Loading...
The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-05-22, Page 11LAWN AND GARDENewwwwwwwwomosoloo OW about a lawn face lift A total fate lift may not he necessary if your lawn problem is a (matter of ,filling in a few bare speta. Start by scratching the spots with a stiff garden rake to provide tiny fur- rows that will hold the grass seed. Then sow the seed by hand and tramp the ground gent- ly with your foot, Keep the ground moist and fence it Off if foot traffic is a problem. Choose seeds that match the variety or blend of grasses,aiready in your lawn. If the.probler is more extensive, then you have to decide whether your lawn is even worth saving. That's a judgment call. If 70 or 80 percent of your lawn is still green, then you may be able to rescue it. Rent a thatching machine with vertical blades that dig down through the thatch layer and into the soil. The blades kick out the mat of dead stems and roots that block the movement of air, water and nutrients in- to the soil and root system. Rake up the debris and cart it away. Sow, good -quality seed over your entire lawn with a broadcast spreader. Keep the ground moist with light sprinklings for several weeks until the new grass is strong enough for deep watering. If you have spots of grass surrounded by a vast wasteland of weeds and thatch, then you should start a new lawn. Apply either a broadleaf weedkiller or a grass herbicide to kill the prevalent weeds in your yard. Wait until the weedkiller has dissipated, then check the thatch layer. If the thatch layer is one-half inch or more, rent a thatching machine to dig it out of the ground. Rake up the thatch and dead weeds and haul it, all away. John Deere suggests that you give it to the trash service, rather than using it in a mulch or compost pile. If any grading work needs to be done, br- inging clean soil to fill low spots and level off high spots. It's best to maintain a gentle one - to -three -degree slope away from your house to promote drainage. Spread peat moss or other organic material and fertilizer to condition the soil; till the ground to mix moss, soil and £er- tili�er into the upper five to six inches of ground. Dake the seedbed smooth but loose so seed can fall into tiny cracks and crevices. Sow a high-quality disease=resistant grass -seed mix or blend over your lawn. Consult your county extension advisor for grass varieties that do well. Gently run a leaf rake over the soil to cover the seed. Keep the seedbed moist by sprinkling a gen- tle spray of water as often as necessary. It may require watering two times a day in hot, dry weather. A light covering of straw will help retain soil moisture. When the grass is at the proper height for mowing, cut it with a sharp blade. Mowing actually encourages grass to grow horizon- tally for a thicker carpet that can choke out weeds. By planting the right grass variety for your climate and the amount of foot traffic across your lawn, you can maintain a healthy stand of grass with only a little touch-up work now and then. Late Surnmers and early Fail are best times to plant many types of trees In opposition to the long -held belief that spring is the only time to plant landscape greenery, a scientific study has shown that late summer and early fall are the best times to plant many varieties of trees and shrubs. "Most containerized or balled and burlap" - ped plants can be planted and established successfully in late summer or early -fall, thus providing a viable alternative to the more traditional spring planting," says George L. Good, professor of floriculture at Cornell University, who conducted the study. Plants, such as spruce, pine, juniper, honeylocust. maple, flowering crabapple, lilac, and linden, among other species, can be planted successfully in the fall. Yew, for- sythia, English ivy, and rhododendron can also be planted at that time. the scientist planted a variety of species at a site located on Long Island in late August,. September, October, and November 1980, and in May and June 1981. These plants were then evaluated through the 1983 growing season. Results showed that only those plants set out in late November suffered any winter injury; those planted earlier in the season showed little or no bad effects. Good attributes this success to the fact .that plants set out at this time suffer "mss acute moisture stress," a factor crucial to their chances of survival. In addition, the weather "usually cooperates during late summer and early fall, providing en- vironmental conditions conducive to good plant establishment," Good says, For more information on this extended 'planting season, the American Association of Nurserymen recommends that you con- tact your local retail nursery or landscape firm. "Spring's not the only time to plant," Says the AAN. "Discover the pleasure of planting now." Thereare no rules when it comes to choosing house plants only guidelines to follow When it comes to selecting plants to enhance your home's interior settings, there aren't any hard-and-fast rules...But there are a few important guidelines to keep in mind. First, choose plants which are well-suited to your normal home environment. Con- , siderations, such