¢ WESTERN LAWNS 
ENJOY THE PLEASURE OF A THICK VELVETY TURF 
while many do not succeed in getting just 
this, it is not a difficult task if thoroughness 
is the keynote in early preparation. In planning 
and making a lawn keep in mind that it is a long 
time proposition and that a good foundation (in- 
cluding drainage, soil texture and food supply) 
is essential in providing an adequate foundation 
for grass plants. Many times this calls for arti- 
ficial drainage, thorough preparation of the soil 
and ample supply of organic matter, grading 
which is artistically effective as well as prac- 
tical from the point of view of upkeep and the 
use of a good seed mixture and plenty of it. 
FF wile me desires a thick, velvety lawn and 
SOIL PREPARATION 
When the soil is already good and drainage 
conditions are satisfactory, preparation need not 
be deeper than six inches. If the soil is heavy 
and inclined to stay wet, it may be necessary to 
lay 4-inch drain tile or cinder and sand base 
about 18 to 24 inches below the finished surface. 
Heavy soils may be lightened by incorporating 
sand or some form of humus such as peat moss 
(a bale to 600 square feet worked into the upper 
4 inches of soil). On the other hand, a light 
sandy soil is also improved and given more body 
by the addition of humus at the same rate. 
Natural manures are not desirable in making 
a new lawn because they are likely to contain 
many weed seeds which may continue to ger- 
minate over several years. A ‘‘balanced’’ com- 
mercial fertilizer, such as 4-12-4 formula (that 
means, containing 4% Nitrogen, 12% Phos- 
phates, 49% Potash) worked into the upper two 
or three inches of soil at the rate of 4 pounds to 
100 square feet will supply available nourish- 
ment for the new grass as well as a supply of 
food later on. 
SEED MIXTURES 
The selection of seed is vitally important, as 
good preparation will be of little benefit unless 
a proper mixture is selected for your particular 
locality. It is far better economy to 
spend a few extra pennies on a high 
guality seed and have a satisfactory 
lawn for many years than to sacrifice 
guality for temporary savings offered 
_ by inferior mixtures containing ‘“‘filler 
seed’’. It is recommended to use a 
complete mixture as the various types 
of grasses blended in such a mixture £ 
are incorporated for specific purposes. 

A mixture containing two or more “base grasses’ 
and one ‘‘nurse grass’ is most ideal for North- 
west soil and climatic conditions. We are listing 
below the three main groups in lawn seed. Your 
mixture should contain grasses from group one 
and two. 
Group 1—Base Grasses—Those which will 
live for many years and will of themselves occupy 
the whole area on the existing type of soil if 
properly maintained. This class is almost in- 
variably slow to mature. This group includes 
Kentucky Blue Grass, Chewings Fescue, Creep- 
ing Bent. 
Group 2—Nurse Grasses—Its life is short but 
it plays an important part in grass seed mixtures 
in that it grows fast and occupies the soil until 
the slower and more permanent varieties are far 
enough along to cover the ground. By its nature 
nurse grass seldom lives over three years and 
should not compose over 30% of the entire mix- 
ture. In this group we list Red Top. 
Group 3—Filler Grasses—Are varieties not 
adapted to lawn and turf purposes but used to 
increase bulk in a mixture or lessen the price 
per pound. These grasses should not be used if 
a top quality lawn is desired. This group in- 
cludes Rye Grasses, Crested Dogs Tail, Timothy 
and Mesquite. 
Here in the Northwest lawns can be planted 
almost any time of year (except November, De- 
cember, January and February) if the soil and 
seed are kept moist throughout the early grow- 
ing stages. Because of the importance of keep- 
ing the soil moist during this period of growing 
it is most desirable to sow the seed either in early 
spring or early fall. Whatever the season, loosen 
the soil with a steel rake to a depth of one inch 
just before sowing, then divide the seed into 
equal parts, half to be sown as the sower walks 
back and forth in one direction (north and south) 
and the rest as he walks back and forth at right 
angles over the same area. A calm day permits 
more even distribution and a cloudy 
one assures more moisture in the soil. 
As soon as the seed is sown the 
surface can be raked lightly with a 
fine tooth rake or covered with not 
more than %4 inch of top dressing. 
In either case the ground should be 
rolled (not too heavily) to firm the 
earth around the seed and promote 
guick germination. 
