LAWNS 53 



area should have a proper depth of topsoil in which the feeding roots of 

 grass can develop, there are many instances where for purposes of 

 economy or otherwise a sufficient depth of topsoil is not provided. 



The first step is to determine the depth of topsoil which is to be finally 

 spread over the finished subgrade of the lawn. The less the depth of 

 topsoil the greater will be the cost of future maintenance over a period 

 of years succeeding the first year. The surface of the finished subgrade 

 should be established to conform with the finished grade of the lawn 

 area and at a definite, even depth below this finished grade of this lawn 

 area. No topsoil should be spread over this subgrade until every pre- 

 caution has been taken to be certain that an excessive depth of topsoil 

 will not be necessary where spots of extreme depression can be located 

 in the surface of the subgrade and previously filled. In sections of the 

 country where the subsoil consists of a clay loam and other types of 

 heavy soil the item of providing topsoil for the preparation of the lawn 

 area is one of the most expensive items in the landscape development 

 of the property. Experience has shown that topsoil is one of the 

 items which is often subjected to the greatest amount of waste, and 

 it should be carefully conserved and not used, in any instance, except 

 to the correct depth as required. 



When the subgrade is completed and previous to the application of 

 any topsoil it is often well, especially on types of clay soil, to apply a coat- 

 ing of lime at the rate of not more than twenty-five pounds to every 

 i,ooo square feet. On the top of this, a layer of well-rotted manure at 

 the rate of one cubic yard for every five hundred square feet should be 

 applied. The lime and manure should then be spaded or harrowed into 

 this finished surface of the subgrade and the final surface smoothed with 

 shovels or rakes before the final layer of topsoil is applied. This thor- 

 ough preparation of the subgrade is much more essential if a shallow 

 depth (two inches to three inches of topsoil) is to be used. It is not so 

 essential if a more generous depth (four inches to six inches of topsoil) 

 is to be used. 



Fertilizer For Lawn Preparation. In the preparation of a lawn 

 area the problem of correctly fertilizing this area is an important 

 one. On the less fertile and poor types of soil a liberal application of 

 well-rotted manure together with Hme should be spread. Manure 

 should be used at the rate of one cubic yard for each five hundred square 

 feet and lime should be used at the rate of between twelve and twenty- 



