flACV 141 iuPnM"I'o1AV MAYV "l î19M UII-ITnV IFEEPRE.SS SPRING Phuiti ng JUST OPENED! WHITBY LANDSCAPING We do prof essional gardenlng, sodding and garden renovatIng at reasonable rates. 668-1988 666-4209 MAINTENANCE *Government Licen.M *sed, Weed Contro,I *Fertilizing, Misc.* Lacapng. 668-0832 Mitenance *Free Estlmatesl For Competitive Cai666-4700 Solve lawn mystery Dear John: Two areas of my lawn are dying, but the rest seems healthy. What dlues point to the cuiprit? Dear Sherlock: While both inseet and disease damage are rnarked by patches of dead or dying grass, a littie detective work will help you find the cuiprit. First eliminate suspects. Fertilizer or gasoline spilîs can cause dying patches, as will visits from a neigh- bour's dog. Pay attention to cir- cumstantiai evidence. Have you noticed an unusuaily large number of birds or moles on your lawn? If so, they may be attracted by in- sects, particularly spring grubs. Examine the victim on your hands and knees. Tug on the grass lightly. Usually grasses killed by insects pull free rather easily; those attackecl by disease organisms generally remain firmly an- chored. Inspect soil and plants closely for insec- ts theruselves, or signs they have been feeding. Use a reference chart to match signs with possible cuiprits. Check alibis. Some pests are active during certain seasons; some have a fondness for cer- tain grass. Enlist the help of a special agent: Consuit a county extension ad- viser. Dear John: Early in the season, my mower cuts grass easily. Now it strains. Is the lawn changing or is my imagination working overtime? Dear Lawn Worrier: The mower blade probably needs shar- pening. And yes, your lawn is changing. Spring grass is soft; sumnmer grass is tough. The toughening'ofethe grass and a graduai dulling of the blade can make your machine work harder. The blade should be sharpened after ap- proximately 25 hours of use. When the grass tips turn down, indicating they're being frayed rather than cut cleanly, a sharpening job is in order. Read the operator's manual for complete in- structions. Remove an equal amount of material from each end of the blade to maintain its balance. And leave a 1/64 inch thick edge on the blade for strength. A razor-sharp edge will roll over and dul quickly. Dear John: I'd like to dethatch while mowing. Is this possible? Dear Efficient: You cao dethatch and mow at the same time with either special mowiog blades, or a thatching attachment for riding mowers and lawn trac- tors. Although they do not suice as deeply as regular dethatchiog machines-, the attach- meots are convenient and leave your lawo less ragged. Seod your lawn care questions to: "John Deere Lawo Answers," P.O. Box 1000, Grimsby, Ontario L3M 4H5. Selec- ted questions wili be an- swered. Is your lawn bugged? Dear John: Bugs. My lawo is loaded with them. Can SO maoy in- sects be good for my lawn? How cao I tell if they're damaging the grass? How do 1 get rid of them? Dear Bugged: Most lawns are home to hun- dreds of varieties of in- sects that prey on the plants and each other. Most do littie damage. But a few iosects, if allowed to multiply, can injure your lawn. A patch of dead or dying grass in an other- wise healthy lawn is the first sign of trouble. A good reference book or pamphlet cao help you idetify the insect - or disease- - creatiog a problem. The book should explain ways to get rid of harmful organisms. See a county extension adviser. You will fiod that there are two basic varieties of insects that hurt your lawo. Each has unique habits and should be attacked dif- ferently. One group lives by surface feeding on the juices or leaves of grass plants. Some are chinch bugs, spider mites, cut- worms and webworms. If you're using insec- ticide to control them, it's best to give the lawn a deep watering before the application. Don't water for a few days to avoid washing off insec- ticide. Wireworms, ground pearîs and the larvae of many different beeties hurt plants by damnaging root systems. If an insecticide has been applied, a thorough soaking will help wash the chemical into the root system. If your lawn is being attacked by both types of pests and you're using an insecticide on the above-ground insec- ts first, wait two days before giving the lawn a good soaking to get at the below-ground enemnies. Although chemicals are sometimes necessary to control a severe bug invasion, proper feeding, watering and mowing are good ways to ward off such problems. Dear John: Do you have any tricks for testing mower blade balance? Dear Unbalanced: You cao do a quick check of blade balance by resting the centre hole of the blade on a nail driven into a garage stud, workbench or wall. The blade should becomne horizontal when balanced at the centre point. If one side is heavier, remnove more metal from that side to balance. Dear John: 1 bought a used mower last som- mer but don't have an operator's manual. Dear Gone-But-Not- Forgotten: The local equipment dealer who selis the brand may have an extra manual for your machine. The dealer should be able to order a manual if he doesn't have one in stock. Most manufac- turers keep a stock of manuals for older models. VANDERMEER NURSERIES For ait your gardenlng needs 1.20a roll Drop in and check out our many instore SPECIALS We carry a large quantlty of qual ity plants (annuals & perenn lais), all grown ln our own greenhouse, al1 At REASONABLE PRICES "l4e reew he r4ghî lu limiquantifie. Open 7 Days A Woek 9 a.m. - 8 p.M. Drive a IlillAAX & UeV alot - imE v ~iSs. on quallly planta. 668-9068 ReEs 'ARÎ: '>AR D nem LiA, V f- N AND c râo»xwm-l