The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The Canadian Champion, Friday, April 30, 2004-B3 Greener Grass (NC)-If the grass always seems green- er on your neighbour's side of the fence, the experts 0f Home Depot have tome advice thaf wiii heip make your iawn the envy of the neighbourhood the whole season long. Start by dividing the season into five stages: early spring. late opring, oummer eariy full and lofe full. By foiiowing a few simple stepo in each stage, your grass wili be heaithy ail year round. "The moot important time f0 care for your iawn is in the spring," says John DeFranco, Home Depot's iawn expert. "By starting the season off right, you'Ii have leos work on your hands and a bef- fer iawn under your feet." n early spring, apply a fertilizer to the lawn. It wiii encourage the grass f0 green up earlier, which strengthens the grass roots and con help control weeds such as crabgrass and ciover. Once appiied, ito important f0 stay off the grass when possible. Wet soul in spring compacts easily. moking if difficuit for grass f0 grow well. Early spring is alto a great time to check is the iawnmower. Duli blades make the tipso0f cuf grass turn brown, so make sure fhey're sharp for the cufting season. In lafe spring is the neot fime ta apply ferfilizer fa turther encourage your iawn fa, grow fhick and luth. Start wafering j the lawn when rainfali gefs beiow an inch per week. In the summer, you wiii alto need f0 appy fertilizer to continue f0 feed the grass. This provides nitrogen and oCher nutrients needed f0 mainfain a fhick, green iawn, If insecto, such as grubs, are a probiem, appy an insecf confrol or cornmbination pett control and fertilîzer (piease check f0 make sure you are abiding by local pesticide by-iaws) Your iawnmower is just like any oCher machine, it needo to be taken care 0f," reminds DeFranco. "Now thaf you've been using if for haif of the season, youii need f0 change or wath ifs air fffter." Once the leaves staff f0 fall, that's the queue for the fourth application csf fertilizer. It is alto important f0 rake leaves reguiarly, in early fall, as they can kili the grass beneafh. The more tre- quently yuu ruke, the easier the job wili be. The final stage is late fall. Now that you've enjoyed your iawn ail summer, it's timne to prepare it for the long winter ahead. "Late fall is ai crucial time for gardeners f0 prepare their iawns for the coming winter montht, says DeFranco. "Wifh proper care, grass will deveiop even stronger roofs and green uptfaster next tpring.1 To'winterize'your iawn, appiy fertilizer made specificaiy for the season. Late fall is alto, the time f0 patch thin or bare spots as needed or start new iawns from seed or new sod. California '1-4 Msssag Soro Oakville Showroom 2528 Bristol Circle 335 Superior Blvd. WntnCucilDna Derry Rd./Highway #10 Wbin ome Ch or i)na FITNESS 5 55-U (905)n Home-Depo1 Th okgood, feel good stores (0)~(0)8949 ONAI' *OLDS & LGS HO U MSAOTET * ASPHALT PAVING M PARKING LOTS M INTERLOCKING (Maintenance & Repairs) * DRIVEWAVS M GARAGE FLOORS M RURAL PAVING M CONCRETE M WALKWAYS & CURBS AN EDUCA TED CONSUMER IS OUR DEST CUS TOMER. Il a&oniy the DEST OUALITY maieriais. Compara tirai - befora you huyi SERIN MLTO, AMSELVILE& Re Plea. Cml 'J' Your VehicIe'sSh is our Busine* www.dcsduetait.com 19