
How to Grow and Maintain a 
Beautiful, Rich, Green Lawn! 
STARTING A NEW LAWN 
SOIL PREPARATION. Spade or plow the 
area to a 6 or 8 inch depth. Pulverize the 
soil thoroughly, A heavy clay soil can be 
lightened by mixing with sand and hu- 
mus, A light soil can be improved by 
adding a top dressing of heavier soil. 
For best results soil should be slightly 
heavy. If the soil is acid, scatter crushed 
limestone, 
Peat moss or Terralite are invaluable addi- 
tions to both light and heavy soils be- 
cause they help retain soil moisture with- 
out allowing the water to be dissipated 
down below the root lines. Too, they keep 
soil particles loose and friable. Spade them 
into the soil or apply as a top dressing at 
least half an inch deep. In a heavy clay 
soil use one inch or more. A newly plant- 
ed lawn needs a rich well balanced soil, 
because grass roots are heavy feeders. By 
feeding the soil the vital elements con- 
tained in plant food, such as _ nitrogen, 
phosphorous, potash, etc., you are headed 
toward a successful planting. We can rec- 
ommend the best plant food for your local 
soil condition. 
Mix the lawn food with a top dressing or 
rake and work it well into the soil, Be- 
cause fresh manure usually contains weed 
seeds its use is not advisable for a new 
lawn. 
SEEDING. The generally accepted rule for 
the amount of seed required is five pounds 
per thousand square feet. Skimping on 
seed in quality or quantity is costly in 
time and labor. A well sown lawn checks 
the immediate introduction and develop- 
ment of weeds. Too much seed retards 
growth, Choose a calm windless day for 
sowing, A more uniform distribution of 
seed is possible with a spreader, Whether 
sown by Hand or spreader, however, sow 
in two directions, one at right angles to 
the other. This insures against leaving 
bare grassless areas, 
1 
Rake the seed into the soil lightly or brush 
it in by dragging some light flexible ob- 
ject over it such as a sack. The seed 
should be covered by an eighth of an inch 
of fine soil or new top dressing. 
ROLLING, May be properly employed to 
press the soil firmly around the new seed. 
Use a light water ballast roller, empty to 
one third full. Remember the soil becomes 
compacted if rolled too heavily too often 
or when wet and sticky. For leveling your 
lawn whether new or old use top dress- 
ing, never a roller. 
WATER with a fine spray so the seed bed 
will not be disturbed, If the normal mois- 
ture is enough to keep the lawn just 
slightly damp try not to water it again 
until the seed has germinated, but do not 
let it get dry at any time. 
SPRING LAWN CARE 
Fine lawns start with very early spring 
care. Here are some suggestions, 
1. REMOVE all the winter accumulations 
of leaves and debris by raking. 
2. APPLY PLANT FOOD as directed by the 
manufacturer. If grass has started apply 
when grass is dry, then soak the lawn to 
wash the plant food off the blades and 
into the soil. 
3. RE-SEED thin and bare spots using about 
a pound to each 200 square feet. Pulver- 
ize the soil in bare spots, then cover the 
seed lightly. 
4. ROLL the lawn with a lightweight roller 
when soil is dry enough to prevent com- 
pacting. 
Fall planting offers many advantages in 
lawn starting. If you plant in the spring, 
seed early—long before you begin work 
on your flower garden, for seedlings need 
a chance to grow sturdy before weeds 
germinate, Planting delayed until mid- 
summer can be successful if diligently 
followed by ample watering and weeding. 
SUMMER LAWN CARE 
1. MOW frequently enough to keep grass 
from exceeding a 2]!% inch height. Set the 
mower to cut about 114 inches high. Very 
close cutting scalps the rough spots and 
unless done extra-frequently injures the 
grass by sudden exposure to the sun 
after it has been shaded by dense growth. 
Short mower clippings left on the lawn 
are beneficial, They are harmful however 
if the quantity is so great the grass is 
smothered and new growth retarded. 
2. WEED CONTROL with the many excel- 
lent and selective types now available as- 
sures weed elimination with the least ef- 
fort and time. Get those weeds early be- 
fore they seed or spread and your sum- 
mer lawn care is considerably easier. Refer 
to our weed killer selection in the back 
of our Garden Annual. 
3. WATERING is a point that depends 
much on your good judgment. If the turf 
is dry it is far wiser to soak limited areas 
to a six to eight inch depth on successive 
evenings than to sprinkle the whole lawn 
with a limited supply of moisture that will 
attract the dry grass roots up to the sur- 
face. Water sloping areas more liberally 
at the top to compensate for drainage 
losses. 
FALL LAWN CARE 
FEEDING the lawn with a balanced plant 
food and seeding the bare and thin spots 
will amply reward your effort the follow- 
ing spring with a sparkling, healthy new 
growth, 
Fall Is A Good Time To Make a New 
Lawn, During the moderate fall weather, 
grass seed germinates quickly and makes 
vigorous growth. Also, few weeds ger- 
minate in the fall, thus permitting the 
lawn to flourish without interference. 
