If your yard does not appear to be growing—even though it’s being watered regularly—it can be due to either heavy thatch or compressed dirt. In both circumstances, the grass is affected due to atmosphere, water, and nutrition. You will know if your lawn is getting enough water if you can stick a screwdriver easily 6 to 8 inches into your soil. When thatch (dead pieces of grass which have accumulated above the soil line) becomes overly thick, your yard will probably feel spongy, and it will be difficult to stick your finger (or a screwdriver) through the soil.
In any event, you have to do something. Murfreesboro Lawn Care is here to help. If your yard’s failure to thrive is due to compaction, you will have to de-thatch your yard.
What’s Aeration?
It is possible to aerate your yard yourself, but the best bet is to go with a pro.
Early fall is the best time to aerate your lawn. Early spring is a good time as well, but make sure you aerate and seed early enough so the seed has enough time to germinate. If you’ve got compacted soil which is clay-heavy or has been impacted by foot traffic or heavy equipment, it may be a good idea to aerate your lawn yearly. If you just had an aeration last year, and no serious thatch buildup, skip it for this year and try awesome landscape designs.
What’s De-thatching?
Some amount of thatch (1/2 inch or less) is beneficial to your lawn; it behaves just like mulch to provide insulation in extreme temperatures. It also helps to maintain moisture within the dirt, and gives a protective layer of cushioning. But once the thatch layer is significantly more than 3/4 inches thick, it may result in greater pest and disease issues, lower the efficacy of several fungicides and insecticides, and decrease the quantity of moisture and oxygen in the dirt and roots. While this occurs, it is the right time for you to de-thatch your yard. De-thatching removes this thick coating of plant material in order to let nutrients, water, and compost get to the ground better, and so that your yard can drain more efficiently.
Your yard should be de-thatched if it’s actively growing and the dirt is rather damp. The ideal time of year to get de-thatching is exactly the same for aerating: early spring or early autumn, and also late spring through early summer (following the second watering) to get warm-season grasses.
Mowing is a highly effective means to boost growth and keep your landscape design looking amazing. It’s essential, though, to be certain that your mower is functioning correctly, since it may damage your yard if not. Many issues with yards are due to improper mowing—mowing too short, dull mower blades, or cutting off too much.
Cutting too harshly, also referred to as “scalping the yard,” forces bud plants to focus their energy re-growing their blades, rather than deepening their roots. Scalping the yard additionally makes your yard more likely to grow weeds.
While most types of grass respond best to having the mower setting at one of the highest settings, Centipede Grass and Zoysia Grass do better with a middle setting on your mower, while creeping bent grass and Bermuda Grass thrive on one of the lowest mower settings.