Type Lawns From: Before beginning a creeping bent lawn consider these facts. It is more costly in labor than making other type lawns from seed. If you have to buy the stolons (possi¬bly you can obtain them from an estab¬lished lawn without cost) they are more expensive than seed. Lawns of creeping bent require a tremendous amount of up¬keep—frequent mowing, watering, fertiliz¬ing, top-dressing, etc. They are really for specialists.
Increase or decrease the frequency of mowing according to the rate of growth, which varies from season to season, and may be influenced by bad weather, feeding, irrigation, the varieties of grass being grown and the general health of the turf itself.
Different types of lawn require a different frequency of mowing. Fine lawns, for example, should be mown every two to three days,
average lawns at least every seven days and preferably at intervals of three to five days and, for other sod lawns, mow at least once a week.See Also Well-cared-for Lawns:But even in well-cared-for lawns, weeds appear. The worst, crab grass, is dealt with in Chapter 13. Some weeds clearly indicate the adverse condition that triggers their development. Eliminating them depends upon correcting the basic fault. Sheep sorrel, a sure indicator of too-acid soil, is eliminated by liming sufficiently. Clover flourishes in neutral or alkaline soil. Do not lime if it is abundant, and you want to discourage it. Chickweed, mouse-eared chickweed, speedwell, self-heal, ground ivy, sedge and lawn pennywort invade lawns where the soil is too moist and the grass weak.
Increase or decrease the frequency of mowing according to the rate of growth, which varies from season to season, and may be influenced by bad weather, feeding, irrigation, the varieties of grass being grown and the general health of the turf itself.
Different types of lawn require a different frequency of mowing. Fine lawns, for example, should be mown every two to three days,
average lawns at least every seven days and preferably at intervals of three to five days and, for other sod lawns, mow at least once a week.
On The Other Hand See Winter Lawns:Northern lawns, except those of creep¬ing bent, are best cut to a height of one and a quarter to one and a half inches, or slightly higher on shaded areas and banks. In really hot weather raise the cutting height an extra half inch. Give the last mowing of the season so that the grass goes into winter two to three inches long. Lawns of creeping bent may be cut to a height of from one inch to less than half an inch.
Southern lawns of subtropical grasses are generally mowed to a height of one inch. Temporary winter lawns of ryegrass are cut at one and a quarter inches.
Mowing machines should be used when the grass is dry, scythes and sickles when it is slightly moist. For the kinds of mowers see Chapter 16.
The following quick-growing kinds are "nurse" grasses for more permanent types and the rye grasses, for temporary winter lawns in the South and, occasionally, tem¬porary summer lawns in the North. When added to seed mixtures they help to pre¬vent erosion before the slower growing permanent grasses are big enough to do so and they tend to crowd out weeds.
Redtop succeeds on infertile soil both dry and moist and will stand slight shade. It has creeping stems and during its first year, fine textured foliage. When cut at regular lawn height it gradually disappears after the first season and has normally gone completely by the end of the second or third year. Seeding rate, two to four pounds to 1,000 square feet.
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