as availability of light, ' range of temperature, and humidity must be made;as are decisions regarding how - and where - you will use your plants. Consider many factors When you make landscape plans for your property, you must consider the width and depth of the property, as well as the height of the house and trees. Knowing the height, width and depth is, of course, crucial to the planning process, but there's one more im- portant dimension you can't neglect: time. . The passage of time will reflect the chang- ing needs of your family. This is especially evident when you have children, but it's also true if you don't. Interests change whether you have children or not, and your land- scape can be designed to change as needed. Another element of time to keep in mind is the sequence of construction - which land- scaping project should be done first? Again, that depends on what you need and want, and how much you can afford; so it is, real- ly, a matter of personal choice. But the very act -of choosing ahead of time - setting your priorities - is a vital part of landscape plan- ning process. Contact your local retail nursery or land- scape firm for guidance in assessing your landscape needs, so you can get ready to in- stall beauty in your environment. Fertilize for growth balance Trees and lawngrasses must be agreeable t eimpari'u kr the yard; aitd cer,4,�iitlr-t-hey-- complement one another in landscaping. But each will rob the other of a measure of soil fertility unless the lawn under the trees is fertilized.- For the sake of -tile grass, fer- tilize ertilize with small amounts fairly frequently; that way the grass with more shallow roots gets more, although tree roots benefit too. Wren"a weakly growing tree- equires-a higher level of nutrients, it is probably best to poke holes in the soil under its leaf canopy and fill them with fertilizer (or drive fer- tilizer spikes into the groquid), to give the tree what it needs without, overstimulating the grass. Space holes every 18-24 inches at - random. Either way, use nitrogen sources that release the nutrient gradually so that lawngrasses and trees benefit throughout the spring and summer. Leaf spots occur in short lawns If your lawn is being watered and fertiliz- ed but still seems yellowish, this yellowing could be due to leaf spot disease. This disease is a fungus that attacks blades of grass. Leaf spots have a yellow centre and darker borders. - this disease can be a problem when the " weather is cool and moist. Leaf spots occur most often in lawns that are mowed quite short. A fungicide usually isn't necessary for a home lawn. Most modern bluegrass lawns are resistant to this, disease. However, if your lawn is affected, increase your mowing height, water deeper but less frequently and apply your fall fertilizer a bit earlier in the _. fall. Most lawns can grow out of this pro- blem as days get hotter. And how will your plants be'' used? To lighten a small area, such as a bookshelf, wall unit,' or even a kitchen countertop? Or will they be used to divide a large room or "tie the dimensions" of a high-ceilinged room together? Then keep in mind that small is better in a small room. It's all a matter of proportion. Second, how much care are you willing to take? If you don't want to take a lot of time and effort to nursclicate specimens, then go with the wide range of "easy -care" plants avatiaaie to you trout your local retail nursery. In the final analysis, it's a matter of Iler- sonal judgement, along with due considera- tion of plant needs. Educating yourself on -watering, feeding, potting, and other aspects of nature's green gifts, is fun and quite rewarding. Your local garden centre can give you good advice on "everything you've ever wanted to know" about interior plants, to help you discover the pleasure of plants. GODERIC SIGN TAR, N SDAY1F, MAY 22,1985 --PAGE 11 INT1-16-i--)11CirstZTH ALL NEW PORTABLE FIRE PiT Now available at Smith's Farm & Garden Versatile, practical, dean and fire safe. Burns wood or charcoal. Mini, standard and deluxe models available, as well asinground. Cold rolled steel construction will last for years. Ideal for your back yard, cottage and campsite. See it demonstrated today at Smith's! Seasais Hie Re Exclusive Area Dealer: SMITH'S FARM & GARDEN CENTRE, 182 South St., 524-9522 SPECIAL NOTE: Don't worry that your dandelions are going to seed. We can still get a kill and guarantee you a Weed Free lawn for the rest _of the year. - caOVERNMENT LICENSED Remember: We Guarantee Results or We Do It Again... NO CHARGE THE . Public Utilities Commision OF .THE ,,.