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_ it's not necessary either. . you can get an aeration tool that cuts narrow plugs out of your . soil, allowing the air and moisture and organic fertilizer to get - to theroots, and allowing the roots to grow properly. Port Perry . own (phone 985-7771). | spring.and late fall, and possibly in midseason. After spring and . manure to revive the lawn. and to your peace of mind. The Environment ORGANIC GARDENING 2 -- LAWNCARE by Michelle Bull It's usually about this time of year that we begin to look at our lawns and think they need a little greening up. Nature seems to take so long, so we decide to give her a helping hand with a little chemical fertilizer and weed and pest spray. This is not really a good idea, for the reasons we discussed last week, and We're in the habit of thinking that grass is terribly delicate and won't grow at all if we don't help it out. This isn't true. Anyone who has tried to keep a flower garden weed-free should know how hardy grass is. If you leave it alone, your lawn will not die out. The theory behind organic lawncare is that, given half a chance, your grass will crowd out almost everything. Organic lawncare tells you how to give your lawn that chance, and it allows you to take a calmer attitude about the few 'weeds' that may be left. Perhaps that's the best place to start. Exactly what do we consider to be weeds? Well, no-one's keen on having thistles in their lawn, or crabgrass. (Dig these out). What about clover? Clover is pretty, smells nice, and improves your soil by fixing nitrogen. How badly do you want to get rid of it? What about violets? It depends on what you plan to use your lawn for. If it's going to be a bowling green, then perhaps it needs to be absolute- ly perfect. If you're going to sit on it and drink lemonade and watch your kids play ball with your dog, perhaps it isn't so crucial that there be absolutely no weeds of any sort. The first step in making your lawn as healthy as possible is to choose hardy, disease resistant grass. In Canada, the best kind is a mix of Kentucky Bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass. Your established lawn is probably a bluegrass blend. Spread ryegrass seed over it when you aerate in spring or summer to upgrade it. Get endophytic ryegrass, which is disease and pest resistant. The next and most important step is aeration. One of the big- gest problems most lawns have is soil compaction under the roots. This prevents your grass from growing properly, so it becomes sick and the weeds move in in force. To prevent this, Rent and Save has an aerator for rent if you want to do your «+. Lawns should be aerated two or three times a year, in early summer aeration, topdress with screened compost or manure and ryegrass: After the fall aeration add the fertilizers your soil tests showed you were lacking. Thatch is another problem. This is a dense layer of dead grass stems and roots on the surface of the soil. It does not decay, and it prevents water from soaking into the soil, so the roots are too dry and the tops too wet. A little thatch is all right, but if you have a real buildup on your lawn, buy a heavy thatch rake and get rid of the thatch in the fall. Top dress with compost or 'Watering is next. Most lawns are watered too little, too often. The roots stay dry and the tops get mouldy. Water your lawn about once a week, giving it a really good soaking (at least an hour) first thing in the morning, before the sun gets too hot. If you wait too long, the sun will burn the grass. If you do it at night the water will sit there all night, encouraging fungus and other diseases. Let the soil dry out between watering and weed seeds will have a harder time getting started. Last, but not least, don't give your lawn a brush cut. Cut- ting your lawn too short, too often, encourages it to die. In the prime growing season, cut it to 2.5 to 3 inches, and later on to 3 or 4 inches. Let it grow at least an inch before cutting again. Put the clippings on your composts to prevent thatch build-up. A three inch lawn looks just as nice as a half-inch lawn, nicer really, because the grass will be healthier. If you follow these steps, you will have a healthy, beautiful lawn. If you want to try it, but have been using a lot of chemicals, you'll have to give your lawn some extra attention to get it through the transition period. See How to Get Your Lawn and Garden off Drugs for some tips. If you don't want to do the work yourself, there are some lawncare companies that will provide organic lawncare. I spoke with most of the local lawncare companies listed in the Yellow Pages (some never returned my call) and there are two which provide organic lawncare in the Port Perry area: Tom's Land- scaping Maintenance Design - ph. 433-8624, and Aaronway Lawn and Garden Maintenance (formerly Hardsand) ph. 432-8997. Give it a try and see what a difference it makes to your lawn, | From Mizoram India fear the Mizo Choir in Concert with Evangelist Vanlal Nghaka Experience the amazing story of how the gospel changed a former tribe of headhunters into peaceful God-fearing people. PORT PERRY BAPTIST CHURCH Hwy. 7A and Island Road FRIDAY, MAY 11th at 7:30 PM Free-will offering to be received. Nursery provided. Special Meeting for Grades 1-6 Volunteers from across the Durham Region recently formed the Master Gardener Group. This Group is sponsored by the Rural Organizations and Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Brooklin Horticultural Society. The mandate of the Master Gardener program is to provide gardening information to home gardeners in the community. A master Gardener must take two horticultural courses from the University of Guelph, attend a