Beautiful Lawns Enhance the Appearance of Your Florida Home 25 
Lawn and Golf Course Grasses for Florida 
For lawn and golf course fertilizers see page 3. 
For lawn grass pesticides and supplies see pages 27 to 33 inclusive 
Starting the Florida Lawn 
A rich, reasonably moist soil with ample pro- 
vision for watering during dry weather is neces- 
sary for growing a good lawn in Florida. Pre- 
vious to starting the grass, work into the soil 
as much organic matter as possible in the form 
of pulverized sheep manure, muck or woods 
mold. One of the best ways of putting the soil 
in shape for grass, and to give the grass a good 
start, is to broadcast pulverized sheep manure 
at the rate of two and one-half to five pounds 
per hundred square feet, or 1,000 Ibs. to a ton 
per acre before sowing the seed, or setting out 
the sprigs, wetting down the sheep manure well. 
Add to this at least 25 Ibs. per 1000 square feet 
of a complete fertilizer mixture such as Vigoro, 
Vertagreen or a commercial fertilizer mixture 
containing 6% of nitrogen to every thousand 
square feet of space. Work all of this thoroughly 
into the soil, level the land and set rooted run- 
ners or plant grass seed. Water and weed regu- 
larly until the grass is completely sodded. Never 
let the lawn suffer for water during periods of 
extended drouth. A thorough heavy watering, 
soaking the soil to a considerable depth, (4 to 
6 inches) every 5 to 7 days, is much better than 
a light watering daily. (See page 31 for lawn 
fertilizers.) 
Top Dressing Florida Lawns 
Proper fertilization of lawns is important. 
In general, Florida lawns should be fertilized 
three times a year—spring, mid-summer and 
mid-fall. Each application should distribute 20 
to 25 lbs. per 1000 square feet of a complete 
fertilizer such as Vigoro, Vertagreen or a com- 
mercial fertilizer mixture containing at least 
6%, nitrogen. The fertilizer should be applied 
when the foliage is dry and should be watered 
in to prevent burning of the grass leaves. Pul- 
verized sheep manure is very valuable for top- 
dressing after the lawn is started. It is desir- 
able to cover the entire lawn once or twice a 
year with pulverized sheep manure to a depth 
of one-fourth to one-half inch (see page 31 for 
lawn fertilizers). 
Bermuda Grass 
Unhulled—Sow 100 to 150 pounds per acre, or 
2 to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet. 
Hulled—Sow 75 to 100 pounds per acre or 112 to 
2 pounds per 1000 square feet. 
Bermuda grass is generally considered to be 
the finest of Florida grasses for maintaining a 
most beautiful and perfect lawn. It is of fine 
texture, can be maintained green practically the 
year around, is a rapid grower and produces a 
lush, green carpet of turf. However, it requires 
careful attention in maintenance. It prefers 
loam or clay loam soil and will grow well on 
sand or muck. 20 to 30 pounds per 1000 square 
feet of a complete fertilizer such as Vigoro or 
Vertagreen should be applied twice a year. Fre- 
quent weeding is desirable. Although Bermuda 
grass will respond to watering, it will stand con- 
siderable drouth. A thorough watering every 5 
to 7 days during periods of extended drouth 
should be sufficient. The grass must be clipped 
closely (34 to 1 inch) and frequently. Bermuda 
grass will not grow in shade. It spreads by sur- 
face runners and by underground root stalks. 
Seed can be planted from March to November 
at the rate of 2 to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet. 
UNHULLED BERMUDA GRASS SEED 
1 Ib. 90c; 10 Ibs. $6.30; 25 Ibs. $15.25; 
100 Ibs. $60.00 
F.O.B. Plant City, except pound lots 
which are prepaid. 
HULLED BERMUDA GRASS SEED—The al- 
most watertight husks of the seed have been re- 
moved, facilitating quicker, surer results, the 
seed germinating more uniformly and in a much 
shorter time wh proper moisture conditions. 
1 Ib. $1.00; 10 Ibs. $7.80; 25 Ibs. $19.00; 
100 Ibs. $75.00 
F.O.B. Plant City, except pound lots 
which are prepaid. 
Pensacola and Paraguayan 
Bahia Grass for Lawns 
For Pastures—see page 43 
Sow 100 to 150 pounds per acre or 2 to 3 pounds 
per 1000 square feet. 
These improved varieties of pasture grasses 
are sometimes used for low maintenance lawns. 
They are of fine texture and will remain green 
most of the winter (longer than Centipede 
grass). Will tolerate dry or infertile soils, but 
make an open, generally less attractive turf or 
lawn than regular lawn grasses. They are some- 
what difficult to mow, especially when rapid 
growing seed shoots develop during the summer, 
but should not be mowed closely (to a height 
of 114 to 2 inches). They require fertilization 
occasionally—two times per year—mid-spring and 
late summer, with a complete fertilizer such as 
Vigoro or Vertagreen. They are susceptible to 
damage from salt spray, but are relatively free 
of insect and disease troubles. Spring and early 
summer are the best periods for planting. Seeds 
are somewhat slow to germinate, sometimes re- 
quiring several weeks. The seedbed should be 
kept moist until germination .occurs. For best 
distribution of seed, it should be mixed with dry 
sand. Sow seed at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds per 
1000 square feet. “Common” Bahia should never 
be used for lawns. 
PRICES 
Pensacola Bahia 
1 Ib. 60c; 10 Ibs. $2.80; 25 Ibs. $6.50; 
100 Ibs. $25.00 
Paraguayan Bahia 
Write for Prices 
F.O.B. Plant City, except pound lots 
which are prepaid. 