-re.c„�»_�,.. may, Town of Goderich v BY-LAW NUMBER 22 A by-law to regulate the use of water for gardening and other purposes In the Town of Goderich, passed on October 9, 1980. WHEREAS by virtue of the provisions contained in The Public Utilities Act, R.S.A. 1970, Chapter 390, Section 12, 'a municipal corporation may pass by -lows for regulating, among other things, the time, manner, extent and nature of the supply by the works, the'building or person to which and to whom water shall be furnished and every other matter or thing related to or connected therewith in order to secure to the inhabitants of the municipality a continued and abundant supply of pure and wholesome water; - AND WHEREAS pursuant to Section 41, Sub -section 1 of the said Act, where a commission has been established, all the powers, rights, authorities and privileges that are by the Act conferred on a municipal corporation shall be exercised by the commission; AND WHEREAS it is deemed desirable to regulate the hours and conditions under which water shall be supplied for the purpose of watering (awns and other areas within the Town of Goderich and to provide for offencesfor contravention of such regulations; NOW THEREFORE The Public Utilities Commission of the Town of Goderich enacts as follows: 1 (a) No person being the owner or tenant or occupant of property shall permit water from the municipal water system to be used for the purposes of washing, watering or irrigating any Town. garden, landscaped area, asphalt area, concrete area, or any other area of such property; (b) No person hiving the apparent care and control of property shall permit water from the municipal water system to be used for the purposes of washing, watering or irrigating any lawn, garden, landscaped area, asphalt area, concrete area, or any other area of such property; (c) For'ihe purposes of section 1(0), "owner" shall be deemed to include persons who are shown as such on the then current assessment rolls for the Town of Goderich, or. persons who are registered owners of property as disclosed in the records of the Land Registry Office. 2 This by-law shall be deemed not to prcfibit the otherwise lawful use of water from the municipal water system during the n'onths of January to May, both inclusive, and Octel ter-ta_DecemberJ:a_,9th int:lusitce IP ary calendar year. 3 During the months of June, July, August and September In an year, this by' -lava' shall be deemed not prohibit the otherwise lawful use of water from the municipal water system as follows: (a)_Water mtly_be used_ for all lawful purposes with respect to properties which Ile entirety to the east of an imaginary line drawn from the int"ersecWor-i"�tTie ceniFe line of North Street with the northerly boundary of the Town of Goderich; thence southerly along the centre line of North Street to its intersection with Court House Square; thence southerly along the southerly production of the centre line of North Street of its intersection with the noFfherTy Nome of the centre thttrof'$aoftr Street; thence southerly along the centre line of South Street to its intersection with the southerly boundary of the Town of Goderich, but only during the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time Sunday in each week; (b) Water+ may be used for all lawful purposes with respect to properties which lie entirely to the west of the imaginary line described in section 3(a) but only during the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time Sunday in each week. 4 Notwithstanding Section 1 the commission, or its authorized officer, may by special permit, permit *e use of water from the municipal water system for all otherwise lawful purposes on such terms and conditions as the Commission or its authorized officer deceit ©dviseble. Each of the Chairman, Vice -Chairman, Manager and Secretary of the Commission is deemed to be an authorized officer within the meaning of this by•Iaw. Special permits will be in a form similar to that in attached Schedule "A" which forms a part of this by-law: 5 Notwithstanding Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this 6y -law, in the event of a fire to which the Town of Goderich Fire Department is called, no person being the owner, tenant, or occupant, or having the apparent care and control of property, upon notification shall permit water from the municipal water system to be -used for the purposes of washing, watering or irrigating any lawn, garden, landscaped area, asphalt area, concrete area, or any other area of such property. 6 This by-law shall be deemed not to apply to The Municipal Corporation of the Town of Goderich. 7 Anyone wl o contravenes this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than 300 dollars. 8 Sy -low No. 19 of The Public Utilities Commission of the Town of Goderich passed on the 15th day of June, 1978 is hereby repealed save with respect to proceedings which have been commenced under lay -law No. 19 prior to this date of final passage of this by-law. 9 This by-law may be referred to as "The Watering Control By-law". 10 This by-law shall take effect from and after the date of its final passage. GODERICH PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION It is Important That These Restrictions Be d4alherea! To: PLEASE SAVE THIS SCHEDULE FOR REFERENCE WATERING RESTRICTIONS -JUNE - JULY -AUGUST -SEPTEMBER TOWN OF GODERICH L• • a' IN AREA No, 1 Watering May be Done On TUES., THURS., SAT. Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The Whole n May Use Hose Service /11 IN AREA No. 2 Watering May Be Done On MON., WED., FRI. Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. SUNDAY 8 a.m. to 11 u.m. YOUR CO-OPERATION IN ADHERING TO THESE TIMES WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED rift