classroom training before the growing season begins, and at- tend update training seminars an- nually. In addition to the training they receive, Master Gardeners are required to provide a " LRT FEAL PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, May 8, 1990 -- 39 Help your green thumb minimum of 60 hours of volunteer time over a two year period to the community to become certified Master Gardeners. The Brooklin Master Gardeners have had three meetings and have made some plans for sum- mer activities. On May 16th and 17th, the Master Gardeners will have a large display in the 'Oshawa Town Centre in conjunc- tion with Gardening Month. These Complete Hi Tech FIREPLACES OVER RIDGE RENOVATOR Reach Industrial Park, Unit 4, Reg. Rd. 8 Call: experienced gardeners will be there to answer any questions. A similar activity is planned for the Brooklin Spring Fair on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd. If you have a problem in the garden and are seeking advice, you can write to the Brooklin Master Gardeners, Box 695, Ux- bridge, Ontario, LOC 1K0. The Master Gardener Group will soon be establishing a hotline number in Oshawa. FIREPLACES 985-0715 CLOSED Monday; OPEN Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM PORT PERRY PRINCE ALBERT UNITED CHURCH Rev. D. Robert J. LePage, B.A. M. Div. Rev. Donald E. Tansley B.A. M. Div. Associate Minister SUNDAY, MAY 13 Mothers Day - Family Sunday Service of Holy Baptism 10:00 a.m. Port Perry Morning Worship: Church School 11:30 a.m. Prince Albert Morning Worship Church School Nursery Care Always Available' UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Rev. Lynn Belfry-Graham Scugog Island 9:45 a.m. Manchester 11:15 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School BLACKSTOCK-NESTLETON UNITED CHURCH Rev. Dale Davis Blackstock 10:00 a.m. North Nestleton - 11:15 a.m. Church School and Nursery During Worship COLUMBUS UNITED CHURCH A COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR ALL Minister: - Rev. Jack Griffen, B.A. M. Div. Sermon: Family Day (Especially Mothers) A HAPPY CHURCH FOR HAPPY PEOPLE! GREENBANK PASTORAL CHARGE SERVICES Rev. David Shepherd, Minister 9:30 a.m. Seagrave 11:00 a.m. Greenbank 12:30 p.m. Pinedale EMMANUEL FULL GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP Durham Road 23 and 7th Conc. Reverend Timothy Godfrey Pastor Church: 852-7054 Residence: 852-5871 SUNDAY, MAY 13 9:45 a.m. - Family Bible School 11:00 a.m. - Worship Services 6:00 p.m. - Praise Meeting Tuesday - 9:30 a.m. Ladies Fellowship Wednesday - 7:30 p.m. Prayer & Bible Study Saturday - 7:00 p.m. Youth Group TR >" A [Ad 1 V3 NEAT 4 SA ' Onsy- vov PORT PERRY BAPTIST CHURCH Hwy. 7A & Island Road East of Port Perry 985-8681 Pastor: Rev. David S. Daniels May 9-13 Missions Conference Theme: 'Partners in Action' Theme Speaker: Galo Vasquez from Mexico City Wed. & Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Bible School: Sunday 9:45 a.m. Worship 11:00 and 6:30 p.m. The Mizo Choir from India with Evangelist Vanlal Nghaka Friday at 7:30 p.m. Sat. Men's Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Ladies Luncheon 1:00 p.m. Call Church for reservations A Special Welcome To The Handicapped JUNIOR MISSIONS CONFERENCE Grades (1-6) (Held during Service) HOPE CHURCH A Christian Reformed Fellowship 166 Simcoe Street South Prince Albert, Ontario Rev. Bart Van Eyk B.A., M. Div., Pastor 985-9679 Song Service: 9:50 a.m. Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Coffee and Fellowship 11:15a.m. Worship Service: 7:00 p.m. Nursery Provided Ladies Coffee Break Thursdays 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Nursery & Story Hour Provided Youth Groups Girls 7-14 - Mondays 7-9 p.m. Boys 8-15 - Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. High School Plus Alternate Sundays - 8:30- 10 p.m. All Are Welcome! ST. JOHN'S FRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Rev. Stuart McEntyre, B.A., B.D. Telephone: 985-3409 Christian Family Study May 13th, 1990 - 9:55 a.m. Family Worship & Church School Mr. McEntyre's Topic The Humble Inherit the Earth Nursery Care Provided EMMANUAL PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Regional Rd. 8 at Simcoe Port Perry, Ontario Rev. David Beesley, Pastor 985-4441 SUNDAY, MAY 13 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship Message 'Don't be Spooked by This GHOST!' Special Music: Laura Binkley 6:30 - Praise Service Special Music: "The Phillips Family" Nursery Care & Children's Church Provided in Both Services . Tues. 9:15 - 11:15 a.m. Ladies Reflections Bible Study Wed. 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Family Night, Toddlers, Pioneer Club, Adult Bible Study Youth : "A Church Reaching Out in Love" NESTLETON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Rev. William Fairley Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Sunday School Provided Everyone is Welcome! ST. BERNADETTE'S CATHOLIC PARISH SUNDAY MASS 11:30 a.m. Nestleton Community Hall Nestleton Serving Cartwright Township Come On Home Father Tom Lynch 705-932-2712 COMMUNITY CHURCH CAESAREA Rev. Dr. W.H. Crawford This Sunday: MAY 13 11:00 A.M. Mother's Day Special Service Thurs.: Prayer & Study 7:30 p.m. Tues.: Sunshine Club 4-5 p.m. Welcome to the Country Church (986-5526) ANGLICAN CHURCH The Rev'd Charles E. Bull Incumbent St. John's Church St., Blackstock SUNDAY, MAY 13 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion - New Rite Church School & Nursery Church of the Ascension 266 North St., Port Perry SUNDAY, MAY 13 8:00 a.m. Said Eucharist 11:15 a.m. Morning Prayer Church School BAHA'I FAITH For information about Baha'i meetings & activities please write P.O. Box 1153, Port Perry, Ontario, LIL 1A9 or Call 985-9339