HOW TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN YOUR LAWN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04133A000100040002-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: OPEN

1OW TO BUILD AI
rovedFo
MAINTAIN YOUR
LAWN
IT Is ESSENTIAL To KNOW that a blade of grass is a living plant that
-requires air, water, and nutrients.
To ESTABLISH a good lawn, you must plant good seed of suitable
variety. The soil must be properly prepared.
A STRUCTURE CANNOT BE BETTER THAN ITS FOUNDATION. A lawn
cannot be better than its seed bed. Maintenance of the turf, after it is
established, is just as necessary as maintenance of the home. Unquestion-
ably you will reap just what you sow.
HOW TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN YOUR LAWN 1s fully covered in the
following pages. It should be remembered that soils, proposed uses, and
climatic conditions determine to a large degree the type, or kind of seed
you should plant. Your VOLKMAN dealer knows seeds. He can make
proper recommendations. Be sure to consult him.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL should be the first step in lawn building.
Before starting the seed bed, remove old turf and weeds, if any. Do not
turn under, as it takes a year or more to rot old turf and many weeds
will return.
The soil should be heavy enough to retain moisture and yet not
puddle. If the natural soil is sandy or light, add weed-free barnyard
manure (very old and screened), certain grades of peat, and/or top loam
or adobe soil. (Extremely sandy soil will not retain water and whatever
plant food you might add will be washed beyond the reach of the plants).
If the natural soil is the heavy or adobe type, add gypsum or lime;
then break up the solid particles and work in manure and sand. Gypsum
is advised for extremely alkaline soils, and lime for the acid soils. About
150 pounds per one thousand square feet of either should be enough to
break down the soil.
DRAIN OR SPRINKLER SYSTEM should now be installed, if included
in your plans.
LEVELING, ROLLING AND RAKING the seed bed is now in order. The.:-?`
seed bed should be at least 6 inches deep. As soon as the rough level is
obtained, the seed bed should be watered, raked and rolled. Allow time
for natural settling. This process may be hastened by frequent and
thorough watering. The heavy watering to aid settling of the soil should
bring up most of the weeds which may be dormant in the soil. The weeds
should be removed. In the final surfacing process, add commercial fertil-
izer, which should be raked into the soil to the depth of about two inches.
After the final raking, before seeding, a light rolling should show up
depressions, which should then be raked even. The entire surface should
be lightly scratched before seeding.
SELECTION OF SEED: In the selection of seed, one should keep in
mind soils, climatic conditions, and the purpose for which the lawn is to
be used. Fine leaved lawns for show purposes require Bents, fine leaved
Fescues, or Bluegrass. For service lawns use Highland Bent, Red Top, or
Perennial Ryegrass. For extremely hard service in warm climates use
Bermuda Grass. For shady lawns use Poa Trivialis, Chewings Fescue, one
of the Creeping Red Fescues or combinations of these grasses.
When using mixtures of seed, care should be taken to select grasses
that are similar in adaptation, color, texture and rate of growth.
THE HIGHEST QUALITY SEED IS THE MOST SATISFACTORY~+ND LEAST
EXPENSIVE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS. In the selection of seeds, qpip caved
to maximum purity, weed-free or low weed seed content, high germina-
tion, and trueness to strain or variety.
Iff Iy cheap or inferior grass seeds are offered for sale. are
r Os'), ~r hO~alpf6 q Ur #11-tA00
ference, do not care.
The lawn seeds supplied to your dealer by C. M. VOLKMAN & Co.
have been carefully selected from the best the market affords, for their
purity, germination, and low weed content.
SEEDING: Early morning or late afternoon is preferable for this opera-
tion. Do not attempt to seed whena strong wind is blowing. Since even
distribution of seed is essential, broadcast one-half the seed in one
direction, and the remainder at right angles, allowing the seed to drop
at least three feet to insure proper spread.
It is advisable for novice seeders to divide the seed and the total
area into at least four sections and seed each one separately. This is done
so that the amount of seed at hand will cover the area involved.
The seed should then be raked into the soil and rolled with a light
weight roller. Cover to a depth of about one-quarter inch with either
pulverized manure or fine peat moss.
