27th Year No 131 " ®o 3t yourself" with a Scotts Spreader EARLY 5PWN& *LAWMN& C O m / N Cr OOT Clean out leaves and other debris. Broom type rake is good. 4. $EED/A/6r Early seeding is advised. Good seed is scarce. Don't waste it. THE SPRING LAWN PROGRAM can get under way earlier than most folks realize. Right now it's time to oil up the Spreader, get ready to help your grass to better-than-ever health and vigor in '54. The first peep of the crocus, or yellowing of witch hazel or swelling of the pussy willow her- alds the opening of pleasant outdoor lawn activity. Soil Samples from lawns in the east- ern half of the country continue to indicate need for lime, even on soils of limestone derivation. Late winter is a good time to put on lime — either the raw agricultural form or hydrated. It is better to learn by soil test the amount needed although 25 pounds per 1000 sq is a safe average application. ft Some soils require liming every year or two but such repeated use is not suggested unless indicated by soil analysis. Serve Your Lawn a nourishing meal of TURF BUILDER before it starts its spring sprint. Early feeding benefits roots that begin to stir long before is much surface activity. there In fact, grass roots are being regenerated whenever the soil temperature is above freezing. Recent tests confirm the fact that early feeding stimulates the de- velopment of grass more than weeds. If the turf is reasonably thick, apply Turf Builder at 10 pounds per 1000 sq ft. If turf is only fair, double rate is suggested before the grass starts its spring growth. It may take a rain or two to work the plant food down to the root zone, so don't be afraid to start the fertilizing program right away — even on the solid footing of the last freeze. Clean Off Debris This is better done before seeding but it makes little dif- ference regarding application of lime, fertilizer or pest control. In many ways the broom-type rake is better to use because it uproots fewer plants. Most important is removal of matted leaves that smother grass and prevent contact of seed with the soil. There is no need to rake severely to loosen the soil except for bare spots. Some folks waste effort in removing dead Crabgrass. They are too late because the seeds of the pest will have dropped to the ground long before. Unless top- dressing soil is to be applied, the matted plants may be helpful in pro- tecting seedling grass. Good Seed Unharmed by Freezing Cold weather, snow and ice need be no deterrent to early seeding. To the contrary, alternate freezing and thaw- ing, melting snow and soaking rain help imbed the seed. An exception is on slopes where the seed may be washed away before it can find its way into one of the many soil crevices. Good seed may seem costly per pound but actually it need not be ex- pensive per lawn. Most folks sow too much because of the mistaken idea that a heavy seeding will offset poor growing conditions. Any lawn with a fair turf needs only a light overseed- ing. If the lawn has been taken over by Crabgrass, then a heavier seeding rate may be needed. Rolling Not Always Beneficial Many folks use heavy rollers to flatten high spots in the lawn. This may not be damaging in sandy or light soils but loam and clay soils are harmed by such practice. Unless they are work- ably dry, rolling may harmfully com- pact most soils. Never roll when the soil is so wet you leave footprints and water oozes into them. It is beneficial to use a light roller to firm frost- heaved grass roots back into the soil. Rolling is of little use in pressing seed into the soil of established lawns because the turf keeps a roller of the proper weight away from soil contact. It is, however, advisable to make a light rolling after seeding of newly prepared ground to press soil around the seed to hasten germination. for Kentucky Bluegrass in is due A ccording to one authority at least, the turn- frozen cannot frozen brown- the past winter — in snow- in spite of explanation long periods of ing brown ground to the fact grass obtain sufficient moisture from the soil. This is supported by noting ing bluegrass less and rain starved areas, mild temperatures. New Clover Product Those who like clover in their lawns have difficulty in seeding it by itself because the seed is so small. Usually they get uneven seeding and patches of clover rather than a uni- form blending into the lawn. To overcome this difficulty, Scotts L a wn Research has developed CLOVEX — a blend of the best clover seed and an organic carrier. Be- cause of the greater bulk, CLOVEX is easily distributed with a SCOTTS SPREADER or seeded directly from perforations in the box. Since clover is comparatively low in price this spring, many will prob- ably use it to bolster their lawns. Clover is useful to effect more com- plete coverage and to provide soil- building vegetation that stays green in spite of severe heat and drought. Per Pound Cost is Up Last fall LAWN CARE readers were informed of the extremely short har- vest of Kentucky Bluegrass seed. The crop was less than half normal at a time when the demand for Kentucky Bluegrass seed for lawns is the great- est in history. Fortunately this critical supply sit- uation has developed at a time when more and more folks are realizing it is possible to develop a good lawn with only a few pounds of a quality seed formula. The cost per lawn need not be up in relation to the cost per pound. Modern management including the use of grass food, weed controls and fungicides reduces the need for heavy seeding. Instead of sowing five or six pounds of the Scott formulation per 1000 sq ft, we urge folks to use only two or three pounds. This small amount is difficult to sow by hand but can be economically distributed by using a Scotts Spreader. What to do This Spring? For the "Deluxe Lawn" three choices of seed- EARLY SPRING RENOVATION DeLuxe Lawn Good Lawn Utility Lawn Limjng Excessive acidity should be neutralized. Lime likely needed in Atlantic Coastal States. is more Beneficial but not essential, Feeding All lawns: Turf Builder at 10 lbs per 1000 sq ft. Apply in early spring if Jap Beetle grubs or ants have been a problem. Seeding Scotts Lawn Seed or Bentgrass Scotts Lawn Seed, Clover or Clovex Scotts Special or Haven Mowing O ne inch 1 to 1 y2 inches 1 % to 2 inches DeLuxe Lawn — The Scott lawn, the picture lawn. Needs