Show Now's The Time To Aerate Your Lawn By Clyde Hurst USU Extension Agent It is likely that I give this reminder every spring and will again this spring: AERATE used in growth and maintenance In the process of respiration living organisms use oxygen and give off carbon dioxide — thus the idea of gas exchange This process goes on in grass roots as they live and grow As we play on and work on and for whatever reasons walk on our lawns (and we should enjoy them) the soil gets compacted Compacted soils have reduced pore space and YOUR LAWN Whether you rent the equipment or hire the work done aeration is one of the really important components of good lawn care Put it right up there in the priority list just below irrigation We call the process "aeration" because it improves gas exchange in the upper root zone All living things respire that is the process consequently jxxr gas exchange Water penetration is inhibited and the grass docs poorly w hen growing in such an environment A regular preventive program of aeration each spring or fall will reduce the problems of compacted soils It is also one the best things by which chemical substances called sugars are converted into energy ’Hie energy is used by the living thing to synthesize chemicals h'I8M mwn '3SH water This reduces the oxygen movement to the roots On the other hand when thatch gets dry in the summer it is extremely difficult and get water moving to through it to the soil Because the thatch layer is usually less compact than the soil the roots of grass plants prefer to grow in it This increases the thatch depth and also contributes to a shallow rooted droughty lawn sv ’Z" you can do to reduce thatch accumulation Thatch is an intermingled layer of stems and tools and partially decomposed grass leaves in a tight organic layer It accumulates just above the soil surface but below the actively growing green vegetation Removal of dead leaf blades by so called "dcthatching" or power raking will change the appearance of the lawn but w ill have no listing effect on the health of the lawn Thatch is not an accumulation of those dead leaf blades nor is it caused by clippings left on the lawn after mowing Thatch is most harmful when it accumulates to an inch or more because it restricts the movement of water air and fertilizers thus decreasing the vigor of turf grasses During wet periods the thatch acts as a sponge and holds excessive re-w- et ’h The most effective aeration removes plugs or cores of grass AND thatch and lifts them to the surface The remaining hole allows the movement of water air and fertilizer into the root zone which improves root growth and health If the cores or plugs are left on the lawn surface the soil melts away and filters down into the thatch layer and stimulates microbial that aids in the breakdown of organic materials there When performed regularly aeration reduces and prevents the accumulation of thatch According to ty Extension Plant Pathologist Sherman Thompson it also increases the beneficial effects of a wide array of organisms that will compete with pathogens Before aerating be sure the soil is thoroughly moist to get the best penetration of the hollow tines It is also a good idea to mow the lawn before aeration This first mow ing of the year ought to be a short one to get as much dead grass and other leaves as possible You can fertilize before aeration if you are going to leave the cores or fertilize after the cores have been removed For more information call Clyde Hurst Utah State University Extension agent at 896-926- 2 extension 275 Lxman News a GDKUL'S' 00 Pei Month For 24 Months The Most Deoeodabto Longest LasTiog Trucks wDStUASE‘ by GMAC CHEVY TRUCKS n oe oa ranee MfcvjQO $709 month ?4 month tonto ot pnrtWpoMng rteotrvt fmm Imrio me tom and torontn ttJtrtl on A loai S tfcvor GMAC rnit atov© leoie Charge of 10 cent per mfto evot 3D OUT) MSRP tnctLrtng dettnabon tfyygot Mfl month nxim payment o S70 V SI VO down payment S73 191 toi 03 Ouo ot loose egninQ (nckxng copo’feod cod o total of $7 tty rtopo pOs ST?5 fOhrwrin reduction) lotni at monthly ponentt o 5 17M a pi ACCp Dodge CHRYSIIR EB3 MOTORS Jeep Richfield tEaglel Toll Free 800-825-96- 896-444- 1 CHEVROLET 74 tUASSICMCUASSICMCUASSICmCLASSICBCL’ASSK Work & Pleasure In Hawaii Inez Jensen 836-270- Lamont) 5 While grandparents arc caring for their children Bruce and Donna Chappell arc in Hawaii on business and visiting his brother and the Byron Chappells sister-in-la- w Stan Allen Tcasdalc and Ken Mayes represented the Loa LDS Stake High Council as speakers in sacrament meeting A musical number was presented by Mark Leavitt Loa Pearl Dclccuw and Inez Jensen visited in Mayfield with Pearl s sisBlanche and ter and brother-in-laMelvin Taylor Wclby underwent VanDykc surgery at Sevier Valley Hospital Visiting him were his sons Leon VanDykc and Karl VanDkc Visiting Anna Patton at the Richfield Care Center were friends from Colorado who also visited her brother Ray Jensen and niece Rosalie and Jesse Christensen Mark Turner Marlene Chappell (accompanied by her husband Sevier Valley Hospital Visiting Physicians For April a March 30 199! TI1E RICHFIELD REAPER VH Wednesday Owena Chappell and Clcnn Okcrlund attended a seminar in connection with their employment for the United States Forest Service Mark and Rula Turner attended the Salt Lake LDS Temple wedding of his nephew Mr and Mrs Mike Brooks Mike is a grandson of Dawn and Claud Mangum They visited their daughters and Marla and Bruce Brinkcrhoff Kaysvillc Linda and Ron Smith and Rosalie and Richard Jackson all Sandy and Jeannic and Cecil McClcan Provo Kevin Chappell Nebraska is in the area on business regarding his property the former Laprcal Chappell home Wayne County Sets Amblyopia Clinics neighbors of this very important BICKNELL — A vision screening clinic to identify children w ith amblyopia (lazy eye blindness) will be conducted in this area for all children 3 12 through 5 12 years of age This clinic is free to the public and will be held at the courthouse in Loa on Thursday April 7 from 9 a m to 3:30 pm Plan to have your preschool child participate in the amblyopia clinic and remind your friends and HONDA g program The annual kindergarten physical screenings for those children entering kindergarten will be at the courthouse Thursday April 7 from 9 a m to 3:30 pm Appointments have been sent out If you have not received your child's appointment by March 30 1 contact the health office and make an appointment for vour child sight-savin- 836-267- NOTHING'S SAS1S1 HRA213SXA Ui'i il Recycle It's good for America tit Honda Camilc Torgcrson daughter of 45 HP OHY Commercial Engine Shalt Transmission Drive Easily Converts to Mulch or Side Discharge (Stops blade with engine running) sons-in-la- Burke and Barbara Torgcrson came home for the weekend from her studies at Snow College in Ephraim Harold and Holly Calc Jensen Sigurd visited his brother and Ray and Inez Jensen and Pearl Dclccuw MOMS LAIN Self-Propell- ROTO-STOP- Nodiinsaisicr ’ Honda Jorgensen's Main Richfield 980 South 896-640- 8 Toll Free u It U M Subscribe For One Year ' i And Get Three Dr Snihurnwych UrnlngKt Classifieds - v 'v V New Or Renewal Douglas Schow Jr Subscribers MD Orthopedics Can Take Craig MacArthur MD Orthopedics Robert Arbon MD Ototarynotogy AA Lyle N Advantage Of This Great Offer A Jacobs MD Orthopedics HunsakerMJ) A $1395 Value For FREE Opthilmotogy When you pay your subscription you will receive coupons good for three FREE classifieds These coupons must be used before March 1 1994 Maximum of three classified coupons per subscriber Classifieds must be 1 5 words or less Robert P Romney MD Obstetrics-Gynecolog- y Bradley L Fdginpoa PhJa Psychiatry & Psychology f Mail or bring in this coupon with payment and receive a coupon for your FREE classified ads ! 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