WATERING: Water should be applied evenly and carefully with a
fine spray. Coarse streams wash away both seed and top dressing and do
not permit the even absorption of water. Once a newly seeded lawn is
watered, it must be kept continually moist until the young grass is well
established. A single day's neglect may mean the drying, hardening or
crusting of the soil's surface, resulting in the loss of many of the tiny
grass plants. It is not advisable to water during the heat of the day.
MAINTENANCE: If the grass comes up unevenly, appears weak,
and is a yellowish green color, it indicates the need of a plant food.
Plant food or fertilizer should be applied in frequent small quantities to
avoid burning the young grass. Uniform application of fertilizer is essen-
tial otherwise uneven growth will result.
MOWING: Commence mowing when grass is two inches high. The
mower should be sharp and set to cut an inch and a half from the ground
for the first two cuttings. For subsequent cuttings, for such fine lawns
as Bents, Fescues and Bluegrass, the mower should be set three-quarters
not only spoil the appearance of a young lawn, but are likely to smothef'
and kill the tender grass. During hot weather, mowing should be'dofie
frequently, but do not mow as closely as usual.
FERTILIZATION: Established lawns should be spiked, fertilized and
top dressed at least once a year, or more frequently if needed. Commercial
fertilizer and top dressing should be mixed and applied to the lawn,
raked in and thoroughly watered. If the soil is light and sandy, mix
fertilizer with loam or fine peat moss. If soil is heavy and colloidal, mix
fertilizer with sharp sand.
WEEDING: Eradication of weeds from the modern lawn is no longer
a back-breaking chore. Hand weeding can practically be eliminated
through the use of selective weed killers. These preparations are inex-
pensive and easy to apply.
When evidence of disease or insect troubles appear, arrangements
should be made for immediate control. Consult your VOLKMAN dealer
who will recommend an effective remedy of which there are a number
available.
Building a lawn is not a difficult operation, but every step should be
given careful consideration. Your lawn is the very foundation of your
home garden. Nearly all plantings of flowers, trees, and shrubbery are
planned to coincide with, and compliment this lawn. Give it the attention
needed to preserve and help its natural will to grow, and you will have
that enduring, pleasant-to-behold garden treasure, a beautiful lawn.
01
For Release 2000/04/14: CIA-RDP78-04133A0041
040002-5
LAWN SEED
CHART
And Guide for
Building Lawns
V
By
C. M. VOLKMAN & CO.
Seed Specialists Since 1863
WHOLESALE ONLY
UO4OO,N5FRANCISCO 11, CALIFORNIA
 C.
FEET
NAME OF GRASS
SOIL MOISTURE
SOIL TOLERANCE
USES GENERAL INFORMATION
per Pound
RANGE
RANGE
WEATHER RANGE
of Seed
ASTORIA BENT
Moist and
Neutral, acid, lime
Resistant to cold. Does
250
Golf greens, bowling Very fine leaved upright growth, dark green color. Partial un-
C O LO N I A L BENT
semi dry
not do well in extreme
greens, fairways, lawns, derground creeper.
Agrostis tenuis
heat
and athletic fields
SEASIDE BENT
Moist
Neutral, acid
Moderate heat and
300
Golf greens, lawns and Very fine leaved, vigorous top creeper, light green color. Must
Agrostis palustris
resistant to cold
fairways be raked and closely cut to prevent so-called "grain on turf"
and matting.
HIGHLAND BENT
Moist and
Neutral, acid
Moderate heat and
250
Service lawns, athletic
Fine
ely light green color.
t
golf
Agrostis tenuis
Moderate Dry
resistant to cold
green nss, polo polo
polo fiunderground creeping g root stocks.
gree
fields
,
VELVET BENT
Moist
Neutral or lime, tolerant
Temperate to cold
500
Putting greens. lawns
Finest leaved of all lawn grasses, upright growth, inclined to
Agrostis canina
of slight acidity
lay. Bright green color. Good for shady spots.
BERMUDA GRASS
Moist, tolerant
Neutral,
Hot weather only.
Lawns, 150
Polo fields, athletic
Fine leaved, creeps above and below ground, dull green color.
Cynodon dactylon
of dry
lime, alkali. Some salt if
Dormant during cold
Athletic and
fields, fairways and
Becomes a pest if not confined. Requires regular irrigation for
area is well drained
weather
polo fields,
airports,, lawns in
satisfactory growth. Deep tooted. Should be planted during
400
hot climates
spring or summer. Turns brown in winter when subjected to
frost, requires heat to grow.
