Lawns

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The lawn is one of the most important parts of any successfully planted property and it should be maintained in proper condition.

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Lawns are established by growing grass on well prepared soil. Grass is established using either grass seed or grass sod.

Lawns and Grass Plots

A lawn furnishes the setting for a house, and if it is trim, smooth and of a healthy green, will add the finishing touch to an attrac- tive home which no amount of planting can give. Wide spreading slopes or level terraces of turf are the delight of many of the simplest and stateliest residences. Neat lawns are ever the sign of thrifty people.

The main difficulty generally is that too frequently the surface is cut by meaningless and inappropriate beds. Such beds, in large lawns, sometimes detract from the feeling of repose, and in small lawns the beds may often be left out with advantage. Trees and shrubs which are arranged haphazard and thickly about a lawn are also objectionable.

Many a home yard is utterly spoiled by this spotty appearance. The suggestion is to let the lawn stand for a feature by itself, and to arrange the trees, shrubs and flowers at the margins. In many cases no better effect can be gained than by allowing the cool green lawn to run directly up to the brick or brown stone houses.

In establishing a new lawn it should always be remembered that the first preparation is the important one; it should remain for years before being dug up again. If the soil is a heavy clay, it must be drained, for the grasses most used in lawns do not tolerate "wet feet." If grading has been done, soil which was at the surface must be proyided for a surface layer, because subsoil does not contain the proper organisms for good growth.

If top soil is not obtainable, it is better to seed for a year with good soils which should be spaded or plowed under when in juicy growth. Any soil will benefit by an application of well decayed manure.

Fresh manure contains weed seeds and will always prove troublesome unless it is well rotten.

Besides manure, there is nothing better than ground bonemeal. This will continue to supply the beneficial food substances for a great length of time.

Before the seed is sown, the soil must be raked very smoothly and the stones removed. It should be firm and perfectly level, for every hollow will show later. A little rolling will compact the soil just enough for seeding.

Establishing a Garden Lawn

Before sowing grass seed make sure that the ground is properly drained (sometimes it is necessary to put in tiled drainage although surface drainage is generally sufficient). The soil should be first plowed (or spaded). On a large percentage of lawns lime should be added. After you have spaded or plowed the soil, scatter lime over the surface of the convenient location of the garden in reference to the house is very important. We have already explained the necessity for using shrub plantings to screen off the garden from the public portion of the grounds. For the same reason the planting between the garden and the entrance driveway should be so planned that visitors can not see the garden ground.

The best kind of lime to use is either the ordinary ground limestone (Calcium Carbonate) or air-slaked lime these are the easiest and most agreeable forms to handle. The lime should be scattered over the ground so the general appearance of the ground will be white. A safe rule to follow would be to use about one-half ton on a square area with 100 ft. sides. It is a good plan to roll and ake the surface so as to get it even and smooth. Seed can be sown either in the early Fall or Spring. Very often it is recommended to sow the grass seed in the late winter or early Spring when the last snow is on the ground.

For a square area with 100 ft. sides sow about a bushel. The sowing of the grass seed should be done on a quiet day so it can be dis- tributed evenly. You can sow the seed by hand, then lightly rake the seed. Protect the young seed from any trespassers. The best permanent lawn is grown from Kentucky Blue Grass, but it does not become established quickly. For quick results a- mixture of the following will be satisfactory: Kentucky Blue Grass, Red Top and English Rye in the proportions of 4-2-1. For shady locations the following combination would give satisfactory results: Kentucky Blue Grass, Wood Meadow Grass, Various-leaved Fescue and Crested Dog's-tail used at the rate of 2-2-1-1 in order above named.

Manure should be applied in the Fall or very early Spring. However, manure has the disadvantage of carrying more or less weed seed which may become established in the lawn, but you can keep weeds cut out.

Lawns introduction

Lawn care

Starting a lawn from scratch