Fourteen Fointors on Making Good Lawns 
en a eee em ea EN ee eee 
FOURTEEN steps are necessary in making a good lawn, 
i, Before excavation 1s started for the house, the top 5 or 6 in¢hes 
of soil should be pushed off to one side until the building and 
grading operations are completed. Afterward, the topsoil should be 
spread evenly over the surface of the lawn. Some topsoils may be 
little better than the subsoil, but in most casesit is worth saving. 
2. Building debris - plaster, stones, trash - should be removed, not 
buried e 
os The subgrade should be sloped away from the house. Terraces should 
be avoided if possible; slopes should be gradual to the sidewalk. A 
gentle slop away from the house will carry off water and reduce the 
‘risk of a damp basement. 
4. If, in grading andleveling, the surface is raised around shade 
trees, provision should be made to protect the trees. Shallow wells of 
brick or stonework should be built around the trunks of the trees to 
allow air to reach the roots. Deep layers of soil arounu the trunk 
Ob 4 Sree my Kill it, 
5. In establishing the subgrade, special attention should be given te 
spots that sare likely to be poorly drained. Sometimes tile may be 
necessary. The advice of competent authorities should be sought in 
putting gn tile drains. 
6. After the subgrade has been finished, about 75 pounds of lime(if 
soil tests show the need) and 25 pounds of basic slag per 1,000 square 
feet should be harrowed or spaded into the subsoil to a depth of 3 or 
4 inches. The lewn begin with the subsoil. 
7. The topsoil should then be replaced and eraded. 
8. Lime, fertilizer, and other amendments, such as organic matter 
(peat manure, compost, spent mushroom soil, and so on) should be 
incorporated into the topsoil before the finish grade is established, 
For many lawnmakers, cost and availability may determine the amounts. 
If one cannot get an analysis of degree of acidity from his county 
agent, State experiment station, or State department of agria lture, 
or if he does not test the soil himself with a soil test kit, a rough 
rule of thumb in the eastern half of the country is to apply 75 pounds 
ef ground limestone on 1,000 square feet. Plenty of balanced 
fertilizer is needed - say 25 to 50 pounds of « commercial fertilizer 
of 5-10-5 analysis. 
9. The surfaco snould be smoothed by raking and rolling. 
10. Then seedirfg, sodding, or sprigging may be done, depending upon the 
type of grass to be used and the rapidity of cover desired. Because 
of its relatively high cost, sodding is recommended only when there is 
need for rapid completion of the job. 
