced combination of nitro' gen,. phosphorous, and potassium. Nitrogen is the mainstay of the diet since it enaburages greening and, 'helps build upa healthy root system: yet, it's also the most scarce element in the soil and. Greenhouses are a Lawns require care and proper f nitrogen, Besure yours gets a popuI hobby proper balanced rnmbination of dtrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Nitrogen encourages greening and helps build a • BX BRUCE MCBRIIDE The public is becoming I increasingly :interested in small greenhouses as a hobby and as a means of gardening year round. Many gardeners are constructing hobby greenhouses from their own plans. while others purchase kits available from suppliers: Before, one begins, •local: climate conditions . warrant: careful investigation to ensure structural adequacy of the proposed unit. A goodfoundation is essentialto anchor the small. greenhouse and preventa possible tip -over during: windy .weather. Either .a concrete ora pressure treated post folandation must be constructed to go below the frost. level. Some green- house suppliers have prefab cedar foundations which extend 18 inches below ground level., Quonset -style green- houses are usually formed of galvanized steel pipe hoops covered with one or two. layers of polyethylene. Self - builders often :.erect the greenhouse structural frame from wood which, if painted or treated; .should give long lifeto the greenhouse. Red. cedar and redwood: are:. the best woods to use for the framework due. to ..their. natural weathering • resist- ance and their resistance AO shrinking „and warping. When selecting a green- house covering, factors such as percentage of light :trans - healthy root system. But nitrogen is the most scarce element in the soil and is easily dissolved by rain and. watering; That's why most garden centers carry special lawn fertilizers. ' , which include water insoluble nitrogen for extended greening; It's easyy to putdown on your lawn with a 12%11 spreader, as shown above, and should be applied every four to six weeks, followedby watering. Y• If you're in the market' for a, loan, the first place you should go is to the Roya Bank. Our Loans Officers would really like to help you with your particular plans. And there are a. lot of differentways wecan be of help. _ We have Personal Loans for alnost any worthwhile purpose, And for major :purchases Special Purpose Loans up to $40,000 and longer terms are available.. The rates are flexible too. So before you go anywhere, go to the Royal Bank where :borrowing is comfort- able. We'd really like to help. RCYALBAN I< .: ft�ra lot of masons. • BRUSSELS BRANCH Tree planting can reduce energy bills Want a beautiful way to reduce your gas and electric bills? Plant some trees. a Research shows that plant- ing deciduous trees at the west and south sides of the house can reduce summer cooling bills and winter ing bills by 10 to 20 percent. Savings vary dependi climate. In South, Dako plains state with high winter winds, fuel consumption was measured for two identical houses, one with a windbreak of trees and the other exposed. The tree - protected house had 25%less fuel consumpGod:• heat- ng on ta, a mission, thermal radiation transmittance, life of the material and initial invest- ment must be considered and evaluated collectively. •Polyethylene can be put on the frame as a double layer and: air bhi vn'. between the layers to cut heat costs 30 to; 40 per cent as compared to a single-layerpoly-house, The poly -house is .easy to, con- struct and is about„SQ per Gent of the cost of a glass greenhouse: Double Poly- ethylene transmits 81 per cent of available light but has the drawback of usually :last- ing only one growing season. Glass greenhouses have a. high initial cost but have the highest life of any covering material, Glass has, a very high light transmittance of 90 per cent. Reinforced fiber- glass panels have good light. transmittance, with many. panels having a guaranteed, life of 15 to 20 years; Other rigid panels ' available; are acrylic glass and PVC panels. The disadvantage of 'a small greenhouse is that it heats up quickly when the sun is out and also cools quickly when the sun goes behind a clouds. This char- acteristic necessitates . the use of heaters and proper ventilation. -The hobby greenhouse can be constructed free standing' or as a lean-to to an existing` structure. . is easily dissolved by ratnand watering: To :help keep laWns in. "mint"' condition, most gar- den centers no carry spe- cial lawn fertilizers, like Or- tbo*s Lawn Fpod 24-4-8, which, include water insolu- ble nitrogen .f'i'r extended greening. Espread the Ortho asy lawn spreaders, thi; formulal ;stohould; be with applied. every .four to six, weeks, fol- lowed: by watering fora quick. greening response, With good care, quick greening will go hand in hand. with quick growing. But if. you let the grass grow' too high, then cut it very :low, you'll; suddenly subject stems .that have been shaded to sunburn: -,and your once green lawn will look like straw. Most grasses respond well to mowing higher than you might expect, so if you're in. doubt check; with your local garden center,. For a hand- some finish, you might .even put your lawn twice, once in each direction. If broadleaf weeds appear to; mar the: beauty of your Lawn, use a broad, spectrum. weed killer It will conquer dande- lion, chickweed, clover, plantains .and many other broadleaf weeds, as listed on the label. . That helpssolve the mys- tery of' maintaining a beauti- ful lawn. SAFETY with precast concrete sups OffOffM Mr. Unit Step ' can provide you with a safer entrance a Non Slip Safety Treads •. • Maintenance free No painting • Expertly replaced in houre required- . nor days a Manysizes of steps . • • Steel re-intorced•precast and porches• concrete provides longer lite' Quallty Ornamental• iron railings to compliment your entrance Call Mr., Unit Step for your free estimate< mat* mma <PAT>LorkurIB Seaforth 527-1320' Your Precast Specialists