Tips on Lawn Care

A few years ago weeds were a major lawn problem. Today, however, it is no longer necessary to spend hours of back-breaking labor pulling and digging trouble-some weeds. The use of selective lawn week killers such as Ortho Weed-B-Gon or Lilly-Miler, takes the drudgery out of lawn weeding. Dandelions, common plaintain, buckhorn, thistle, wild carrot and over 80 other broadleaf beeds are easily eliminated without harming ordinary lawn grasses when properly treated with Ortho Weed-B-Gon.

Best results are obtained from todays weed killers under quite specific conditions. The most important of these is that the weeds should be growing rapidly when treated. A warm day when the temperature is in the 70's or 80's is ideal. In the case of crab grass, be sure the bulk of the crop has germinated before spraying.

Tough, old dandelions and some other weeds at times require two treatments. Dandelions are perennials and after several years they often develop a long, thick tap root that makes killing difficult. A second treatment will usually finish them off. It often takes 2 applications to get rid of crab grass.

HOW TO USE. . Sprays can be applied with a regular 2-gallon sprayer . (Follow dilution directions shown on the package.) Be sure to spray enough solution to cover most of the weed foliage. If you use your garden sprayer for this purpose, be sure to thoroughly rinse it with a strong solution of household ammonia and several times with water when you finish spraying. Otherwise, the residue remaining may damage garden plants you spray with insecticides.

BENT GRASS ... that is closely cut may be harmed with such sprays. Homeowners who keep bent lawns closely cut should stick to the "hands and knees" method of weed control. White Dutch Clover may receive a temporary setback from selective weed killers. St. Augustine Grass is also more susceptible to injury than most other grasses.

Chemical Crab Grass Killer represents the best crab grass control. A liquid mixture where you merely mix with water and spray it over your entire lawn at the first sign of infestation. You can treat any time later when crab grass is growing, but preferably before seeds form. Follow the instructions on the label.

REMEMBER . . . weed killers do not keep weeds out! To keep a lawn attractive it must be fed regularly to develop a thick hirf. Such a turf is not only attractive but it is protection against new weeds gaining a foothold.