DECOKATIVE PLANTING 



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not suffer from drought. Bare spots in an old lawn can be 

 loosened with a rake and reseeded at any time. Occasionally 

 when a lawn is wanted quickly, or the soil on a sloping bank 

 is to be retained, the whole area may be sodded. For this 

 work sods from an old pasture are best, since they consist of 

 only the most resistant grasses and are fairly free from weeds. 

 Ground to be sodded should be prepared as carefully as for 

 seeding. After the sods are laid they should be thoroughly 



FIG. 145. Forest and stream illustrating Nature's method of planting 



watered and then beaten into place with the back of a spade 

 or rolled with a heavy roller. It is difficult to make grass 

 grow in deep shade, under evergreen trees and the like, and 

 some other ground cover is often used. Among the best 

 plants for this purpose are the periwinkle or myrtle, lily of 

 the valley, and moneywort. 



Paths and lawn planting. In small lawns the paths should 

 be straight and direct, but in larger areas they may curve, 

 especially if the surface of the land is uneven. Every path or 

 drive crossing the lawn makes it look smaller and adds to the 

 care that must be bestowed upon it ; no unnecessary walk, 



