The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 38G10
lawn care
starts in the spring
Don't forget to rake.
This is considered one of the most impor-
tant steps in revitalizing a lawn says Tom
Grasby of The Weed Man m Goderich.
"The grass debris accumulated through
the winter should be raked off. The debris
contains chemicals that could inhibit the
growth of new seeds. These are natural
chemicals formed by decaying plant life.
Grass seed will germinate, but the residual
chemicals will attack the root and there will
not be a high yield. Raking gets ,fid of the
debris and allows the seed to have contact
with the soil." Grasby said, adding that
manufactured chemicals are usually
targeted at specific insects or weeds and ac-
tually have a short residual time in the soil.
Area lawns are lagging behind the rest of
the country right now because of cool spring
conditions. Grasby recently met with other
Weed Man Dealers at a National Seminar
from as far afield as Nova Scotia, British
Columbia, and the Prairies and "they are
much further ahead. Here, seeding has been
slower. A low soil' temperature does not
allow for quick germination. All we need is a
week of warm weather, and things will real-
ly begin to pop," Grasby said.
When people inspect their lawns for
winter injury, that is; insects or 'disease,
they will notice bare patches and think re-
seeding -is all that is necessary to fill in the
patches.
In fact, these isolated patches then don't
get the attention they need. It would be bet-
ter to put your lawn on a regular fertilizing
and weed control program. Poing this will
encourage the grass around these areas to
reproduce new roots and tillers and fili aii
the bare patches. In most cases the areas
will fill in on their own. If . the areas are
'larger than 6" to 8" in diameter dig off
about one centimetre and resod the patch.
The sod will knit quickly with the soil and
you will have instant grass instead of
waiting for the seeds to germinate and
grow, Grasby said.
When it comes to weed control, the secret
is to grow a good, thick, tight lawn. "A tight
lawn excludes light; and crabgrass needs
light to flourish," Grasby said. Another tip
is not to mow too short. A three cm turf is
OK for a football field, but the ideal lawn for
a residence is five cm. This also means you
need only mow every seven to 10 days, and a
five cm lawn will have 60 per cent more root
growth.
Kentucky Blue Grass is the most suitable
for this area,• and with a five cm mowed-
length, it can achieve up to 24 cm of root
growth. Kentucky Blue Grass is drought -
tolerant, it's winter hardy, is disease and in-
sect resistant and is easily managed. Its on-
ly drawback is that it is not shade -tolerant.
Red Fescue on the other hand does not have
the quality of Kentucky Blue Grass, but it is
shade tolerant, Grasby said.
For spring fertilizing, a 4-1-2 ratio
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is best,
he said. Avoid overwatering and sprinkling,
because this provides a moist seed bed for
weeds to germinate. Also avoid overfertiliz-
ing, which would also nourish weed growth.
The biggest weed problem for lawns in
this area is bent grass, a finely -bladed weed
that grows in distinctive round, blush -green
patches for which no herbicide has been
found: Again the best way to prevent this
weed growing is management, Grasby said.
Most
other broadleaf weeds
can be Selec-
tively removed by herbicides once they
have emerged.
Every lawn needs fertilizing
Question: Why do lawns need fertilizing?
Isn't watering and mowing enough?
Answer: Lawns need fertilizing the same
way you need food. A balanced diet $cep
lawns healthy by providing the right
nutrients to grow strong and green.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are
key to your lawn's health. Nitrogen pro-
motes rapid growth and also helps keep
grass green. Phosphorus produces a strong
root system, and potassium increases
disease resistance and wearability. Most
fertilizers contain a healthy dose of all
three.
to Clean
Your
Home
6 Reasons Why!
1. Easier • no heavy lugging,
no cord to tangle.
2. Quicker - you'll whisk
from room to room
3. Cleaner - more cleaning
power than ordinary vacs
4 Healthier - dirt collection
unit located away from living
area
5. Quieter - whisper -quiet
vacuuming
6. Cleans any surface •
enough attachments supplied
to clean any surface
System starting
from $399
U..4rh� icon Annliances
1 .�AlVssssmv�' _rte rvv
308 Huron Rd., Goderich 524-7831
SM
I. BB'S IS IN THE
LL ENGINES BUSINESS!
*String Trimmers
*Lawn Mowers
*Riding Mowers & Tractors
oChalnsaws
*G, s -Powered Blowers
H. LOBB & SONS LTD.
4823409
Q
°
0
[� (103) Regular Price 34.00
8.,.
p SALE 276
■
G
(81)
° Reg. Price
° 27.70
° SALE
G
Let us stir -
up some
savings`
for you!
PAGE 7
e
CARE
RUG & UPHOLSTERY
STEAM CLEANING
Automotive Upholstery Cleaning
No Scrubbing
-No Shrinkage
Carpet dries in a few hours
Free Estimates
DOUG GAVIN
524-2440
JUUL 1Lle
SALE
ENDS
June 30, 1986
G ,�'nin move"
Q (112) Regular Price 34.80
°
0
PAINT
_ G
1"nlamin Moore gC
(110) Regular Price 36.°0
°
SALE 292.8
2216
•
1��klmin Nloorc�ti�
(96) LI
Reg. Price °
37.80
SALE GG
302.4t
"+Dore.
%tin baP
441
GUAR SPAR
VanNisM
2%84
° SALE / f>�
BAECHLER o
ciIliteisem t , Itatt a ioi$
C 150 SHOPPERS SQUARE GODERICH 524-ov"v"v
S00000OGo°Go°GG°GL7°G°GGG0GGOGGL�1M0
(441) Regular Price 54.85
43
88
SALE ■