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10 THE NEW TANNER Home & Garden Caring for your lawn helps the environment Perfect for lounging, ball games and cookouts, your lawn is a real asset to your home. Did you know that your lawn --and how to care for it-- also can help the en- vironment? Your lawn may only be a small piece of land, but all the lawns across the coun- try cover a lot of ground. That's why taking care of the environment begins in your own backyard. Caring for your lawn can have a bigger impact than you might think. You don't have to be an expert 'to grow a healthy lawn. Just keep in mind that the secret is to work with nature. Healthy grass pro- vides a feeding ground for birds, which find it a rich source of insects, worms and other food. Thick grass pre- vents oil erosion, filters con- taminants from rainwater and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is also highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen., There are a few things you should know to ensure that your lawn and the envi- 'Top-dressing made easy | If you're looking to make your neighbours green with envy by growing a healthy, hearty lawn, take note. There's an easy, inexpensive way to reduce disease, thatch and the amount of water and fertilizer your lawn requires. It's called "top-dressing." of peat moss over the entire lawn with a leaf rake once every year or two. Do it anytime from early spring to late fall. Peat moss will gradually condition the soil and save water by absorbing and holding moisture. To get the maximum benefits of peat moss, aerate your lawn first. Aeration removes plugs of soil from the lawn, loosening compacted areas and promoting deeper grass (root growth. J OTROV-BILT We Opel a Only the Bes Industry- Leading Warranties LAWN AND GARDEN TRACTORS Best in performance and quality STARTING AT $799 TRIMMER/MOWERS Trim, mow and clear in half fie' To top-dress a lawn, simply spread a % to 4 inch layer |° LEGENDARY QUALITY AT NEW LOWER PRICES. WIDE-CUT MOWERS Cut mowing time Always the best built. Now the best buy. OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT Hwy. 7, Georgetown (905) 877-0314 Metro Toronto (905) 451-1055 ronment remain healthy: The first thing to start with is the soil. They key things to remember are tex- ture, nutrients and pH bal- ance. Lawns grow best in in- termediate or "loamy" soils that have a mix of clay, silt and sand. Whatever soil type you have, you probably can improve it by periodically adding compost, manure or grass clippings. Some lawns are too packed down or have too much clay, which blocks the penetration of air and water. Your lawn may need to be aerated by pulling plugs of soil out to create air spaces. Most lawns need to be fertilized every year. They need more nitrogen, phos- phorus and potassium than soils usually contain. Use a slow release lawn fertilizer and have the pH of your lawn tested periodically to ensure that the grass can best absorb the nutrients (pH6.5 to 7.0 is best). The right type of grass -- one that suits your needs and likes the local weather -- will give better results. If you're putting in a new lawn, it's worth your while to identify the best type of grass. Grasses vary in the type of climate they prefer. The right lawn-care plan can help to make your yard -- dnd the environment -- THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1998 PAINTING & DECORATING Wallpapering : Airless Spray Painting FING ESAS Interior Painting -- Tel: (519) 853-1617 Varnishing & Staining Pager: 1-888-277-5101 Computer Colour Matching Quality Paints by Glidden Dave Butler A high-end mower at a low-end price 11133 13-hp Lawn Tractor $2495 beautiful. y you get what you pay for. With the John Deere L1133 Lawn Remanufactured BBO TANKS $26% Tyler Transport Ltd. -379 Queen St. E., Acton 853-1550. : Z you get that ¢ Tr I more. More specifically, vou me x ine, tight 15-inch turning radius, ransmission. There'snoend | to what this baby's got. Stop by and see for yourself JOHN DEERE Nothing Runs Like A Deere" ELMIRA FARM SERVICE Ospringe, Ontario - Junction of Hwy. 25 & 24 plus tax 19) 853-3901 TILLERS Buy your last tiller first interest FREE until September* Business (519) 833-9332 -- "OUR PRESSURE TREATED HAS ARRIVED" ~ = i o are. Building a Deck or a Fence ... At Leathertown Lumber you can talk with us! SAVE $$$ Phone today for our Competitive Prices! FORMULA 77 ss s DECK AND WOOD PROTECTOR * Water repellent * Mildew resistant * Urethane fortified * Ideal for protection of wood ORGANIZING MADE EASY FOR YOUR CLOSET 1x 12" Rough Pine WS" Great for board & batten siding Pine Laminate $9.95 & up AEE - ; Dowel 3/16" - 1 1/2" 599") Birch Plywood 1/8" up to 3/4" ze ae 1x3x24" Clear Pine $4.99 6 BT. PICNIC ABLE 10 pe. bundle 264 Main St. N., Acton LEATHERTOWN 4 LUMBER FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED (519) 853-1970 Fax: 853-2542 Toronto Line: (416) 601-1259 Hours: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. * All prices in ettect while supplies last