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PAGE 11 - PLAINDE ALER - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25,1980 Amateur landscapers take note ... Improper mowing hinders a healthy green lawn So you're going to build up your lawn? Naturally you'll think of seed selection, sunlight availability, drainage improve­ ments and soil composition and texture. But, let's not overlook upgrading your mowing pro­ gram as well. One of the most common and critical problems with lawn maintenance is that of mowing too short, according to the Simplicity Manufacturing Co., Port Washington, Wis., a lead­ ing manufacturer of powered lawn, garden and snow clearing equipment. Simplicity is an Allis-Chalmers company. No grass plant can survive re­ peated deep removal of its blades, which are vital for its growth and health. Where moderate removal stimulates the development of more grass shoots and causes plant density, frequent deep shearing produces many rela­ tively weak plants with shallow roots. When over a third of the green leaf surface of a grass is removed at one time, root growth either slows or com­ pletely stops. It may not start again for a month. Hoot growth inhibition de­ creases the plant's ability to ob­ tain water and nutrients. Cut your lawn frequently enough so you don't remove over a third of the leaf surface at any one time. No reason to overmow Today there's no reason for overmowing, according to Simplicity. Modern power and hand mowing equipment can cut at any desired height between one and three inches. The question remaining is: At ,what mowing height and fre- 1 quency can lawn grasses both prosper and still be attractive? Most Kentucky bluegrasses and red fescues should not be mowed lower than one and one-half inch. A two-inch height cut is even better. The higher clipping allows greater root growth. A large and deep root system is desirable, especially during the heat and drought of mid­ summer. Taller grass is more competitive than short grass' so there is less weed encroach­ ment. Colonial bentgrass with­ stands a lower height of cut -- somewhere around three- fourths inch. If bent grasses are not cut low, thatch builds up rapidly and the turf becomes shallow rooted. This is one reason why bents are not compatible with bluegrasses and red fescues. Some of the newer blue grass varieties can be cut lower than one and one-half inch. They are semi-dwarf types which main­ tain an adequate leaf surface when clipped at one and one- half inch. FyIking, Merion, Pennstar, Prato and Windsor may be cut at or slightly lower than one and one-half inch. • Merion is not a dwarf type, but its leaves lie more parallel to the soil surface than other grass­ es; the plant is able to maintain an adequate leaf surface when cut low. Grass season lasts long Simplicity advises: don't change your mowing height -4: -DOLLAR DAYS- 20% on each OFF '10°° purchase Excliding special boxes of items already 50-70% ...many latchhook kits V* OFF Man Books NO LAY-A-WAY OPEN DAILY 9-S •xc«p» Saturday 9-3 weatheRVine y&nn shop uiiMNHiattM. iWBsrr.iu.T: tlS-3tMM4 m from spring through summer and fall. Continue mowing at a constant generous height as long as grass grows, which is well" into the fall. Mow lawns consisting of cool climate grasses to about two in­ ches. Close mowing, especially in hot weather, will weaken or even kill most of these grasses. Mowing to a height of one and a half to two inches keeps down weed competition. Crab grass, in particular, can be re­ duced by the shading effect of tal|er permanent grasses on the crab grass seedlings. Do not let the grass grow un­ usually high and then clip it back sharply. This treatment is a shock to the physiological makeup of the plants and re­ quires prompt removal of clip­ pings to prevent smothering of the grass and build-up of dis­ eases. Mow frequently Mow lawns frequently even , though you remove little top growth. Simplicity advises: leave the clippings on the lawn unless growth is excessive. Best of all equipment for such treat­ ment are mulching mowers or multi-function mowers with mulching capabilities. The mowing technique called "mulching" is a useful aid in controlling cutting length be­ cause mulching can be done eas­ ily and frequently. Mulching involves a continu­ ous chopping up of grass clip­ pings under the mower deck and continuous dropping of the fine pieces onto the ground. In such mowers, the grass is not dis­ charged into the air or into col­ lecting bags. However, one type of mow­ er, Simplicity's four-in-one, has an attachment that blocks the discharge to permit mulching. The machine also mows, rear bags, side bags and discharges clippings to air. Warm-climate grasses, par­ ticularly bermuda ferass, require closer mowing than most cool- climate grasses. Bermuda grass should be cut frequently to a height of % inch or less to main­ tain fine-quality turf. Other warm season grasses such as zoysia, centipede grass, carpet grass and St. Augustine grass should be mowed to about one inch. Keep sharp Whether you use a hand mower, a power reel mower or a rotary power mower, it should be sharp enough to cut the grass cleanly without bruising or tear­ ing the leaves. The cutting edge of the bed- , knife of reel type mowers and the reel blades should be sharp, and the reel should be set firmly against the bedknife, advises Simplicity. Make adjustment of the bedknife or of the roller (which­ ever determines the height of cut) on a flat surface such as a concrete walk or flpor. Rotary mower blades require frequent sharpening. This can be done with a steel file after removing the blade. After resharpening, blades must be balanced. Height of cut by most rotary mowers is fixed by adjusting the wheels in holes or slots on the mower frame. June 26th *2 7th* 28th Solids & Plaids. Spring * su»rEio4"-«i" , Spring lockets «««" 44- •Fancy Short Sleeve Dress Shifts sale1Im-1440 Sleeve Sport Shirts p Glen Oaks ' .Se.e«t,ouplo? iAlEl6 1 Sleeve Sport Shirts • Golf Slacks Reg. *23 26 1 S*° (Finished Dotton»)^^|0 AABO SALt •# .Sel^l'u^onyon.UongSleeve Solids 6 PlaWs. Sp<.n9 i Reg. i14.5°-i20 & Susrr*«s!°cl!S •Select Group --\tfeckfies SA .-- Red. »'• smeII60-!*00 •Sport Shorts & Swimwear SALE® •Limited Quantity WarmUpSute"^"" Mnnv--Limited QuoniljetonMletoSl 47.50-^5 k SALE * YOU& CHOICE! McHENRY, ILLINOIS (815) 385-4060