Growing 
Better 
Lawns 
It is not difficult to have a good lawn, provided good Grass 
Seed is used and a little attention given to ground prep¬ 
aration. 
The preparation of the soil is much the same in all cases 
—occasionally unusual conditions exist which call for special 
treatment. 
A rich soil is not necessary as humus and fertilizer which 
are inexpensive, can be added to ordinary soils and a perfect 
lawn will result. May we suggest Peat Moss and Vigoro, the 
only eleven element fertilizer. 
After clearing off the area, decide on the level or contours 
desired. Proceed to level in a rough way before starting to 
spade or fork the ground. After this has been done, the 
ground should be spaded or forked over. Lawn grasses are 
not deep rooted but the condition of the soil will be greatly 
improved by a good, deep cultivation. After the area has all 
been worked it should be watered and left for a week or two 
to allow weed seeds to sprout. It may be necessary, according 
to the time of the year, to water frequently to get the soil 
moist and weed seeds to germinate. 
FINAL SOIL PREPARATION 
Some soils are very sandy and lack fertility and moisture 
content. A top soil covering consisting of good loam about 3 
inches thick combined with a good dressing of peat moss 
will provide an ideal soil for lawns. 
On the other hand, heavy adobe and clay soils will be im¬ 
proved by a generous quantity of peat moss when spading 
the ground. 
We have mentioned that the roots of grasses are not deep 
and for this reason we recommend that after the ground has 
been worked over and weed seeds sprouted a second forking 
over be done. Before doing this, however, a good dusting of 
Bone Meal should be applied to the soil and also a good 
dressing of humus (Peat Moss) should be spread on top. 
If weed free Sheep Guano is available put on a layer of about 
an inch all over the surface. 
Having done this, fork over the ground about 3 inches 
deep, mixing in the Guano and Bone Meal thoroughly. Then 
rake over the surface to remove any stones and make the 
surface even. Remember, a little extra time spent in obtain¬ 
ing an even finish will help greatly toward an attractive fin¬ 
ished lawn. If the soil is loose after raking it would be well 
to roll the ground with a light roller before seeding, but do 
not roll while the ground is wet. 
SEEDING 
The ground having been prepared, the method of seeding 
is next to be decided. A pound of Diamond Grass Seed will 
sow 150 to 200 square feet according to the variety of seed 
used. An even distribution of seed is essential. 
After the seed has been sown it should be covered lightly 
about 14 to % inch in depth. This is best done by what is 
called “tucking” with a rake. Instead of using the rake with 
the usual raking motion forth and back, employ a light 
chopping action with only a very slight pull towards you. 
All of the seed will not be covered but sufficient will. After 
this, roll the area lightly. After rolling sprinkle the lawn well 
with a fine hose nozzle. Do not let the ground dry out but 
sprinkle a little every day. In the heat of summer if a lawn 
is being put in it is a good plan to cover the ground after 
seeding with some Peat Moss or Pulverized Sheep Guano. 
EARLY CARE OF LAWN 
When the young grass is about 2 inches high it should be 
mowed. Early mowing makes the plants spread out and fill 
up the areas between the seedlings. 
Early weeding should also be done as soon a« possible. 
The sooner the weeds are out the quicker the grass will fill 
in. There is no weed seed in high quality grass seed. A good 
lawn will require cutting twice a week. Remember, it is 
easier work to cut the lawn while the grass is short and will 
take half the time and effort, and it is better for the lawn. 
After the lawn is well established it is advisable to use a 
grass catcher on your lawn mower or rake well after cutting 
with a bamboo rake. 
RENOVATING YOUR LAWN 
It isn’t one bit too early to make plans for the spring 
renovation of your lawn. If the seed is to be sown on honey¬ 
combed ground, late February or March is a good time, espe¬ 
cially after a light snow, for as the snow thaws, the seeds 
settle into the ground, giving you a good, even job of seeding. 
Lawns should be raked thoroughly as soon as the ground 
thaws, as this serves to scarify the surface soil, remove leaves, 
dead grass and any other debris that may have accumulated 
during winter. 
Next apply a good grass seed. Experiments have proven 
this, even if the ground is still frozen, for as the grass starts 
growing, the food is available, thereby giving it an extra 
stimulant before weeds begin later in the spring. Fertilizer 
added while the weather is cool prevents the danger of burn¬ 
ing even though it is not washed or brushed in. The loss from 
this is practically nil. Unless seeding was done before, it 
should follow the fertilizer application. Rake it in lightly or 
cover it with some weed-free soil applied as a top dressing. 
A coating of about ^-inch will be beneficial on the seed as 
well as to established plants. 
The right way to maintain turf is to seed and feed regu¬ 
larly, maintaining a proper balance between treatments. Seed 
should be used to replace the dead plants and cover bare 
areas, while food is needed to nourish the live plants. Regu¬ 
lar feeding is the most important factor in weed control, as 
it makes sturdy and aggressive grass plants, thus crowding 
out the weed growth. 
Spring rolling is important. A heavy roller is not required 
as the purpose is to firm grass crowns and roots into the soil. 
It is a mistake to try to level a lawn by rolling for if the 
roller is heavy enough to accomplish that, it will pack the 
soil causing it to bake during the summer. Sandy soil can 
stand heavier rolling than clay soils. It is best to roll after 
seeding, but the time element is most important. Usually 
there are a few days in spring when a lawn is dry enough to 
be rolled without packing the soil and yet sufficiently moist 
so the rolling does some good. A lawn should be rolled, even 
if it is necessary to roll again after seeding. An average roller 
weighing from 175 to 225 pounds of weight for each foot in 
length of the roller is considered proper for ideal results. 
MOSS AND WEEDS 
The presence of moss is an indication of inadequate drain¬ 
age or soil impoverishment. The most effective cure is the 
application of'Sulphate of Ammonia or Vigoro about three 
times during the season, raking the lawn well before each 
application. Do Not Use Lime. Late experiments have 
proven beyond a doubt that lime will not check the growth of 
moss, some even showing that it has encouraged its growth. 
For descriptions of each type of lawn seed see 
page 41. 
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