44 — Friday, March 29, 1991 ~ North Shore News

HOME & GARDEN
Get the moss out of your lawn

LAST WEEK 1 talked to
you about some of the
components to growing
good grass under trees. My
guess is that most of you
are more expert at the
cultivation of good stands
of moss in these areas in-
stead of turf.

Geoff
Tobiasson
an”? %

OVER THE GARDEN GATE

As the control of moss is still
one of the most often asked ques-
tions during any of my earden
consultations, 1 thought it might
be appropriate to tackle this sub-
ject in detail once again. Some of
the information found in last
week’s article wili be repeated
here, but due to the importance of
this topic, it can stand a little rep-
etition.

“I like my moss; it’s green, I
don’t have to cut it and it’s too
much work to get rid of anyway.”’
Let me offer the following advice
to those of you who insist on this
rationatization: buy a condo.

A few years ago, I suggested
that the histozic phrase ‘‘the meek
shall inherit the earth'’ was a
misprint. I am sure that it should
have read “the moss will inherit
the earth’’ — at least that portion
known as the Pacific Northwest.

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way to stays healthy is to not get
sick then vou will agree that
healthy grass is the best way to
fight moss. Without getting too
redundant, water when it’s dry.
cut it when it's long, feed it when
its hungry. give it good air cir-
culation and keep the soil pH near
neutral.

OK, so we have talked enough
about what vou should do to
avoid moss, now let’s look at how
to get rid of it once it has already
appeared.

The following strategy for moss
control is my own. Many believe
step one should be the application
of moss killer, but according to
my rules step one is removing the
bulk of the moss by power raking.
My column, my rules.

Step One

Power rake the lawn. This is the
term used to describe the use of a
gas powered de-thatcher or lawn
comb in the removal of moss and
unwanted thatch build-up. They
are readily at most rental yards at

NMiulcher

12”

Comes with 3 rotary cutters.
_ Removabie 48" hardwood
handle. Reg. 19.25.
GST inciuded

Pruning Shea
GST inctuded.

Model 433004
Not exactly as illust.

# Steel rake,
22 teeth &
g wooden

ea.
handle. GST inet.

Peat Moss
4 cu. ft. Reg. 9.99
1"

Moss Killer
20 kg. Reg. 8.99 599

Wolo

North Vanccuver

Capilano Hiall

half day and daily rates.

These machines are guaranteed
to rip your lawn to sleds. or at
least appear tc. Do not warry, the
injury ts slight and = the
resemblance to the aftermath of a
tank battle is temporary. Once the
moss is gone, the erass is thinned
and fertilizer and lime have been
added, the grass will recover with
amazing speed.

You can minimize excessive vi-
sual damage by waiting undl the
soil is reasonably dry. Look for a
warm, sunny day that has follow-
ed several warm, sunny days.
Problem here is that you may
have to wait until July.

You should try to complete the
power raking phase prior to the
end of April. It is not impossible
to see temperatures climb to 80
and higher in early May. This
kind of heat on a freshly power
raked lav-n can cause more fasting
damage than that done while the
soil is still wet. Try ‘tu achieve a

See Overseed page 17

is Spreade

Reg. 28.99.

ea.
GST incl. GST included

Rapid Green
Moss Control
3-0-0. 2-3. kg. 899

Reg. 12.99
Steer Manure
10 kg. Reg. 2.49 149

PRICES iN
EFFECT WHILE
QUANTITIES LAST.

50 ib. capacity. 3 99
ea.

GST inci.

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AND MIRROR DOORS

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= 1385 Crown St.N. van. 986-4263

Green Leaf
Rapid Lime

Reg. 3.
Limit 2 per customer,

Bone Meal 49
2-13-0. 2 kg. 4

Reg. 5.49

Bell Soil 4%
40 L. Reg. 8.

7 PR
LAWN FOOD
12-4-3

15 kg Ba
Ferflizes

a

GST included

With slow release nitrogen
Heg. 5.99. GST included.

21-3-9, 9 kg.
Reg. 13.99

Weed & Feed 49

Mushroom
Manure | 49

9 kg. Reg. 2.49

925 Marine Drive, North Vancouver 988-6311

Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday and Friday 10 a.ns. - 9 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 12 noon - S pm.

Good Friday 12-5

Closed Easter Sunday