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Lawn Care

Question: 66-5201
How can I keep clover from my lawn? Trudy, Oakdale, CT

Mort's Answer:
Clover is a beneficial addition to lawns. It has nitrate nodules in the root system that break down to nitrites to provide nitrogen for your lawn. I call clover a martyr grass. When the nitrogen level is sufficient to support the rest of the grasses then the clover will disappear. You can speed the demise of the clover by giving your lawn adequate amounts of chemical fertilizer each year. In the fifties clover was a popular addition to seed mixes for the reason given. It also crowded out the weeds. Personally, I like clover and other flowers in a lawn. You might find a four leaf clover there for good luck.

Question: 393-3410
How do I get rid of sweet clover in my lawn? Bertha, Cambridge, IL

Mort's Answer:
I am a strong advocate of keeping clover in the lawn. Clover is a martyr grass that will die away, when there issufficient nitrogen in the soil. Since it attracts bees, it is helpful for pollination of flowers in addition to adding nitrogen to the soil. Clover takes nitrogen from the air and breaks down the nitrates in the roots to feed the other grasses. If you give the lawn sufficient fertilizer, the clover will disappear. You have an inexpensive source of fertilizer that you could grow to love.

Question: 67-5201
We have crickets on our lawn. What can we use to get rid of them? Paul, New Orleans, LA

Mort's Answer:
Sevin comes in granular or liquid. Malathion is also a good stomach poison for chewing insects. Follow directions on the labels.

Question: 65-5201
Can we use Milky Spore and Dursban for grub control.? Frank, West Greenwich,RI

Mort's Answer:
It takes two to three years to colonize with the Milky Spore bacteria. In the meantime you can use the Dursban, when the soil temperature is 65 in spring and fall. In the summer, you can use sex lure traps to catch the adult beetles.

Question: 68-5201
Grubs have completely wiped out my lawn. Can I turn it over and start again? Bob, Coventry, RI

Mort's Answer:
It may prove fruitless unless you have 6 to 8 inches of loam. With a sandy subsoil in your area, fertilizers and other compounds will leach out quickly. Your loam should be rich with organic material. Manure, peat and shredded pine needles will help build the water retention ability and nutrient needed for a good lawn. You may decide to build a Japanese or rock garden instead. Whatever you do decide, you will still have to treat the area for grubs. Before you bring in loam for the lawn, you can harrow and till the present remnants of the lawn. This will help build body for the new lawn or garden.

Question: 390-3410
Grubs have completely wiped out my lawn. Can I turn it over and start again? Bob, Coventry, RI

Question: 69-5201
I recently top dressed with loam and seed. We now have a lot of horsetail weeds How can I get rid of them? Shirley,Taylorville, IL

Mort's Answer:
I would continue to cut the lawn at an inch high and top dressing with more annual rye seed to help choke out the weeds. Keeping the height at one inch will prevent the horsetail from going to seed. Be sure to cart away the cuttings. Equiesetum arvense is very persistent. Your last cut of the year should be two inches . You may have to continue to top dress next spring, as well. Another method if to spray all the plants >with a target spray, like Round-Up or Finale. Be careful not to use this indiscriminately, these sprays will kill all they touch. They do not change to gold.

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