WHERE WEEDS COME FROM Dr. E. R. Spencer, author of an ex- cellent book on weeds, says, "Of all the forms of nature, unless it be insects, nothing is so sure to come into one's life as weeds." Some folks feel that in this respect their lives have been full. The illustration on this page exem- plifies the spontaneity and longevity of weeds. The growth is all volunteer, covering a period of a few weeks. Nothing had been added to this good garden soil, which had been under intensive cultivation the previous year. TO DISCUSS weeds properly, they need first to be defined. Probably the simplest definition is: "Any plant growing out of place." Thus a garden plant springing up in the lawn is a weed as is the finest kind of grass in a flower bed. These volunteer weeds came from seeds in the soil. Obviously the seeds were over a year old. As a matter of fact some of them may have been in the soil for 25 or 50 years. Agricultural research has proven seeds may live in the soil that long or longer. One com- mon example is Crabgrass whose seeds have sprouted after lying dormant in the ground for as long as thirty years. Stirring of the soil brought these weed seeds to the surface where conditions of light, heat, moisture and air re- leased them from their state of dor- mancy. Frequent stirring up of the soil is nevertheless recommended procedure if there is time enough in preparation of a new lawn. The weed population can be reduced materially though not elimi- Photo courtesy The Home Garden 2 nated completely by fallow cultivation. This means letting the weeds grow short of the seeding stage, then raking, harrowing or discing to kill them. Even a full season of such treatment will not sprout and kill all weed seeds in the soil. Some seeds are endowed by nature with unusually hard coats that resist entrance of moisture for years. Others require alternate freezing and thawing to break the seed coat. Farmers tell how certain weeds show up unexpectedly every twelve or fifteen years without rhyme or reason. The same thing has been noticed in turf areas. Even where the soil has not been disturbed, new weeds appear although such growth had been controlled in the lawn the previous year. this Sometimes weeds are introduced and at a high price. Manures, topsoil, na- tive peats, black dirt—any of these will carry a substantial weed seed content just the same as any object will carry germs. Frequently the claim is made that these mate- rials are weedfree because of screen- ing, but is not true because weed seeds are so tiny that they will slip through any screen that would pass soil particles. It is possible to sterilize soil to kill weed seeds but it is seldom done be- cause of the great expense involved in heating soil to temperatures of 200 degrees F. and keeping it there for at least a half hour. There are chemical means of de- stroying the vitality of weed seeds but they are expensive and the residues may prevent growth of any seed. Some weed seeds like dandelions and thistles are especially constructed for SCOTTS LAWN CARE airborne translocation. Others are car- ried from one place to another by birds. Still others are transported on shoes and clothing, a means greatly facilitated by the sticky or barbed sur- faces which many seeds develop. Thus one weedy area can cause trouble in a whole neighborhood. Groupings of fine, clean lawns are apt to reflect a vigilant attitude on the part of home- owners in not permitting weeds in the neighborhood ever to develop to the stage of producing seeds. Improperly cleaned grass seed is an- other source of weed infestation. Folks sometimes get a discouraging mess, such as shown in the illustration, after they have gone to a lot of trouble to prepare a seedbed, fertilize it and plant grass seed. They naturally won- der why weeds instead of grass. Several things could have happened. The grass seed may have been covered more than in depth. This retards grass seed germination and gives the weeds a chance to get a head start and smother the young grass. inch ¡4 Or, the grass seed may have started but lost the battle because of compe- tition for food and moisture. Some- times seed may germinate but the sprouts never see daylight. Fungus dis- eases such as "damping off" may blight them before or shortly after they break through the covering. Many of these weeds which "take over" a new lawn, are described as annuals. These generally grow faster and more prolifically as they must ma- ture a crop of seed in a very short time if the species is to survive. Such an- nuals have extensive spreading root systems, enabling them to get more than their share of moisture when the soil is dry. Others germinate in soil too cool for grass seed germination, while the weed plants themselves grow aggressively in cool, wet weather. NUMBER 101—PS The more desirable grasses are per- ennial, slower to get started but longer lived. The contrast is not unlike the flower garden. Annuals develop fast and make a showing in a hurry while perennials start slowly and require extra months to reach maturity but each year bring satisfaction in beauti- ful foliage and flowers. Some of the more common annual lawn weeds are: Bur Clover—Not a clover at all but one of the Medicago species. Its leaf closely resem- bles clover, its blossom is a small yellow head. Oatgrass—A grass-type weed widely dis- tributed and found in many vacant fields. Its seed head closely resembles that of culti- vated oats. Develops in many lawns, often in combination with— Mouse Barley—Another grass-type weed with coarse blades and a seedhead which has also earned it the descriptive name Farmer's Fox Tail. texture but of Poa Annua—A dwarf grass of bright green temporary