SCUTL Changes The Program WITH in balance Stop C r a b g r a s s. T h e re is no con- flict between the chemicals used for broad-leaved weeds and the active in- gredients in SCUTL. However, any such materials temporarily upset the physiological desirable grasses. For that reason, it is advisable to keep an interval of three or four days between the two weed controls. Actually it does not make a lot of difference which control is used first. The important thing is to get started soon enough so that seeding can be done in early fall. and By late summer, Crabgrass is coarse, stemmy, seed heads. Some species will have developed a matted growth so a single plant may occupy a square foot or more. shooting Under such conditions, the double rate of SCUTL is suggested. It is best to apply with a spreader as otherwise many plants will be missed and over- dosage may injure spots of good grass. A repeat treatment is recommended. Moisture Is Key. T he action of chemicals on weeds or Crabgrass is by absorption through the leaves. For that reason it is important to make applica- tion when rain is not expected for 8 hours or so, otherwise the chemicals may be washed from the leaves. On the other hand, soil should be moist enough to produce active growth in the lawn. Such moisture is also needed to neutralize the chemicals so they will not interfere with later seedings. Fall Feeding. Having applied the weed controls, the next step is feeding. This may follow within a day or two the new Crabgrass introduction of control the late summer—early fall becomes more im- portant than ever in the lawn program. Many have recognized autumn as the best time to reinforce an old lawn but too often have delayed overseeding until November. One reason: Crab- grass is usually active until then so it seemed useless to sow good seed in competition. Now a couple of double-rate applica- tions of SCUTL will stop Crabgrass in its the harm that has been done, it will pre- vent further ripening of seeds. tracks. While not repairing The recommended August-Septem- ber lawn program for established lawns now takes on a slightly different slant. In brief the sequence will be to (1) stop the growth of broad-leaved weeds and Crabgrass, if they are present, (2) feed generously, (3) do the necessary seed- ing, (4) keep the lawn moist, if pos- sible, (5) mow regularly and shorter than customary, an inch or so, as long as grass continues to grow. B r o a d - l e a v ed W e e d s. A u t h o r i t i es agree that if dandelion, buckhorn, plan- tain, and similar weeds are present in turf, late summer is an ideal time to get rid of them. Two methods are pos- sible: one is to use a spray such as 4-X; the other, simpler and with double benefits, is a spreader application of Weed & Feed. This is to be applied when the grass is dry. Either the spray or spreader treatment may brown desirable grasses temporarily in heat waves above 90 degrees or when it is excessively humid. latter of SCUTL use, in fact can be put on just before, if preferred. Regular feeding is one of the great- est aids to better turf and should be included in every lawn program. The next step is seeding and this can be right after feeding. To be safe, a week (with soil in reasonably moist condition) should elapse between any weed control and seeding. The program described so far is easily carried out with the use of a Scotts Spreader. This is also recom- mended for sowing seed but other implements may be needed to get the ground ready to receive seed. the seed Seed needs to be surrounded by moist soil if it is to sprout and develop into a plant. Soil preparation for new lawns permits raking and rolling to firm into the soil. Not so when planting is on top of an estab- lished lawn. Some other procedure is required. The surface may be scarified with a heavy rake or other tool to form a for seed. As treated weeds decay they leave crevices in the ground in which the seed may lodge. Any matted and decayed growth should be combed away before seeding. Other openings in the soil crust result from activities of earthworms and insects. lodging place Perforations with a spading fork, shallow slits with a flat spade, ice hoe or edger may help get more from a seeding. (See LAWN CARE 109, page 3). A topdressing of good soil aids ger- mination but will introduce weed seeds. Sifting is of no value in that respect since most weed seeds are so small they easily pass through any soil sieve. Do Not Waste Seed. Most folks sow too much because of difficulty in hand broadcasting or the mistaken idea that they will get a better lawn if they "sow good and heavy." Good seed is expensive but aside from that, it should be sown sparingly for better results. Too many grass plants per square foot of ground is like trying to raise a family of twelve children in a one room house with only enough rations and fresh air for three or four. Irrigation is not as necessary in fall planting as in spring. While use of sprinklers will help to bring the fall seeded fact needs to be kept in mind. After seeds start to germinate, a severe drying by a few hours of hot sun or wind can kill much seedling grass. lawn along faster, one SIRS: I have become a very interested reader of LAWN CARE and must say that I have had very good results with Scotts Products. Two years ago I purchased a home with a run- down lawn, full of Dandelion, Plantain, and Crabgrass. Early this spring I fed it and a month It now stands out over all other lawns in the neighborhood. treated with Weed & Feed. later Also I put in a new lawn for my father-in- law with Scotts Seed and must add it's a beauty. And for the spreader—I wouldn't be without it. MR. GILBERT KIESECKER. Seattle 2, Wash. SCUTL is SUBTLE The process of conquering Crabgrass