Eräiden Suomen julkisten nurmikoiden perustamis- ja hoitotavoista

Authors

• Saija Ravantti Hankkijan kasvinjalostuslaitos, koetila Anttila

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71640

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the methods of establishment and management of public parks, lawns ans sport fields in Finland and the ideas held by professional gardeners on this subject. The study is based on the replies in 306 questionnaires sent in 1963 to the gardeners responsible for managing public lawns (Table 1). The questionnaire as well as the present report are divided into three parts: seed mixtures, lawn establishment and lawn management. The replies are grouped into five categories: cities, market towns, rural, communes, agricultural schools and horticultural schools. Lawn seed mixtures. The use of purchased seed mixtures is common among the persons questioned the only exception being the cities. In most cases the composition of the mixture was not given. The compositions of 68 mixtures prepared by the gardeners themselves were given, consisting usually of 3–6 different species. The following coarse-textured grasses occurred in the mixtures: Lolium perenne, Lolium multiflorum, Phleum Pratense, Festuca pratensis and Dactylis glomerata. The following fine-textured grasses were present; Festuca rubra, Festuca ovina, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Poa nemoralis, Agrostis tenuis, Agrostis stolonifera and Cynosarus cristatus. In addition, the mixtures contained white and red clover. Of the 68 mixtures, only 13 % were without coarse grasses. Of the mixtures containing coarse grasses, those with more than 25 % by weight of coarse grass species comprised 100 % of the mixtures in the rural communes, 78 % in the towns, 76 % in the cities, 67 % in agricultural schools and 67 % in horticultural schools. Red fescue and common meadow grass were highly placed among all lawn grasses. White clover received an unduly favourable judgement. Lawn establishment. The best types of soil for lawns are considered to be humusrich sandy clay, loamy clay and fine finesand. Poorer soiltypes are also used and to these various soil amendments are added, of which the most common is decomposed peat. The usual tillage implement in urban areas is the rotary cultivator, while in rural districts the plough and harrow are most commonly used. Basic fertilizations are given in 92 % of the cities, 88 % of the towns, 79 % of the rural communes, 75 % of the agricultural schools and 100 % of the horticultural schools. In 70 % of the cases PKN-fertilization is used, in 23 % PK-fertillization, in 5 % P-fertilization and in 2 % N-fertilization. The survey results do not indicate whether sufficient and correctly balanced amounts of the nutrients were used. In 94 % of the cases the lawns were sown by hand. Mechanical seeding is more common in the rural communes and agricultural schools than elsewhere. In the former places the seed rates are generally too low being those used on pasture or at most only twice the pasture rate. The usual seed rate is 2—4 kg/a. 85 % of the persons questioned reported earthing the seed with a rake. Rolling after seeding is a general practice. The persons questioned consider the most important factors in lawn establishment to be an adequate and uniform layer of topsoil and sufficient moisture at the time of seeding. Lawn management. The value of annual dressings of chemical fertilizers is generally well understood, since 77 % of the questionnaires reported using such dressings. In 75 % of the cases multi-nutrient fertilizers are used, while agricultural schools tend to employ only nitrogen. In general, nitrogen is applied as a single dressing in the spring; only in 7 % of the cases were 24 applications made during the course of the growing season. It appears that the annual dressings are often inadequate and are not properly balanced between the different nutrients if the recommendations by WEIBULL (32) are considred to be correct. Raking of lawns in the spring was reported in 91 % of the questionnaires. Compacting of lawns by rolling in the spring was performed in only 28 % of the cases. On the other hand, 75 % reported reseeding on the bare spots. Mowing is chiefly performed by a motor-driven lawn mower. 50 % of the gardeners reported mowing at least once a week; in rural communes and at the agricultural schools mowing is less frequent than in the other places. Facilities for watering the lawns are available in 100 % of the horticultural schools, 88 % of the cities, 86 % of the rural communes, 71 % of the towns, and 70 % of the agricultural schools. The persons questioned consider the most important factors in watering to be thorough drenching and fineness of the spray. 56 % of the questionnaires reportes a control of weeds on the lawns. The most common weeds according to this survey were Taraxacum vulgare and Plantago major. On the larger lawn areas chemical control is commonly employed. Control of plant diseases and pests on lawns is limited. Owing to the rigorous winters in Finland it is difficult to maintain permanent lawns and the lawns must be renewed from time to time. On the basis of the present results, 68 % of the lawns are renewed at intervals of 1—10 years. The persons questioned in this survey believe the three most important factors in proper lawn management to be ample dressings of chemical fertilizers, regular mowing and sufficient watering. The cities, the horticultural schools and the towns establish and manage lawns on an average more intensively than the agricultural schools and the rural communes.