Creating a Beautiful Lawn
A Carpet of Sod
There is sure to be a good deal of walking about in the outdoor living room so the flooring and carpeting of our room is an important consideration. And, just as in the indoor room, the richness and beauty of the carpet will greatly influence the appearance and attractiveness of the room.
If our outdoor living room is carefully planned, a generous space will be left in the center for lawn. And if we analyze an attractive outdoor room, we are sure to agree that there is no one element which contributes more toward its beauty than the carpet of green which extends from border to border. In sunlight and in shadow its cool soothing green is a constant joy to the eye and there is no carpet more delightful to walk upon than a good grass turf.
A good lawn must have a good foundation -- a rich growing soil at least two inches deep -- as well as good drainage. Without these, the lawn will never be quite satisfactory despite all your best efforts. If these conditions are not present, the lawn should be remade when the outdoor living room is developed.
Given the proper soil and proper drainage, the next consideration is the turf. It should be smooth and made up of grasses that thrive best in one's locality. There is no place for weeds in a good lawn. Weeds in a lawn usually indicate poor seed, poor soils or lack of care. A lawn once rid of weeds and given the proper care will usually remain practically weed-free.
Grass is a gross feeder. It quickly takes out all the good in the soil and frequently has competition from tree roots. As the soil becomes poorer, the grass gets thinner and the weeds get a foothold. To get and maintain a good lawn for your outdoor living room, it must be fed regularly -- several times a year. It must be mowed often during the rainy months when grass grows fast and it must be watered when rainfall is insufficient.
The homeowner has at his disposal a huge variety of commercial fertilizers of various formulas and reasonable prices. These may be applied according to manufacturer directions. As a class, they constitute the best fertilizers to use for periodic feeding of lawns. Over the years, the use of sulfate of ammonia in combination with other materials or alone has become quite extensive. Sulfate of ammonia has high nitrogen content, which promotes leaf growth in grass. In addition, its repeated application tends to make the soil acidic, which in no way harms grass growth but which does tend to discourage weed growth. Fertilizer may be applied by hand, if mixed with sand, or dissolved in water and sprinkled on. In any case, it is watered in after application accordingly. Strong applications of commercial fertilizers are recommended only for the spring and fall months. During the hot summer months grass should not be over-stimulated.
The usual method of watering the lawn -- giving it an occasional sprinkling after the soil has become dry -- is a practice that does more harm than good. To be of value, watering should take the place of a good rain that has failed to come. Do not wait for a drought before watering but be governed by the amount of moisture in the soil. Before the soil gets dry, start the sprinkler and run it long enough in one spot to saturate the soil thoroughly to a depth of several inches.
Wherever there is considerable foot traffic in an outdoor living room, like along a frequently used pathway, a grass carpet is not practical. It is better to lay steppingstones, which of themselves will add to the attractiveness of the outdoor living room. Likewise, it is not practical to try to grow grass under permanent chairs and tables. It is far better to pave such a small area with flagstones, providing a permanent base that is attractive at all times.