with SCUTL may be so gradual as to escape notice—until suddenly it is ob- vious there is a change in the treated area. the Light green to yellow, to brown, to is the fate of SCUTL- nothing. That treated Crabgrass. Even lighter color may not begin to show up until several days after the second treatment. Some lawns or parts of lawns are solid Crabgrass. Maybe the owner did not realize it because Crabgrass looks not unlike good seedling grass in the early part of the summer. Those who understand the situation are willing to put up with some dis- coloration the realization that Crabgrass is being con- quered so a better lawn can be enjoyed in the fall and the next year. in mid-summer with SCUTL d id result of t wo double rate treatments. G o od grasses bright green, actually better t h an nearby untreated turf. Note also flourishing g r o w th of clover. . . . the y e l l o w - b r o wn patches are of d y i ng Crabgrass—the it H ad in these Crabgrass plants not been they w o u ld have con- tinued to g r ow until a heavy frost, choking out more a nd more of the desirable grasses. the ugly scars w i th bright, n ew grass. So, thanks to SCUTL, y ou can t r a n s f o rm a mess of Crab- grass into a l a wn of beauty f or f a ll a nd w i n t er enjoyment. l a w ns can be fertilized a nd in August, time, such Treated treated reseeded to replace From the SCUTL Bag of M a il W h at w i ll SCUTL do At normal or double rates there may loss of leaves but most to C l o v e r? be temporary of the plants will survive. W i ll it i n j u re f l o w e r s, v e g e t a b l e s, or s h r u b s? Not unless directly applied in sub- light drift will stantial quantities. A have fungicidal benefit. I w a t er a f t er SCUTL? S h o u ld Not right away. Wait a day, then keep moist to promote active growth. I a p p ly SCUTL by h a n d? C an The boxes have shaker openings but is an even by far the best method spreader application. readily bleaches from off skin, and stone or cement. SCUTL W i ll k i ll o t h er w e e d- g r a s s e s? NO! It is a specific for various types Syntherisma of Crabgrass (Digitaria sp). SCUTL is not offered as a control for these wild grasses: Panic, Witch, Pigeon, Goose, Stink, Barnyard. sp; Neither will it rid lawns of Nimble- Will (Muhlenbergia), (devil grass) Quack, Johnson or Nut Grasses. Bermuda be l a wn If I u se SCUTL n o w, w i ll my f r ee of C r a b g r a ss n e xt y e a r? If Crabgrass Substantially, yes. is prevented from maturing seeds in the lawn this year, next year's infestation will be much less. Some will show up because of dormant seeds in the soil or seeds brought in by other means. r e s i d ue h a r m f u l? Is t he g r e en No, not to the animal, vegetable or It will soon wash mineral kingdom. W hy is m o re t h an o ne t r e a t m e nt n e c e s s a r y? Because Crabgrass seed continues to germinate through the summer. Then too, some plants are missed in the first application, no matter how careful the user! Is t r e at o n ly it a ll r i g ht t he to p a t c h es of C r a b g r a s s? Yes, if care is exercised to apply only a light dusting. A severe overdose will yellow the desirable grasses for a while. If there is much Crabgrass, a Spreader treatment over is lawn advised. Many plants are skipped in spot treating. the whole it be m i x ed w i th M ay f e r t i l i z e r? No, it should not be. It will reduce the efficiency of the Crabgrass control. W h en d o es C r a b g r a ss seed m a- t u r e? Some species may show seed heads in early July but generally no mature seeds drop until well into August. Good Seed A g a in Scarce is unfortunate For the third successive year, grass seed harvests are below normal needs. This the lawn seed greatest demand ever for because of the extensive home building and the greatly in better lawns. in view of increased interest In the teeming twenties when new golf courses were being built all over the country, the total consumption of grass seed seemed tremendous. Many projects required a full carload of seed. The saturation point was reached in the golf boom, yet its decline was scarcely noticed when Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner began to splurge. Build- ing lots increased in size as folks began to seek the country or the edges of the cities where there was more room to from con- stretch. Factories moved gested areas where there was ample space for lawn and recreation fields. Today the annual need of seed for turf purposes is at least double that of 1920. Meanwhile seed production has increased very little. Only limited areas are adaptable to seed production on a commercial scale. Thirty years' time has witnessed another change. The per acre cost of harvesting seed has increased from a former 30% factor to close to 70%. When a given acreage turns out small yields, the cost of the operation is just as great as in harvesting a bumper crop. No one is profiting unduly—it's just a case of much higher costs all along the line. Admittedly lawn seed is high, but it does not seem out of line with other prices considering time when bacon was 19 cents, steak a quarter, and bread a nickel a loaf. there was a SIRS: I have certainly enjoyed LAWN CARE and do not want to miss a single issue. We are moving from San Jose to Hilmar, Calif. I hope LAWN CARE will follow us there. MRS. CARROLL W. WELCH. Hilmar, Calif. L A WN CARE B O O KS All digest chap- ters and the more recent important issues are avail- able in convenient permanent form. The set in a loose- ring binder leaf w i th room for many additional issues is one dollar, postpaid. The digest and current issues in a heavy paper cover is twenty-five cents, postpaid. O M S C O TT & S O NS C O. (Sccrtu) 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