Late August and September are becoming the most popular months for West Coast lawn making. Since weeds are the despair of all gardeners desiring a perfect lawn, do everything possible to rid yours of weed seeds before sowing the grass.
It isn’t necessary to go to the extremes I did three years before building a new home. I cleaned the land of weeds by planting potatoes one year, melons the second year and a nitrogen – gathering crop the third. When this last crop was at its lushest it was dug in for green manuring, and a couple of months later the lawn seed went in. The resulting lawn rivaled the turfy grass plots of the British.
Use manure in which the weed seeds have germinated, humus from scientifically made compost, Milorganite, or leaf-mold from woodlands you know are clean. In the Southwest peattnoss is particularly useful. Enrich the soil with one or more of these. Work the ground evenly, rake to the desired grade and settle the soil with a thorough watering. Early fall rains help the lawn get off to a good start, for no water from a hose is as acceptable to plant life as rain.
The kind of grass seed to use varies with climate and exposure. In the Northwest a mixture of creeping bent, chewlegs fescue and Kentucky blue is commonly used with some shady bluegrass added if the lawn is not in full sun. Bent grass is much used in central California. A bent grass lawn requires, but repays, constant attention. In the Southwest mixtures are usually used, but in this region the lawn is often resown each year.
Most grass seed is sown at the rate of 1 pound per 200 square feet. After sowing the seed, rake lightly, roll and water with a fine spray. Never let the lawn dry out, and mow when the grass is 4 inches high.
by R Lester – 62840
