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PAGE <^PLAWPEALER-WEPNB8PAY; MARCH SC.1WV Like people, your grass balanced diet to grow I i.ittiimum Few homeowners have con­ sidered the fact that lawn grass­ es live in an unnatural envi­ ronment. They are crowded to­ gether, compete with trees and shrubs for nutrients, are mowed regularly and their clippings often are removed. As a consequence, lawns must be fertilized to get proper sustenance. In effect, it's pro­ viding a balanced diet just as you would do for yourself.With a proper fertilizer diet, your lawn will have good color, density and vigor. If your lawn does not get enough fertilizer, it will not only be less attractive, but considerably more suscepti­ ble to environmental stress and damage. Nitrogen most important Among the nutrients a lawn needs, nitrogen is the most im­ portant. It promotes" healthy growth and color. Unfortu­ nately, it is often in short supply because watering flushes it from the soil.Phosphorus is also im­ portant. It stimulates early root formation and produces strong root growth. Since it is not eas­ ily washed out of the soil and needed in only small quantities, most balanced fertilizers con­ tain a low percentage, according to the new Ortho book "All About Lawns.' Potassium, which promotes hardiness and disease resistance in lawn grasses, is often supplied in substantial amounts by soil minerals. As a result, only small quantities must be added by fertilizers.Other min­ eral elements such as oxygen from the air, hydrogen from water and zinc or boron which are usually found naturally in most soils also are required. Primary nutrients When preparing your lawn's balanced diet, be sure to select a fertilizer that contains the three primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphate and potash .All states require that every bag of fer­ tilizer be clearly marked with the percentages of these three elements contained in the pro­ duct. For example, the numbers 23-3-7 prominently displayed on the bag mean that it contains 23 percent nitrogen of net weight of bag, 3 percent phos­ phate, and 7 percent potash. The first number is always nitrogen, the second phosphate and the third potash. The ratio of nutrients best for a particular lawn will depend to some extent on local climate and soil conditions.To determine what is best for your lawn, con­ sult your local garden supply dealer or a book such as Ortho's "All About Lawns," which is extensively regionalized. It not only provides a close look at lawn growing in each state in the region, but also significant cli­ mate features in many cities. Feeding times Another important facet of your lawn's diet concerns feed­ ing times. Most gardeners don't need to be reminded to feed their lawns in spring.By midsummer, heat and light intensity slow down the growth of cool-season grasses. With few exceptions, cool-season grasses, such as bluegrasses, should not be fed in midsummer. The best time to fertilize cool-season grasses is in the fall so that they will grow green well into the cold weather. Fall feed­ ing also gives die lawn a chance to store food that will get it off to a fast start in the spring.Growth of warm-season grasses peeks in midsummer and then tapers off in the fall. Warm-season grass­ es, such as bermudagrasses, can also benefit from fall fertiliza­ tions. Fall fertilization will keep lilliillSr. These succulents require less watering than most other plants, but that doesn't mean you can neglect them. According to Ortho's book "The World of Cactus and Succulents," weather plays an important part in determining how frequently you should water. If the weather is cool and moist, don't water. During hot periods most succulents will require more watering. When to water succulents determined by their size and their covering. The larger they are and the more leathery they are, the greater their capability., of retaining moisture. A consideration in watering is the container that is used. Al­ though clay pots allow for better aeration of the soil, moisture evaporates through their sides making watering necessary on a more frequent basis than with nonporous containers. A danger in the nonporous containers, however, is that wet soil and low temperatures could permit the growth of fungi that cause the succulent to rot. Since moisture will also evaporate from the surface of the soil, a top dressing of coarse gravel, pebbles or crushed rock can help reduce this water loss. If, after examining these characteristics, you're still not sure when to water your succu­ lent plant, the Ortho book "The World of Cactus & Succulents" offers a rule of thumb. Insert your finger or a toothpick into the soil to a depth of one inch. If the soil is dry one inch below the surface, then it's time to water. Although succulents require less watering than most other plants, the frequency of water­ ing depends on the specific growing conditions of the plant. You can drown or dehydrate a cactus if you fail to consider the nature of the plant itself and the conditions under which it is grown. There are seven categories which can help determine the watering requirements of your succulents. According to the Ortho book, "The World of Cactus and Succulents," the categories are: weather, light, leaves, stems, roots, containers and top dressing. As with most plants, weather developed defenses against heat and drying winds, most will re­ quire more frequent watering during hot periods. Plants in full sun require more water than plants in light shade." The source of light, whether it is natural sunlight or artificial lighting, generates a certain amount of heat which must likewise be considered. Incan­ descent lights, for example, generate more heat than fluores­ cent bulbs. The plant itself will often give the best indications of its mois­ ture needs. The leaves, stems and roots are all capable of stor­ ing water, and, with succulents, the larger and juicier they are, the greater their capacity for water storage. A thick, leathery skin on the leaf helps limit the loss from transpiration, just as spines and hairs on the leaf help to reduce water evaporation. If your plant has numerous, thin leaves, it will require much more frequent watering than a cactus with no leaves. Water retention capabilities of stems and roots are usually Fertilizing your lawn insures that it will get proper sustenance. When preparing your lawn's diet be sure to select a fertilizer that contains the three primary nutrients--nitrogen, phosphate and potash. The ratio of nutrients best for a particular lawn depends to some extent on local climateand soil conditions. To determine what's best for your lawn, consult your local nursery or a book such as Ortho's "All About Lawns," which is exten­ sively regionalized. It not only provides a close look at lawn growing in each state and region, but also significant climate features in many dties. grass green and growing. It also will, in addition to feeding the will promote earlier spring lawn, control certain lawn greenup. weeds. The specific weeds con- Warm-season grasses benefit trolled by each product are indi- from fertilizers specially formu- cated on die label. lated for them. For example. Providing your grass with a Ortho-Grow Bahia Weed and proper diet, while controlling Feed is for use in the South on the weeds, will produce a heal- warm-season grasses such as thy, thick and rich-green lawn bahia, bermuda and zoysia. that provides a beautiful setting Another, Ortho St. Augustine for your home. Weed and Feed 21-4-4 is for use A beautiful lawn is an on St. Augustine lawns. All achievement to which you can Ortho Weed and Feed fertilizers point with pride. plays an important part in the frequency of watering. If the weather is cool and moist, don't water. Also, if the plant is look­ ing plump and juicy, don't water. The phrase "fat and happy" applies very well to succulents. Hot weather, of course, will cause the plant to use up water in transpiration, which is a plant's method of perspiring. While some succulents have Out, out, broadleaf weed! SIGN UP FOR OUR SUNDAY ******** LEACH Pro Racketball Racket WILSON NBA Basketball GUESS THE NUMBER OF BOBBERS & QUALIFY TO WIN 6RAND PRIZE WATCH FOR OUR SKATERS AT THE FAIR MCHENRY'S FAVORITE SPORT CENTER "What can be done about broadleaf weeds?" That's a common question that many gardeners ask. Preventive «w*»n*i>na~-> is important. That means good lawn care--mowing at the right height and fertilizing and watering correctly. If your present town is overrun, use a good weed control. Ortho's Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer M is a broadleaf weed killer that kills com­ mon weeds--roots and all. It's easy to apply and one quart will treat 9,600 square feet. 1210 N. Green St. HOURS: MON.-THURS. 9-5:30 FRI. 9-8:30 SAT. 9-5:30 SUN. 9-Noon 385-1000 l