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Renovating the Lawn

If the soil conditions are fairly good, excellent results can often be obtained by top dressing the lawn in early spring with a rich top soil and leaf mold mixed in equal parts and spread over the surface of the lawn [227] and then rolled in with as heavy a roller as can be conveniently used. The grass will soon grow through the new soil, seed any bare patches that appear. Top dressings of commercial fertilizers must be given at intervals during the spring and summer, as required. In the autumn sprinkle a light dressing of air-slacked lime over the surface for the purpose of sweetening the soil and supplying a congenial medium for the growth of the Kentucky Blue Grass.

If the lawn does not respond to this treatment it will be necessary to plow or spade the land, re-making the lawn in the same way as one would a new one. If practicable plow in the late fall and allow the soil to remain roughly heaped all winter to expose it to the mellowing agency of frost and for the purpose of killing weeds and insect pests. Lawns are not generally troubled with serious pests, ant hills and moles are the most common enemies.

Moles are not very prevalent on lawns kept compact by frequent heavy rolling but if they do appear mole traps will generally eradicate them. Their runs are readily distinguished over the lawn and the chief damage done is by heaving up the soil, thereby causing the grass roots to dry out if the union is not restored soon. Ants are eradicated by pouring carbon bisul- [228]