DIVERSITY PARK (Centre
- Lawn care do-it-your
rs can save serious money
blowing a few tips from a
specialist in Penn State's
ige of Agricultural Sciences.
)ollar for dollar, fertilization
Finally, a proven way to beat hoof disease!
Victory Topical Solution, when applied
directly to the affected area, eliminates the
lesions and pain associated with hairy foot
warts.
Victory Hoof Trimming Equipment &
Utensil Sanitizer (E.P.A.-registered
sanitizer) provides dairy producers and
hoof trimmers with a method to
prevent the spread of highly
contagious foot warts by sanitizing
tools and equipment used in hoof
trimming.
BRANDTS
JsurSei FARMSUPPLY
Iwunucr Elizabethtown, PA
1-800-872-7478
717-367-1221
LONGACRE ELECTRICAL
S Rd P i P Bl’i392 C - SERVICE. INC.
Hamburg, PA Ball V' PA
610-488-1025 215-845-2261
No other milking equipment and supply company has more experience, expertise
and commitment in its ability to deliver service, knowledge and merchandise.
All of this contributes to the well-being of cows and the profitability of your dairy.
Fertilization Is Central To Revitalizing Lawn
does more to revitalize thin,
weedy lawns than any other sin
gle management practice," says
Peter Landschoot, associate pro
fessor of turfgrass science.
"With more user-friendly prod
ucts on the market, lawn fertil
A winning combination to treat, prevent
and protect against hoof diseases.
ization has never been easier -
provided you follow a few basic
steps."
•Soil Test. Soil tests tell con
sumers how much fertilizer and
lime is needed. Test kits are
available for a nominal fee at
Victory Footbath Concentrate
offers dairy producers a cost
effective alternative to other footbath
compounds commonly used to
control the incidence of hoof rot and
hairy foot warts.
HOSTETTER FORSHEY’S, INC.
SURGE 110 Forshey St.
Rd. 2, Box 749 Martmsburg, PA
Annville, PA 814-793-3791
717-867-2896
Penn State Cooperative ‘Fertilizer. Fertilizer should
Extension offices throughout the be bought on the basis of its
state. Soil tests can be taken quality, not the size of the bag or
and sent to Penn State any time the price. Landschoot says that
of the year, but make sure you value depends on the amount
allow 2-3 weeks to receive your and source of nutrients in the
report. bag. Fertilizer labels have three
TM
JIM’S SURGE
SALES & SERVICE
215 Oak Bottom Rd
Quarryville.PA
717-786-1533
Uwcwttf Farming, Saturday, April 11. 1996-819
numbers that designate the percentages of
nitrogen, phosphate and potash in the bag. A
30-3-10 analysis, for example, means that the
product contains 30 percent nitrogen, 3 per
cent phosphate and 10 percent potash.
Lawns usually require annual applications of
all three of these nutrients, with some lawns
needing higher amounts than others. Your
soil test report will provide information on
which fertilizer is best for your lawn.
Landschoot points out that some products
contain "slow-release nitrogen" or "water
insoluble nitrogen." "It's a good idea to have
some slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in the
bag," he says. "This will provide longer-last
ing green-up and reduce the chance of fertil
izer burn. However, if all or most of the prod
uct is is slow-release nitrogen, green-up of the
lawn can be very slow. It's may take weeks or
even months to occur."
•Spreaders. There are two types of
spreaders for lawn fertilization - rotary and
drop types. "Rotary spreaders will do the job
faster than drop spreaders since they are
equipped with a rotating apparatus that
throws the fertilizer out in a wide swath,"
Landschoot says. "Thus, fewer passes are
required to cover the lawn. Drop spreaders
are typically more accurate, but since they
don't throw the fertilizer, the swath is nar
rower, and more passes are needed to cover
the lawn."
Rotary spreaders are more practical for
larger lawns, while drop spreaders are only
suitable for small to medium-sized lawns.
Many lawn fertilizers now contain spreader
settings on the label. The setting, usually a
number or letter, controls the amount of fer
tilizer applies. Look for a fertilizer that lists
your spreader type (rotary vs. drop type) and
model on the bag, then adjust the setting
accordingly.
•Don't Overuse. "When it comes to fertil
izer, more is not necessarily better," says
Landschoot. "Never exceed the setting listed
on the label. Doing so can result in excess
growth, which requires more frequent mow
ing and weakens the turf, making it more sus
ceptible to heat and drought in summer." Too
much fertilizer also can dehydrate the grass,
resulting in "fertilizer burn" or dead turf,
•Careful Application. To apply, pull or
push the lever that closes the openings in the
bottom of the spreader, pour in the fertilizer,
and adjust the spreader setting. Find a spot
on the lawn where you want to begin the
application - typically along the strip of turf
nearest to the street or driveway so you can
minimize the amount of fertilizer that gets
onto pavement. "Always begin walking before
you open the spreader," Landschoot says.
"This will eliminate burn marks that result
when too much fertilizer falls out of the
spreader while it is standing still." At the end
of the pass, close the spreader openings before
you stop walking.
•Maintain Spacing. To avoid creating
dark and light green stripes in the lawn,
ensure that each pass is adequately spaced.
With rotary spreaders, space each pass so
that a small amount of fertilizer overlaps with
fertilizer applied from e previous pass. With
a drop spreader, each pass should begin right
up against the strip of the previous pass - like
laying strips of wallpaper.
•Use Grid Pattern. The best method of
applying fertilizer is to use the half-rate set
ting suggested on the fertilizer bag and go
over the lawn twice in a crisscross or grid pat
tern. This will further reduce the chances of
striping. Remember, fertilizer does not move
once it is on the lawn - wherever it lands,
your lawn will turn green, and where it does
not land, it will not turn green.
•Multiple Applications. Land-schoot sug
gests applying fertilizer two or three times
per year. Homeowners should fertilize lawns
in mid-spring (late April or early May), late
summer (around Labor Day), and late fall
(around Thanksgiving).
•If Hot, Don’t Apply Finally, never apply
fertilizer during hot, dry weather in mid-sum-