SEEDS THAT GROW BETTER 
47 
STARTING A NEW LAWN 
The preparation of the seed bed is of primary importance. Fertile 
top soil should be applied to a depth of 6" to 8" rolled and packed down 
so that there are no large lumps* The top two inches should be worked 
over a number of times with a hand rake so that moisture will be retained 
and seeds will come in contact with earth rather than small voids where 
they do not gather sufficient moisture to germinate. 
In making a lawn where there has been a new building erected, all 
sticks, boards, paper bags and building paper should be kept from being 
buried up as they tend to shut out moisture. Any portion that has become 
packed down with trucking over should be loosened before top soil is 
applied. 
The three steps outlined in rejuvenating an old lawn which are (l) 
Elimination of weeds, (2) Liberal Fertilization, (3) Seeding, are just as 
essential in the making of a new lawn as they are in fixing up an old one. 
SHADE 
The public pays a great deal of money each year purchasing seed 
which is supposed to thrive in shady places* It should be kept in mind 
that the conditions under a large tree are anything but ideal for grass 
to thrive. The light, moisture and plant food are all limited* Many trees 
could be trimmed up from the ground and also some of the branches thinned 
out permitting more light to enter. Frequent watering and fertilizing 
through the growing season will help to maintain a seeding. If the area 
underneath a tree is covered in the fall with straw or hay it serves to 
protect the grass plants from the continual dripping from the tree during 
the fall and spring months when we have frequent rain together with freez¬ 
ing and thawing. 
Poa Trivalis and Red Top withstand shady conditions the best of our 
common grasses. Sow them thick and apply peat moss or top ;soil carry - 
ing a large percentage of organic matter. 
Money spent on improving the conditions under which the seed is ex¬ 
pected to grow is much preferred to purchasing so called "shady mixtures" 
in a fancy package which probably is very ordinary grass seed in a color¬ 
ed wrapper. 
SANDY SOIL 
An expensive but the most satisfactory method of combating sandy con¬ 
dition is to mix in a clay or loam soil in the top layer. This increases 
the water and plant food holding capacity and eliminates the drying out 
and bleaching process to such a degree that the common lawn grasses will 
thrive. Under very sandy conditions an application of 25% clay loam by 
volume mixed to a depth of nine inches will make it possible to establish 
and maintain a satisfactory turf. 
A suggested mixture for sandy soil is as follows: 2 part Bent Grass, 
1 part Red Top, 2 parts Fescue. 
SEEDING 
Divide seed into two portions. Sow one half north and south, the 
other half east and west. This eliminates bare spots, and insures even 
distribution. The rate of applying mixed seed is three to five lbs. per 
one thousand square feet. Sow when ground is honeycombed from frost in 
early spring. If seeding is done later than this loosen soil to depth of 
one half inch with hand rake. 
