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There are standard mixtures on the market offered by the morereliable firms for special uses such as on golf greens, fairways, andshady locations. In the section south of Washington, D. C, except in the higheraltitudes, it is not advisable to use Kentucky blue grass. Whiteclover, in this section of the country, becomes the prevailing grass inlawns. In the northern part of this area, white clover, redtop, andRhode Island bent make an excellent lawn, but not a lawn as per-manent in character as the northern turf. Sodding. Sodding instead of seeding has the following advantages:(1) grass of a known texture can be obtained; (2) an immediate stand ofgrass is secured; (3) sod can be laid at any season except when the groundis frozen. The disadvantages, however, are quite numerous: (1) aseeded lawn is as good and generally is better within a year; (2)the expense of sodding a lawn is great; (3) it is usually difficultto procure good sod; (4) sod will heave on heavy soils if laid toolate in the fall; (5) it is difficult to get perfect unions between sods.Sod is generally used along the edges of walks, borders, banks, andclose to buildings, when seeding an area; and also on areas such asterraces and laundry yards which are to be used immediately. Thepreparation of a lawn for sodding is the same as for seeding. Sodshould be laid on a firm foundation; that is, the soil should be thor-oughly tamped before any sod is placed upon it. The best sod issecured from pastures which are on a heavy type of soil. Pastureturf is cropped and therefore forms a dense growth which can beremoved in thin layers. Cut the sod about one and one-half inchesthick, twelve inches wide, and three feet long. A foot-wide boardshould be laid on the turf and the strips cut along either side with anedger. The sod is lifted with a spade or preferably with a turfingiron. The strips are rolled up, grass side in, and should be relaid assoon as possible. When laying sod, fill the junctions with fine soiland then beat it down with the back of a spade or with a sod pounder, |
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