VOA慢速英语2009年-Agriculture Report - Yard Work: When Peopl

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

For some people, the road to immediate¹ satisfaction is laid with sod. A piece of sod has grass on the top and soil on the bottom. It can provide thick green grass without the work or wait required to grow a lawn from seed.
　
A worker lays sod in Wrigley Field in Chicago during improvements made in 2007

Some property owners are replacing grass with ground covers that require less care and water. But others want a traditional grass lawn. Sod, or turf, might not seem like a farm crop. But farmers grow it around the world for everything from homes to sports fields.

Sod farmers often grow different grasses for different conditions. Farmers must cut, fertilize² and water the sod often. The crop may not be ready for up to two years. Farmers harvest it in pieces of various lengths and up to one meter wide.

Making the best of sod takes work. Preparing the ground to lay sod is important and may require soil amendments³.

David Robson from the University of Illinois Extension says the best results come from moist, richly organic black soil. He says that is because the farmer used rich soil to produce the sod, so it might not do well in clay soils.

Some gardeners prepare an area by removing the existing top soil and grass. This can be done with a shovel⁴, hoe or sod-cutter machine. But live roots or weeds might remain below the surface.

Another preparation method is to till the ground completely. Still another involves using an herbicide chemical to kill the existing grass. Sod can also be placed over existing grass. The grass will die and become fertilizer for the sod.

After sod is in place, it needs to be pressed down firmly. This will remove air pockets and help the sod make contact with the ground and take root. A water-filled drum called a sod roller can be used.

Sod can grow at times and in places where growing grass from seed is difficult. But sod can also have problems, especially if it was not very fresh. Newly laid sod needs water -- lots of water. It can quickly become dry. It will need water two times a day for at least three months. Sod should also be fertilized⁵. And it should be treated with limestone⁶ if the soil is acidic.

Sod can be cut to fit a space. But small pieces should not be placed along the edges of an area as they can dry out more quickly.

You can find other advice online. For example, we learned that sod should not be placed so that the ends of the pieces are all in a line. Instead it should look like a brick pattern on a building.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Bob Doughty⁷.

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 fertilize   

v.使受精，施肥于，使肥沃

参考例句：

• Fertilizer is a substance put on land to fertilize it.肥料是施在地里使之肥沃的物质。
• Reading will fertilize his vocabulary.阅读会丰富他的词汇。

3 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 shovel   

n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出

参考例句：

• He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。
• He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

5 Fertilized   

v.施肥( fertilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The study of psychology has recently been widely cross-fertilized by new discoveries in genetics. 心理学研究最近从遗传学的新发现中受益匪浅。
• Flowers are often fertilized by bees as they gather nectar. 花常在蜜蜂采蜜时受粉。

6 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。

7 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。