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Friday, August 3. 1990 - North Snore News - 13

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SP ERTEETEE Td

Burnt-out lawn will survive

But water while you can... drought-damaged
lawn loses resistance to weeds and mosses

SO THIS its a sample of
what we can look forward
to if the scientists’ theories
of global warming come
truc.

1 do not think To can take much
more of the kind of weather we
suffered through during the
month of July.

When will these endless days of
crawling down to the beach or
cowering beside the pool ever
end? God, if f hive to endure
another ice cold beer or gallon of
Gator Aid, I think I shall go mad.

As in most moments of crisis,
my best) recommendation for
weathering this weather is to keep
yourself occupied. Try not to
dwell on this agonizingly good
weather.

Hey, I know, why not try a lit-
tle gardening? Here are a few of
the things io do in August.

© Lawn Care — Boy, there are
a lot of dry, brown lawns out
there. If you are one of those
short-sighted individuals who
thinks he is saving himself hours
of extra work by letting the lawn
go dormant (that’s the spud man’s
synonym for dead), think again.

Yes, the lawn will survive, and
yes, it will green up again come
fall, but the stress it has suffered
will take its toll. Drought-stressed
Jawns become thin, thereby allow-
ing the invasion of weeds and
mosses,

Even this wet end of the world
known as the Pacific Northwest
has its dry seasons. The various
municipalities will be enforcing
their water rationing bylaws over

Geoff
Tobiasson

OVER THE GARDEN GAT

the next’ few weeks. Make sure
you make use of every opportuni-
ty they afford you.

For the same reasons, this is not
the best time to be stingy with the
high-nitrogen lawn food. 1 still
prefer the fast-releasing forms
such as 12-4-8 with two per cent
iron; these are effective when used
as directed.

As my friend Dave pointed out.
you must take care. If it is too hor
(over 75°F), too damp, or if you
apply too much fast-releasing, fer-
tilizer, you can and, likely will,
burn the lawn.

Lastly, cut the lawn frequently.

Letting the fawn grow donger will
only increase the risk Of disease
and eapose the roots to the sun
once you Finaliy do cut it,

The Jast two weeks of the
month or the first week of
September is the best time for

teseeding. Warm days and cooler,
dew-laden nights make ideal con-

ditions for the germination of
grass seed,
¢ Flower Beds -— Watering is

once again of foremost impor-
tance Try to water your flower
beds first thing in the morning
and avoid) overhead watering
whenever possible. This reduces
the orsk of disease and your
Mowers will last longer.

if you are dealing with new
beds and new ‘topsoil’, use
water-soluble fertilizers such as
20-20-20 or 15-30-15 every second
week. Of course, an established
bed with a rich compost-based
topsoil will require no extra fertil-
izers at all.

Continue disbudding and
deadheading as outlined last
month. This will assure you the
most prolific, longest-lasting
displays of blooms.

August is a good month to start
perennials from seed or to pur-
chase potted plants. If you check
our your local nursery, you should
see some fresh inventory and an
increased selection of perennial
plants.

© Vegetable

Beds — Apply

Delbrook heritage featured

HERITAGE BUFFS can take in
another heritage walk with histo-
rian Roy Pallant of the North
Shore Historical Society this Sun-
day, Aug. 5.

The four-kilometre walk this
Sunday will feature Delbrook
heritage. Participants will be led

through ‘an indoor tour of a
perlined roof house in the area as
well as an outside view of homes
on Windsor and St. James streets,
North Star School, Bell House,
Mission Creek and ‘*Highhoos’’,
2s well as viewing a former mill
site on Delbrook.

The 180-minute walk is free of

charge. Participants are asked to
meet at 1:30 p.m. in the District
of North Vancouver hall parking
lot. 355 West Queens. Good walk-
ing shoes are recommended, and
the walk takes place rain or shine.

For more information phone
988-5572.

Stones
Sale ends Aug. 11/90

water and fertihzers as required
and mentioned above. Drought-
stressed vegetables are often bitter
and unappetizing.

Soils which have previously
been enriched with compost will
retain water longer as well as pro-
vide a natural source of plant
nutrients,

The manner in which you water
is even more important with your
vegetables than flowers. Flood the
soil rather than the plants, do not
use overhead sprinklers. Apply
your water in the morning cather
than middays or evenings.

Midday, overhead watering will
cool the plants off, causing them
to slow down production, while
watering fate in the day or at
night will leave the plants damp
overnight, just the right condition
to spread disease.

Begin harvesting and using your
vegetables as they reach the op-
tumum size. Store any which you
cannot immediately use. Most
fresh vegetables will lose flavor
and/or their appetizing texture if
left in the ground too long.

In next week's article, I will

discuss some of the best ways to
store your vegetables over the long
and short term.

© Trees and Shrubs —

Not

much to do here. Water during
the driest’ periods; especially
broadicaved evergreens such as
thododendrons and azaleas.

Do not apply any non-organic
fertitizers from now until next spr-
ing. Even a small amount could
produce new growth late in the
season which would be susceptible
to an early frost.

Some light pruning may be re-
quired. Look up the specific de-
mands of your particular plant in
any good pruning book.

© Insect and Disease Control —
Keep your eyes peeled. A regular,
close-up inspection of your garden
should enable you to combat must
of these problems by simply
removing the affected parts.

If the problem becomes more
widespread use the least harmful
product that will produce results.

© Propagation — Collect seeds
for future sowing. Take cuttings
from herbaceous plants and try
layering woody plants.

Layering is accomplished by
selecting a stem which will bend to
the ground, then scarring the
underside of it. Now peg the stem
down so that the abrasion is in
contact with the soil. Lightly
cover with soil and it should be
ready for transplanting in the
dormant season.

If this doesn't keep you preoc-
cupied during the coming months,
call me. | can always drum up a
few more chores.

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