| When is the best time to seed?Spring and
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| | conditions3: grows in bunches, not by
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| late summer are the two best times to
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| | rhizomesGenerally speaking if you are
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| seed your lawn. Newly seeded lawns
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| | seeding in a sunny area, look for a blend
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| require wet, cool conditions in order to
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| | that is predominately bluegrass with a
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| be successful. These conditions occur in
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| | smaller percentage of fescue and rye
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| April and May and then again in late
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| | grass. If you are seeding in a shady
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| August and early September. Of the two,
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| | area, use a blend with a greater
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| late summer, early fall is better to
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| | percentage of fescue.SeedingAdvantages1:
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| seed. By planting at this time the seed
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| | cost, seeding a lawn cost far less
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| is able to take advantage of the wet,
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| | compared to using sod2: custom seeding,
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| cool weather, lie dormant over winter and
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| | by seeding you are able to use different
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| then take advantage of more moist cool
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| | blends for different areas within your
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| weather in the spring. By doing this the
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| | lawn, creating a healthier stand of
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| turf grass will be well on its way to
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| | turfDisadvantagestime, generally speaking
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| creating a healthy, strong root system
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| | it takes 5-7 weeks for a newly seeded
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| more able to withstand the heat and
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| | lawn to become established, during this
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| dryness of summer. If you seed during the
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| | time it is essential to keep the soil
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| summer months, your newly planted turf
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| | moist
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| will have a hard time establishing
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| | enjoyment, during this 5-7 week period
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| itself. Keeping the soil moist and cool
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| | you must ensure little or no foot traffic
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| is very difficult as well as expensive at
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| | is present on your site
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| this time of year. As the newly planted
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| | weeds, a newly seeded lawn is a weeds
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| lawn struggles to survive, weeds will
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| | best chance of establishing itself in
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| quickly move in and take advantage of any
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| | your lawn
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| areas that are bare or thin.Preparing
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| | Once your site is prepared you are ready
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| your site:By starting from scratch you
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| | to seed. Although you can seed by hand, a
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| have a unique opportunity to ensure
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| | good broadcast spreader will do a better,
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| everything is done correctly to minimize
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| | more even application. For best results
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| problems you may encounter when seeding.
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| | do two applications of seed. Using half
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| Grade your site to prevent water from
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| | of your seed walk up and down to cover
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| moving towards your house foundation.
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| | the entire site. Repeat this process in a
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| Ensure your site is weed free before you
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| | perpendicular pattern to your first
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| begin seeding. By using a non-selective
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| | application. Your best bet for
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| herbicide you ensure your site will be
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| | application rates is to follow the rates
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| weed free. Any herbicide with glyphosate
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| | specified on the bag. A good rule of
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| as the main ingredient will be effective.
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| | thumb to follow is 4-5 pounds of seed per
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| Ensure you follow the directions on the
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| | 1000 square feet. Most spreaders will
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| label before applying. By using a
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| | have some sort of application guideline
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| herbicide with glyphosate in it, you will
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| | on them. Try opening the spreader halfway
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| see results usually within 7-10 days.
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| | and apply at a normal walking pace.
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| These herbicides are adsorbed by the soil
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| | Ideally you want to see 2-3 seeds per
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| so there is little movement or leaching
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| | square inch. Choose a small test area and
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| within the soil. They also break down in
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| | adjust your spreader until this number is
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| approximately two weeks. After this time
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| | achieved. Once you are finished seeding
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| period, seeding can begin. Ideally 6-10
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| | the site all you really have to do is
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| inches of a good loamy topsoil is
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| | keep the seed moist until germination. If
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| required for a good stand of turf grass.
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| | you prefer you can lightly rake the seed
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| Unfortunately this is not always the
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| | into the soil for additional protection.
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| case. If your soil is predominately clay
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| | By top-dressing with additional topsoil
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| it will be very difficult for water to
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| | (approx. 1/4 inch) you will ensure a safe
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| saturate this type of soil. Amend this
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| | environment for the seed to germinate.
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| type of site by adding peat moss or a
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| | The most important factor, however is to
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| good quality screened topsoil. Once you
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| | keep the seed MOIST. Water on a regular
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| are satisfied with the grade and
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| | basis until the seed germinates.
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| composition of your site, rake the area
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| | Generally 15-20 minutes per day will
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| with a good quality garden rake. This
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| | suffice. Water in the early morning or
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| will break up any large clumps of soil.
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| | late evening to receive maximum benefit
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| Your soil particle size should ideally be
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| | from your watering. Once your lawn has
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| fine without being powdery. Remove any
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| | germinated, let it grow to a height of
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| sticks or other debris from your site. By
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| | 3-4 inches before giving it its first
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| doing this you minimize your chances for
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| | cut. Usually this is after 4-5 weeks of
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| fairy ring to develop in later
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| | growth. As stated before a newly planted
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| years.Which seed is the right seed?When
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| | lawn is an ideal environment for weeds to
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| selecting a grass seed for your lawn you
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| | become established. Even your best effort
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| must take into account several factors.
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| | in preparing your site does not guarantee
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| How much sun is present on your site? How
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| | weeds will not begin popping up. Weed
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| much shade? What colour are you looking
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| | seed can remain dormant for many years
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| for? How much foot traffic will use your
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| | waiting for an opportunity to germinate.
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| lawn? Generally speaking grass seed comes
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| | Weed seed may also be present in any
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| in a blend of 3-4 types. They are usually
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| | topsoil you incorporate into your new
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| a blend of bluegrass, fescue, and
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| | site. Ensure your landscaper uses
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| ryegrass. By using the factors mentioned
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| | screened topsoil for your best chance of
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| above, you will give your lawn a good
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| | not having weeds germinate this way. By
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| chance to thrive.Grass seeds most
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| | mowing on a regular basis you will deter
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| commonly used:Kentucky
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| | new weed growth and your new lawn will
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| BluegrassAdvantages1: deep green
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| | eventually choke them out. If you wish to
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| colouration2: grows by rhizomes,
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| | use a broad-leaf herbicide, follow all
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| encouraging a thick stand of turf3:
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| | directions on the label. Wait for at
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| over-winters well4: resistant to many
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| | least 5 cuts before using a herbicide.
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| diseases e.g. Red Thread5: many cultivars
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| | This is generally 4-6 weeks after your
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| to choose fromDisadvantages1: slow to
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| | lawn has become established. As your new
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| germinate (25-35 days)2: does poorly in
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| | lawn continues to grow, monitor its
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| shade conditions (powdery mildew)3: needs
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| | progress. Over-seed and top-dress any
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| regular watering and fertilizationFine
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| | areas that are not doing as well as the
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| FescueAdvantages1: does well in shady
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| | rest of the lawn. Generally speaking a
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| conditions2: requires less watering and
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| | new lawn will begin to look healthy,
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| fertilization3: over-winters extremely
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| | thick and vigorous within two years, so
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| wellDisadvantages1: susceptible to Red
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| | have a little patience. By using good
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| Thread2: slow to germinate (16-25 days)3:
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| | cultural practices, mowing, watering, and
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| does poorly in high traffic
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| | fertilizing you will have a healthy lawn
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| areasPerennial Rye GrassAdvantages1:
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| | that requires little herbicide to remain
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| germinates quickly ( 7-10 days)2:
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| | weed free.Paul is a Certified Pesticide
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| resistant to diseases3: good
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| | Applicator in the province of Alberta,
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| colourDisadvantages1: does not
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| | Canada. He has over 15 years experience
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| over-winter well2: does poorly in shade
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| | in the lawn care industry.
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