| Show Three Rules Point Right Way to Perfectly Beautiful Lawn Dy By Dr Paul D. D Christensen Utah State University Extension Soil SoU Conservationist Follow these three rules to get your perfect lawn 1 apply the correct fertilizer at the right time 2 s set t your moWer mower at the correct height and 3 use IlSe water pro pro- perly terly Nitrogen the Best Dest Tests show nitrogen is Ie the fertilizer fertilizer fer fer- Utah lawns need Other chemicals are common in most lawn lawn Adding phosphate or potash increases lawn maintenance ance cost and usually Isn't need need- ed Nitrogen Is used in plant growth and is leached out by bywater water Since you irrigate lawns its it's important you replace nitro nitro- gen n. To have healthy dark green lawns apply nitrogen twice a year early spring and late fall faU are ideal times Ammonium nitrate la is a good source f for r nitrogen n. n Apply it as directed A thirty pound b bag Tas has the same amount of nitrogen as 2000 pounds of manure This points out that manure is our ourI I highest priced fertilizer when cost of labor and material are I considered Its It's bulky t to handle may contain weed seeds is messy and straw residues often otten need raking after atter the manure is worked into the turf I IOn Ii i On the other hand handa a awell well weIl rotted rotted rot rot- te ted manure manurEl is an especially good goodsoil goodsoil soil soU builder for n flowering plants and ard shrubs They dont don't get organic organic or or- ganic return from the leaves as grass graes does In cutting If It you want clover keep the pho pate content of your soil high To do this add phosphate about once every 4 or 5 years Remember Remember ber her nitrogen nitrogen Is la the lawns key need most people prefer commercial commercial com mercial fertilizers but the buying Root System Set your mower clipping height tant taut thing Is to know what youre you're at 1 inches and clip often This Thle I will allow good root development The tops of grass feed the roots the tho shorter the grass the grass the shallower shallower lower the roots Thus Thue a grass length of Vt 4 Inch means a shallow 1 I low root system that will need I watering each day By Dy maintaining maintain maintain- ing deeper root system that willi will need watering each e-ach day By maintaining main main- main main-j deeper roots your lawn I will show vigor by retaining moisture moisture mois mols ture longer and wont won't need ir irrigating it 1 as often I Sprinkling or Irrigating depends on weather conditions In summer lawns require about i inch of water each day The soil type may affect watering frequency too Some soils eolIs hold water better than others Sand will hold 94 Inch luch of water per foot Coot of depth loam will w hold about 1 inches per foot toot of depth and clay about 2 inches inched per foot of depth Remember Remember Remember Rem Rem- ember the root depth is important import Import- ant regardless of soil solI type Three Points to Follow I Sprinklers vary in efficiency The area farther from front the sprinkler ler head gets the most water Test for Cor even sprinkling by PlacIng placing placing ing tin cans at varying distances from the nozzle You can measure meas- meas ure re the water depth in tb the cans cans' to check the wat water r distribution Be Be aura sura you have the right nozzle heads for tor the pressure Used your supplier can cnn aB assist you ou there That does does' It Follow the three points to have the lawn you'll be proud of 1 Fertilize with nitrogen at least twice a year 2 CUt Cut your grass to a 1 I fc Inch height t 3 Water Wat Water I your lawn often as temperature roots and soil needs require |