reasonably good soil, consistent feed- ing in anticipation of generous and frequent watering during dry weather. Regular mowing with reel type mower. Remove clippings. Wearing quality: rapid recovery after Good Lawn — The above-average is practical on most any soil except sand and gravel. Needs occasional heavy watering during protracted dry spells. Cutting with reel type or good rotary mower. Wearing quality: good. Utility L a w n — T o l e r a t es most any soil but the better the soil, the better the lawn. Can be main- tained with one feeding a year, high mowing with reel or rotary type. This type of lawn can be made steadily better by reseeding with Scotts Special Lawn Seed, feeding two or three times a year, watering during protracted drought. Wearing quality: takes considerable abuse. abuse. lawn ing are available. The first is to use a light rate of Scotts Lawn Seed, investing about the usual number of dollars in fewer pounds. Another pos- sibility is to use Scotts Bentgrass while a third possibility is to rein- force the lawn with Clover, if you are one of those who like it in your lawn, using the straight clover or the new convenient Clovex product. One of these three is suggested in prefer- ence to Scotts Special for spot-seed- ing as well as general reseeding of "Deluxe Lawns". for Last year the use of Bluegrass the Blend was recommended " G o o d" Lawn category. Bluegrass Blend will not be available this spring because of the shortage of this basic grass species. For such lawns, a bolster seeding of clover or a very light plant- ing of Scotts Lawn Seed is suggested. For the "Utility Lawn", seed selec- is not such a problem. Scotts tion Special is recommended, priced only slightly higher than last year. Another possibility for the budget lawn is Haven, a veteran brand of Edgewood Farms, appearing on the Scotts price list for the first time this season. ALARGE PART OF THE COUNTRY is Seri- ously short of soil moisture, resulting from rainfall deficits in 1952 and 1953. T he shortage in many sections, especially the M i d w e st and South, is reported equal- ing 10 to 15 inches of rainfall. T h is is having a harmful effect on trees, shrubs and evergreens. Someone has cal- culated the moisture shortage on the aver- age city lot as 100,000 gallons. T h a t 's a lot of water to supply from a hose. Grass is of course suffering along with trees. H o w e v e r, the situation is not quite so serious since there has been some rain and this has probably penetrated fairly well into the grass root zone. T h e re has been snow too but it takes 6 or 7 inches of it to equal one inch of rain. • to fix up the is the time Now mower Ask for a Spreader Service lawn the SCOTTS SPREADER. Manual. and • lawn practices Out-moded hand pulling or digging ing out crabgrass, dead or alive; ance of watering not bad. 3) in hot sun — it's of weeds; include: 1) 2) rak- avoid- good, Spreads Wild Onion Menace Time was when Wild Onion (Allium canadense) or Wild Garlic (Allium lawns vineale) was an eyesore in and a detriment in pastures only in the South, seldom north of the Dis- trict of Columbia. Whether because of milder winters or what, the fact is this pesky plant is rearing its ugly, odorous sprouts in lawns much farther north, particularly in the seaboard states of Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut. Since these weeds grow from deeply imbedded bulblets, they are not easy to eradicate. Chemical weed control is the only effective means — hand pull- ing does not get rid of the bulblet. Selective action compounds of 2,4-D are best, such as 4-XD or WEED & FEED. Repeat treatments must be made. The is best made as growth gets under way in late winter and the second, three or four weeks after the first. New first application Lawn Making Hints Start as early as weather permits working of the soil. Do not go ahead until the soil can be prepared properly. Soils should not be worked when they are wet and sticky. Get soil test in advance to learn if lime is needed. Regardless of whether soil is consid- ered "rich" or not, better results will follow generous use of plant food, just before seeding. Questions and Answers . . . What to do with my lawn ruined the summer second drought and use of sprinkling water for- bidden? Mrs J. S. Altoona, Pa. in succession year by It is tough to have a good lawn go out for lack of moisture. As with human be- ings, a strong constitution is the best de- fense for adversity. Our advice to the Altoona lady was 1) lime if needed; 2) feed monthly when the grass is growing; 3) eliminate weed competition; 4) mow regularly; 5) cut relatively short in cool weather, higher in heat and drought. . . . Someone told me lime had to be mixed into the soil or it would do no good. Right? B. F. Portland, Oregon Not true. While soils will be neutralized more quickly if the lime is worked into them, the same action will follow surface application. . . . There I have been unable to solve and that is the eradication I have been able to control of Chickweed. broad-leaved weeds and Crabgrass. The Chickweed K. K. Detroit, Mich. is one problem stubborn. is very The so-called winter annuals have the ability to grow in late winter and early spring when soil temperatures are too low for active growth of grasses. Chickweed, speedwell and henbit are the main winter annuals invading lawns. Since they make the strongest growth in cool, wet weather when chemical controls are least effective, the usual timing of weed control is not applicable. The effect on creeping winter annuals will be negligible unless the control chem- ical is applied on warmer days and in drier weather. Repeat treatments are usually required in late spring or early summer. • Skunks Oust Bugs, and your lawn too — reports the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. And they're right. Skunks do get rid of grubs of Jap beetles, one of their favorite foods. The catch is they tear up the lawn to get at the juicy morsel. A better way, according to the experts, is to apply insecticide to get rid of the g r u b s. T h ey d id n ot s ay u se SCOTTS PEST CONTROL but we know it will do the job. O M SCOTT & SONS CO. M C - 39 2 8 54 M A R Y S V I L LE - - O H IO © E V E RY P A C K A GE OF S C O T TS L A WN C A RE P R O D U C TS B E A RS T H IS T R A DE - M A RK A ND IS S E A L ED F OR Y O UR P R O T E C T I ON