=" "14 -- Scugog Citizen - Tuesday, March 19, 1996 a [=m BE BRANDOM KITCHEN & BATH the Better Chosee PROMISE SATISFACTION Visit Dutham's FOR THE BEST IN ... largest » Creative Design Kitchen + Quality Cabinets and Bath + Nama Brand Fixtures Showrooms + Whirlpools and let the * Corian Counters experts < In-home Consultations create your * Expert Installation dream kitchen + No-hassle Warranty or bath. J 1B BRANDOM. Hie Better Choice WE'LL HELP YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER! Green and Growing by Bob Tracinski, John Deere's Consumer Information Manager * Where the grass is'always greener: Keep in mind that lawns play an important environ- mental role. Like other vegetation, grass replenishes our oxygen supply. It also prevents soil erosion. Your lawn's root zone acts as a natural filtration system by purifying water as it seeps underground. It helps cool surroundings by absorbing solar radiation. . Grass clippings are useful to the environment - if handled properly through'Grass- cycling. Grasscycling is a new form of recycling that gaining ground, er ... make the, popularity, among lawn care professionals ind h s alike. The practice arose' from efforts to reduce the millions of tons of clippings discarded to municipal landfills i each year. Grasscycling is a natural process of decay and renewal that recycles nutrients in grass. + You can promote this by simply leaving short clippings on your lawn. Believe it or not, grass is 86 percent water. Short grass clippings decompose quickly and can return up to 20 percent of their nitrogen to the soil, providing a valuable food source to your Toot system. Proper mowing is the key to effective Grasscycling. Mulching mowers make grass- cycling easy by chopping clippings into tiny pieces and blowing them into the turf. This is particularly helpful in the spring, wheh seasonal showers accelerate your lawn's growth. ' If you use a standard walk-behind or riding. mower, just follow the old 'one-third' rule: Mow your lawn often enough so that you cut only one-third of the grass blade at any one time. In addition to resulting in short clippings, this method encourages deep root development. And a healthy root system is essential for a thick, attractive lawn. A healthier lawn isn't the only benefit of Grasscycling, though. For example, cutting more 'often means you can mow your yard more quickly since you won't be stopping to rake or bag your clippings. Grasscycling can save you money, too. One season's worth of clippings i is roaghly lent to an appli of cial fertilizer. Try Grasscycling this summer. will Grasscycling add po thatch? University research shows that short grass clippings don't add to thatch. Thatch is mostly dead grass roots caused by improper mowing, watering or fertilizing. In fact, some studies inficate the bacterial action of decaying clippings can curb some fungus diseases, a commbn lawn problem. Lawns mowed with specially designed mulching mowers were greeper and healthier. How will Grassgycling affect fertilizing plans? Within a week after mowing, your ings will d pose and return beneficial nutrients to your soil. Still, fertflize about a month after the grass starts growing this spring to replenish root an, food reserves. ET to fertilize about a month before your lawn wey goes dormant to promote 1; healthy roots. » and Affordable Pricing + 1732 Baseline Road rr-- COURTICE |--T--7F 432-3300 | Ta . Open Sat. 1010 5; Wed. & Thurs. 8108; | io ) . 425 LAWN AND GARDEN TRACTOR It's Deere Season. And there's never been a better time to put the quality and dependability of a John Deere mower on 'your lawn. From walk- behinds to lawn and garden tractors, there's one that's just right for you. Whichever Jon Deere mower you choose, an optional Tricycler® miching kit i€ available. Grass clippings are cut and lown back into the grass for a n. Come uncover a bargdfn during Dede Seton. Ask about our special financing options too. You'll be pz any mower Pleasantly surprised how easy it is.to put a "Ss Deere in your yard. oniy® 40. STX38 LAWN 499. k onwr*2,4 0 "} UTICA FARM ] EQUIPMENT LIMITED Monday, Tuesday & Friday 8 to 5: eo Hwya0r, 620 Durham Road 21 in Utica: 985-9701 NoTHNG RUNS LIKE A DEERE * DEERE SEASCN NOW