HOW TO IMPROVE THE LAWN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 579, 8 October 1932, Page 23 (Supplement)

HOW TO IMPROVE THE LAWN.

Anyone whose lawn may not be in satisfactory condition would find the present month the best in the whole year to deal with it, for the grass is now just commencing to grow, and will soon recover from any damage that may be done to it during the work of renovation. A lawn cannot be said to be satisfactory when the ground presents an uneven surface or is covered with hills and hollows, and the shorter and neater the grass is kept the more these defects show up. Where they are not very bad or too numerous, much may be done by carefully taking up the turf with a turf-knife, paring down the ground in the case of mounds, and filling up the hollows with soil sifted very line, after which the turf should be carefully rclaid and well firmed and rolled. Where only very slight hollows are found, much may be done at this time bv strewing very finely sifted soil on the surface, and sweeping in with a birch broom, or a rake can be used. The growth of moss is the result of one of several causes—a stagnant and badlydrained surface, or poverty. It may also be the outcome of neglect, where nothing but mowing is done from year to year, no harrowing or surfacedressing- of any kind being given to check the growth of the moss and encourage the grass. The best way to deal with patches of lawns, or sometimes whole lawns, infested with moss is first to satisfy one’s self what is ncally the cause of the mischief. If it is want of draining, it will now be too late to deal with that; but if it is from poverty of soil, or neglect, it should he dealt with at once. The first proceeding would be to rake the surface thoroughly with an iron-toothed rake, working both lengthways and across the mossy piece. The moss should be gathered up, after which the surface should be dressed with a mixture of lime and sand. The mixture should ho passed through a fine seive to ensure it is free from stones or lumps. A mixture of four parts sand to one of lime would be suitable. Fine soil could be substituted for the sand, but it would not be so free from seed, weeds, etc., unless it had been sterilised. Soot is also a good material to use. but it must not be used at the same time as lime. Dressing lawns with fine soil, woodashes, or any like material is always attended with good results, even where no moss is present. Where the grass is thin and not of the right kind, much may be done by sowing a good mixture of grass seeds, and covering it with fine soil, as the seed quickly germinates in showery weather. Where patches of lawns are bare under trees, a special grass should be used for sowing in such places. Before sowing the seed break up the surface for an inch or so with a garden fork, and afterwards level it with the rake, then sow the seed and rake it in or cover with fine soil. A dressing of ground limestone or carbonate <tf lime has a. wonderful effect on grass, encouraging the growth of the fine bladed varieties and also encouraging the growth of clover.