color and fine growth. Produces seeds very close to ground where they escape mowing. A very common pest in golf course putting greens and home lawns. Crabgrass—Another grass weed of rapid growth. Broad-bladed but difficult to distin- guish from desirable grasses in its early stages. Restem Filaree—An annual or biennial herb with finely cut leaves that form in a rosette close to ground under most lawn conditions. Many of these grass-like weeds will diminish surprisingly with frequent mowing and their seed production for next year's crop be adequately cur- tailed. This applies particularly to Oat- grass, the Barleys and Bromegrasses common in lawns newly constructed. Crabgrass, on the other hand must have its low lying stems raked up before mowing. Bur Clover and most of the other broad-leaved weeds can be chemi- cally controlled after the young new grass becomes a little hardened by sev- eral mowings. "I received my first copy of LAWN CARE and for the first time in years I begin to see the solution to many problems that I have had with lawns."—Rich vale, Calif. 3 Fall Program Admittedly, the flesh is a bit weak for much lawn work while the weather is warm. Then, too, the nicest thing about a lawn is to be able to relax on it. Should the spirit prevail to get ofi to j jj a good start on the la wn program, J^ml ' f f ^W ^ ^ m u ii iMMàiCÇtfilis ^ ^ ^ X ^f here are some sug- F a l1 to is a natural seeding time. Many plants ripen and scatter their seed then. It is the safest period in which to invest in a new lawn. It is also a good opportunity to repair summer damage lawns previously estab- lished. The soil is warm and helpful to germination. In some areas, mois- ture is plentiful or in localities of win- ter rains, new grass started now will develop strongly and root deeply with the advent of those rains. In either case the new grass will have added time and opportunity to develop strength and vigor before enduring an- other summer season. All these things are in its favor. WEEDING In the case of Crabgrass and Ber- muda grass, first thin out the popula- tion of these plants by cross raking and cross mowing with the mower set to cut short. Catch the clippings and destroy them. In the case of broad-leaved weeds such as Dandelions, Plantains, Bur Clover, Daisy and others kill these the easy way with the new chemical con- trols. Apply as a spray or use the spreader-applied Lawn Food plus Weed Control about two weeks before seeding. FEEDING Don't overlook feeding, especially if lawn has not been fed since your spring. Even application is assured with the use of a handy spreader and this can be done just before seeding. If a soil test has indicated the need for lime, this may be put on at the same time, provided raw ground limestone is used. Regular feeding is one of the great- est aids to better turf and should be included in every lawn program. SEEDING Even good lawns should be over- seeded now, the amount of seed to be used depending on the density of the present turf. In many cases only two pounds on each 1000 square feet is ample. Seeding of bare spots will be more productive if a light covering is placed over the seed. Pulverized peat moss, compost or good screened soil are sat- isfactory. Loosening the soil and work- ing the seed into it is preferable but not always easy to do with a compact surface. Whatever it should not be over 54 inch deep. Quite a few seeding failures are attributable to too deep covering. the covering, Keep in mind that sprouting grass needs moisture constantly so frequent sprinkling is important. SIRS: Received the book of current issues of LAWN CARE plus the digest issues. I pos- sess a collection of books on things that grow which cost me over $150. Consider the book you sent me of more value to me than any one of the issues I have purchased, one of which cost $20. Many thanks and I appre- ciate your co-operation. Rochester, N. Y. IRVING E. CLARKE Nurseryman SCOTTS LAWN CARE How Do You Fight This Lawn Weed? to LAWN CARE and its thousands of western readers would like to learn what successful methods you have used to control this common lawn weed which seems resist- ant the new weed controls. Yel- low Oxalis and Purple Oxalis are perennial herbs of the wood sorrel family, have a sour taste in their leaves. Often confused with Bur Clover. If you have succeeded in eliminating or even retarding this weed, others will appreciate knowing how you did it. Just address Scotts Lawn Care, Palo Alto, California. We've Come of Age E. H. Earle of Verona, New Jersey, writes that three generations of Earles are now using SCOTTS products. The father set the pace with a SCOTT lawn; his son at Bloomfield, New Jersey, followed suit, and now a grand- son at Washington C. H., Ohio, is in the run- ning. Nothing like setting a good example. . . . Speaking of age, we imagine the oldest LAWN CARE reader is still Mr. Robert M. Rownd, Civil War veteran living at Ripley, New York. On October 22, Mr. Rownd should be 105 if we've counted correctly. When he began to read LAWN CARE, Mr. Rownd was a mere boy of 85 . . . which should set a good example for Mr. J. B. Chaney of Colbert, Washington, who writes: "Probably I would have built up a strong resistance to it, if I had been exposed the time I was having mumps, measles and whooping cough. But to be attacked in my seventieth year, I find it tough. May I con- tinue to receive your bulletins as I read them thoroughly and find them most interesting? Hope I'm not too old to learn." to LAWN CARE about O M SCOTT & S O NS C O. M A R Y S V I L LE - - O H IO EVERY PACKAGE OF SCOTTS LAWN CARE PRODUCTS BEARS THIS TRADE • MARK AND IS SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION