PLANTING OF LAWNS AND ITS MAINTENANCE
OBJETIVES:
1) To know how to prepare and plant a lawn
2) To know the maintenance of a lawn
1. Lawn : Lawn is a green carpet on the ground in the garden.
2. Lawn grass the grass which is planted for a lawn is called lawn grass.
3. Mowing The operation done to cut the lawn grass at uniform level with an instrument is called as mowing.
4. Lawn carpet : A carpet like lawn is grown elsewhere then the piece as such is planted on the ground where lawn is to be developed.
Planting and development of a lawn
This work can be suitably done by following the steps given as under.
a) Planning
b) Preparation
c) Planting
d) Maintenance
a) Planning for a lawn
1) Select the site for a lawn. The site may be in the garden or on open ground in front of a school, or a college or office buildings. The site should not be shady and the soil should not be water logged. Soil should have pH 5.5 to 6.0. Should be fertile and containing organic matter.
2) Select the shape and design of a lawn. There are number of designs by which one can develop a lawn. This should be decided by considering the area. Selection of a particular shape should also be done, Out of various shapes i.e. oval, round, triangular, etc. suitable shape should be selected.
3) Measure the actual area to be brought under a lawn.
4) Prepare the plan on a piece of paper well in advance,
5) At the same time prepare the list of various materials that will be required and also start the procurement of the materials.
b) Preparation of lawn
1) Dig out the complete ground where the lawn is to be developed. This is to be done during summer months.
2) Remove stones and weeds from the ground.
3) Remove the soil of upper 25 to 30 am laver and make a heap at one side if the soil is good and if the soil is not good throw away the soil.
4. Put a layer of pebbles, sand or brick pieces at the bottom of prepared ground.
5. Put another layer with a good soil over the bottom layer and then put the top layer consisting of good soil and sufficient manures and fertilizers.
6) The top layer is prepared with a care and brought in a fine texture and having a slight stope: The pipes for watering as well as arrangements for drainages should be provided before the upper layer is finally kept ready.
7) The preparation should be complete before the rainy season.
c) Planting
The most commonly used grass for preparing lawn is doob grass (Cynodon lled'hariali, This thrives under hot sunny site. The grass is suitable. dactylon). It is also for large areas and play ground. Other grasses are China grass, Korean grass, Maxican grass, Selection -2, Diamond grass, etc. The total ground of a lawn should be divided into suitable section. Each section should be lightly irrigated and marked at specific distances and small openings should be done where the grasses are to be planted. The selected lawn grass be planted either by seeds or by root suckers. The planting material should be well trimmed off to extra long leaves and roots and treated with suitable fungicide before planting. The light irrigation or watering with sprinkler should be given after complete planting of a piece.
1) Methods of planting of lawn
1) By sowing seeds
The doob grass is very fine and is also light. The prepared soil should be raked to a depth of 2.5 to 3.0 cm. The area should be divided into equal plots of approx. 250 to 300 sq.m. This would ensure even sowing. The seed should be mixed with fine soil and broadcast @ 400-500 g/200 sq. m. The seed should be mixed in the soil and the soil may be rolled with a light roller. The seed should be covered with fine soil. The area should'be watered with a water can having fine rose. The seeds would geminate in 3-4 weeks. The grass, when it attains a height of 4-5 cm should be cut with garden shear.
2) Dibbling
Rooted or unrooted doob grass cuttings can be obtained from close cut lawn or from any other source. These cuttings are dibbied when the soil is slightly moist. The dibbling may be done 8-9 cm apart. Frequent watering should be given till the grass starts sprouting. The grass gets ready for first cutting in 5-6 weeks. This method takes about 4-5 months to establish a good lawn.
3) Turfing
This method, though costly, is the quickest method. A piece of earth about 5 cm tick and having thick grass growing on it is called turf Small square pieces are dugout and re-laid closely to each other (Like bricks in a wall) in the land prepared for lawn. The popints should be filled in with sand soil. The turf is made firm by pressing it with wooden hammer. The area should be watered copiously. This is the quickest method of establishing lawn.
4) Turf plastering
Fresh roots be cut in small pieces of 2 to 4 cm length. A mixture of 1 part of pit in mixture, 1 part of decomposed manure and 1 par of roots of doob grass are drum. The paste is prepared by stirring and adding require quantity of water. Then this prepared paste is everyday spread over the already prepared lawn ground which is watered earlier. Then the ground with mixture of coarse and, FYM and soil to prevent evaporation loss from soil. the grass will shoot up within 15 days. Then cut the grass with shear for few cuttings and there after use lawn mower.
d) Maintenance of lawn
A lawn is to be maintained by following the cultural operation as per schedule.
1) Watering : Daily, alternate day or at every third day depending upon the growth and season.
2) Gap filling : Once or twice within a month after planting.
3) Weeding : Uprooting of weeds at every 15 days.
4) Mowing : Once in a month.
5) Other care like controlling of pests and disease, removal of excess water, should be taken as and when required.
By :- Vijay Thorat
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