KENTUCKY BLUE
Moist
Neutral,
sli htl of acid v
g y ery
Resistant to cold but not
150
Lawns, fairways, athletic
Moderately fine leaved, upright growth from cree in root
p g
stocks
bright bluish green color
Withstands winter freezin
Pon pratensis
of lime
extreme hot weather
fields and airports
,
.
g.
Responds to lime treatments where acidity is excessive.
CHEWINGS FESCUE
Moist, tolerant
Neutral, acid, lime
Fairly tolerant of heat
100
Lawns, golf greens
Fine wiry leaves, upright growth, dark green color. Also good
Festuca rubs
of dry
and resists cold
and fairways
for shady spots. Spiking necessary to perforate root mats, espe-
( Var. commutata)
cially in heavy soil ; very hardy. -
CREEPING RED FESCUE
Average moisture
Neutral, acid, lime
Resistant to cold, fairly
100
Iawns, fairways and
Fine leaved, upright growth, dark green color, creeping root
Festuca rubra var. genuina
{
tolerant of heat
athletic fields
stocks. Also good for shady spots.
ILLAHEE CREEPING
RED FESCUE
Average moisture
Neutral, acid, lime
Resistant to cold, fairly
100
Lawns, fairways, and
A selection of Creeping Red Fescue, darker green than Creeping
Festuca rubra var. illahee
tolerant of heat
athletic fields
Red Fescue; slow creeping root stocks. Good for shady spots.
RAINIER CREEPING
RED FESCUE
Average moisture
Neutral, acid, lime
Resistant to cold, fairly
100
Lawns, fairways, and
An improved and more uniform selection of Creeping Red
Festuca rubra
tolerant of heat
athletic fields
Fescue. Fine leaved; darker green and more vigorous under-
ground creeper than other fescues. Also good for shady spots.
MEADOW FESCUE
Average moisture
Neutral, acid, lime
Temperate
100
Athletic fields, fairways,
Coarse leaved
upright growth
dark green color.
Festuca elatior
and airports
,
,
TALL (ALTA) FESCUE
Moist, tolerant
Neutral, acid, lime
Fairly tolerant of heat
75
Athletic fields, fairways,
Coarse leaved, upright growth, dark green color. Can be used
Festuca arundinacea
of dry
and resists cold
and airports
where durability outranks appearance.
ROUGH STALK
MEADOW GRASS
Moist
Neutral, acid if rich
Resistant to cold but not
150
Shady lawns and
Fine leaved, upright growth, bluish green color. Requires spik-
Poa trivialis
and well-drained
hot weather
fairways
ing to prevent bunching. Also good for shady spots.
RED TOP
Wet
Neutral, acid, lime
Resistant to cold, fairly
250
Fairways, service lawns,
Leaves become coarse, sprawling growth, light dull green color.
Agrostis alba
tolerant of heat
athletic fields, airports
Seed similar in appearance to bent grass seed.
PERENNIAL RYE G RASS,
AUSTRALIAN, ENGLISH
,
Moist, tolerant
dry
Neutral, acid, lime
Cold, not tolerant of
excessive heat
75
Service lawns, playgrounds,
athletic fields
fairwa
s
Coarse leaved, upright growth, bright shiny green color. Fr e-
Lolium perenne
,
y
,
and airports
nt mowing is advisable to prevent development of coarse
se
seed
sestalks. Has tendency to bunch in time.
COMMON RYEGRASS,
ITALIAN
Moist, tolerant
of dr
Neutral, acid, lime
'
Cold, not tolerant of
i
75
Pla ounds temporary
YSr' . PotatY
Coarse leaved, upright growth, bright shiny green color. Ashort-
Lolium multiflorum
y
excess
ve heat
lawns and airports
lived grass, inclined to bunch. Sometimes referred to as Pacific
rye grass.
WHITE CLOVER
Moist
Neutral
lime
Moderate beat and
200
Lawns
Round leaved, spreading growth, bright green color. Especially
Trifolium repens
,
tolerant of cold
good with bluegrass. Use sparingly in mixtures. Sometimes
re %%"t a White Dutch lawn dower.
ppr
ove o
M. VOLKMAN & CO.
SQUARE