HINTS ON THE LAWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 816, 9 November 1929, Page 30

HINTS ON THE LAWN

MOSS ON THE LAWN Moss on the lawn is often troublesome. Its presence indicates that the ground is poor, and the remedy is so to encourage the growth of the grass that the moss shall hare no chance. It is necessary to rake off as much of the moss as possible, and in spring to scatter sulphate of iron, a quarter of an ounce a square yard, upon the mossy patches; after a fortnight water it every ten days or so with a solution of nitrate of soda, half an ounce in a gallon of water. MOWING AND ROLLING When first cutting a lawn the machine should be set high, otherwise the blades are liable to damage the roots of the grasses. As the grass thickens and becomes consolidated the machine may be set to cut more closely. During mid-spring an estab lished lawn ought to be cut at least once, though preferably twice, a week, and each mowing should be followed by rolling. Rolling may with advantage be carried out throughout the year whenever the surface is not sodden or hard; it does the lawn a great deal of good. FAIRY RINGS Fairy rings are sometimes a nuisance on the lawn, and are difficult to get rid of. They are due to the presence of fungus which, as it decays, enriches the grass and causes it to assume a rich green colour characteristic of fairy rings. Watering with a strong solution of sulphate of iron is likely to effect a cure, though it may be necessary to dig up and remove the soil containing the fungus, to a distance of 12 inches outside the ring. Clover when present in reasonable quantity only is not objectionable, but it is apt to spread and supplant the grasses proper. It may be lessened by applying lawn sand in autumn and scattering nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia (half an ounce to tne square yard) in spring. Keep a small tinful of a mixture of quicklime and sulphur (in equal parts) at hand in the greenhouse. A little dusted on plants will save a lot of trouble from mildew, and most other fungoid diseases.