ERAGROSTIS
MONOPHYTOUS LAWN
It requires much more care than other species of lawn; about
40 cuts during the vegetative reproduction period which
usually goes from mid March to mid October and can vary
according to the seasonal weather conditions changing from
year to year. It is suitable to use a lawnmower provided
with helical, self-sharpening blades to obtain a regular
and clean cut. It is also advisable to collect the waste
automatically during the mowing by means of specific equipments
coupled to the lawnmower as they are very small and go through
the rake’s, metallic broom’s teeth and so on. As far as
manure is concerned it has to be given in order to supplement
the nutritional elements stolen by the lawn to the soil
and that, due to frequent mowing are continuously removed.
Manure has to be spread out 8 times during the widest growth
period at the rate of 15 grams per square meter. It is better
to spread manure in little quantities and in several times
than in big quantities and less times to avoid possible
burnings and lack of nutritional balance. It is advisable
to use chemical ternary manures made of phosphor, nitrogen,
potassium. Watering has to be effected in good time in case
of periods of drought as well as in case the soil is clearly
dry. Watering has to be effected in the hottest hours (April,
May and September), while it has to be effected in the morning
or in the evening time in June, July and August. Due to
the fact that this is a monophytous lawn the weeds are easily
noticed, this disadvantage can be restrained and reduced
by means of manual or chemical weeding carried out in suitable
times as precautionary measures before its appearance or
as cure measures once its growth. Rolling has to be carried
out to let the new plants stick to the soil, to smooth the
cut surface.
MIX OF GRAMINACEOUS LAWN
It requires about 15 cuts from April to October adjusting
the height between 3 and 5 cm (lower in the wet seasons,
higher in the summer time). Waste materials can be collected
by means of rakes and metallic brooms and bushes even though
it is always better to collect the waste automatically during
the mowing by means of proper small baskets connected to
the lawnmower. It could be also possible to make the non
stop cutting (between 24 and 30 cuts) with proper machines
provided with blades suitable for the mulching. Manure has
to be spread out 5 times in the ratio of between 30 and
40 grams per square meter; it is advisable to use chemical
ternary compound made of N.P.K., with more Nitrogen during
spring and summer time and with more Potassium at the end
of the vegetative cycle. As for watering, rolling and weeding
follow the instructions given for the lawn of the above.
It is essential to air the soil in spring and autumn time
as, it is during said seasons that there are most of the
rainfalls that tamp the ground giving rise to the root asphyxia
of the plants. Riveted rolls provided with riveted sheets
are run across the concerned areas making holes and cuts
in the grassed land allowing the necessary gas exchanges.
MEADOW
It is the more rustic between the different species but
it doesn’t mean that it is the less attractive. It has to
be mowed 4 times, when it has reached between 40 and 60
cm in height, using proper machines provided with mowing
bars. It is advisable to make use of bars mowing machines
or equipments provided with universal joint coupled to farm
tractor when dimensions are considerable. Manure has to
be spread out three time in a year and it has to be of different
kinds, both chemical and organic. For rolling use heavy
rolls.