Do You Need To Dethatch Your Lawn
Thatch is a layer of dead organic matter, excessive roots and stems that has built up between your grass blades. If this layer gets too big, it can block air and nutrients from reaching the soil as well as hold onto water, causing fungal issues.
If your lawn feels spongey when you walk over it, that could be due to an overly dense thatch layer.
To remove thatch from your lawn, there are a couple of things you can do:
Mow low. You can gradually reduce the height of your lawn by mowing low a couple of times. Make sure to only take off 1/3 of the grass leaf each time but this will help to reduce your thatch layer.
Use a dethatching rake. This is one of the easiest and least invasive ways to remove thatch build up. By using the rake, you will remove some of the dead build up, but it may not be enough if your thatch layer is too big.
Hire a specialised dethatching machine. If you have a large lawn or especially thick thatch layer, a verticutter or power rake could be the answer.
S To Repairing Dead Grass
There is a long list of reasons why your lawn may be damaged and patchy urine burns, scalping, uneven ground, compacted soil and more.
While you may be feeling overwhelmed, all hope is not lost.
In this article we will run through how to get grass to grow on damaged lawn as well as the best ways to avoid dead grass in the future.
Look For Patterns And Patches
In many cases, if your grass is dormant itll be uniform across your entire lawn because the problem likely is due to temperature or water problems.
However, if you have patchy spots of dormant/dead grass spread throughout the yard, its possible that they were caused by another problem like bugs, chemicals, pets, or other outside factors.
The exception is grass that is dehydrated due to irrigation problems that are limiting the water in a specific area. Always check that it is properly hydrated first.
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How To Revive Dead Grass
4 min read
Its never enjoyable to see your lawn turn brown and dry. Many factors play into the situation when grass starts to die off. These reasons include incorrect feeding and watering, disease, the wrong type of grass for the area, poor preparation methods, and pests.
Youll need to uncover why your grass died and take steps to bring it back to a healthy state. Weve provided you everything you need to know so you understand how to revive dead grass.
Even Out Your Ground By Topdressing
Mid to late spring is also a great time to top dress your lawn. This will reduce any unevenness in the ground surface,
You should mow and fertilise your lawn before adding a layer of coarse river sand to your lawn. Ensure that you dont full cover your grass leaves so that they are still able to grow through.
As well as evening out any patches in your ground, topdressing will also encourage further growth in time for the summer heat.
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How To Revive Brown Grass
Naturally, rain will revive a brown lawn. However, if rainfall is insufficient watering the lawn deeply once a week will help your lawn to spring back to green. With Gilmours Pattern Master Circular sprinkler, you can customize the spray area so you water only the lawn and not the sidewalk. Set up a timer on your spigot, so the sprinkler will come on for 15-20 minutes per watering session. The best time to water is early in the morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., when its usually less windy and when temperatures are low.
Once grass starts to grow again, its okay to mow with your mower set to 3 ½ inches. Do not scalp the lawn to try to remove brown blades of grass. Let new fresh grass grow around them. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to fertilize the lawn naturally.
When soil is rehydrated and grass plants turn green, so will the weeds. Remove them by hand or spot-treat with a natural herbicide by following directions on the label.
Bringing A Lawn Back To Life
Many of us have held barbecues, get-togethers and backyard sports, these activities have left our lawns in some desperate need of TLC.
The simplest way to nurture your lawn back to full health is to give it time to recover. Like you, your lawn needs to be left alone to rest after a big event. Keep the kids and pets away so your lawn can relax and focus on rejuvenation.
If the event was a particularly big one, you may need to do more than just get some rest, and the same goes for your lawn. If the lawn is flattened from excessive traffic, try raking the grass lightly to encourage the blades to stand up again.
Aerating, fertilising and resuming your normal watering routine, will also encourage growth and help the nutrients penetrate to the roots of the grass where they are needed the most. Within a few days your lawn should be looking much healthier.
Like any great event, the best way to ensure your lawn is durable enough to recover from these events happens during preparation.
Take some simple steps in preparation to have your lawn in the best condition possible, so it can make a speedy recovery.
ColourGuard is available through Lawn Solutions Australias Lawn Store here.
Following these steps, you will have your lawn fit and ready for the next big event!
Posted by jefferson in Saving Money |
Before winter had even started, my front lawn was already a total disaster.
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Maintain Your Mower Before Summer
Before spring sets in properly is the best time to pull your mower out of the shed and give it a bit of TLC. By maintaining your mower now, you can be sure it withstands the hard yards of spring and summer mowing.
While you have the opportunity, you should change the fuel, oil and spark plug as well as sharpen or replace the blades.
An added bonus of sharpening your mower blades is a crisper cut. A dull blade will tear at grass blades and leave a jagged effect whereas a sharp one with slice smoothly through the grass.
How To Determine If Your Grass Is Dormant Or Dead
One way to tell whether your turf is dormant or dead is to tug on the grass plants. If you can pull out the grass from the ground easily, then it is probably dead. However, if the roots hold fast when you pull them, the grass is only dormant.
Once you start watering your grass or when rain returns, you will see the difference in your turf as moisture will gradually bring back its lush green color. On the other hand, if the grass plants are already dead, they will remain brown in color even if you water them or it rains.
The best way to ensure that your turf bounces back successfully from a period of dormancy is through continuous care.
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Seven Steps To Bring Your Lawn Back To Life After Winter
âAlthough your lawn can recover on its own, itâs helpful to aid and speed up the process by helping it prepare for healthy growth.âAC
- 13:28, 11 MAR 2022
Taking care of your lawn can be demanding, but gardening experts at Gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk have compiled a list of quick and straightforward techniques to help you bring it back to life after the winter.
Although the situation may seem quite hopeless when youâre looking at your dead and patchy lawn, the chances are that you will be able to restore the damage just in time for the Spring season with a bit of extra care and nurture.
A spokesperson for Gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk said: âIt is usual for your lawn to look rough after Winter, especially after bearing all the storms, cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions weâve had this year.
âAlthough your lawn can recover on its own, itâs helpful to aid and speed up the process by helping it prepare for healthy growth.
âWith a few simple steps, you can make a huge impact on rejuvenating your lawn and right now is the perfect time to get your garden back into shape.â
1. Remove the debris
2. Get rid of the weeds
3. Aerate the soil
Why Is Your Lawn Dead
Here are eight reasons why your lawn might be dead:
Your hard work and dedication in caring for your lawn is no match when Mother Nature interferes. Winter weather is the main cause for having a dead lawn. Although a certain amount of snow can keep your lawn hydrated, too much snow can create a mold buildup that will kill your evergreen lawn.
If the neck of the woods encounters a cold and harsh wind during winter, your grass will be deprived of the hydration it needs to withstand the damages. Even if your grass survives the winter, it will still die before spring comes.
The crown freeze occurs when the spring sunlight shows up and is followed by an unexpected winter cold front. The top layer of the lawn will absorb that sunlight but the water will quickly freeze, causing breakage from the expansion.
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Keep Leaves And Falling Blossoms Off With A Net
We purchased a lawn net and it was such a good investment! Not only did it stop the birds from steeling the seeds, but we also put it down when leaves and blossom are shedding. We have found in the past that leaves have smothered our lawns, signalling the beginning of the end. With a net, you can simply scoop everything off the lawn, enabling the lawn to breathe and do its thing.
So right now, we have an amazing looking lawn which has totally transformed our garden. Its been worth the battle to bring our lawn back to life.but it almost didnt make it!
Do you struggle with keeping your lawn alive? Or perhaps you have some tips of your own to bring a lawn back to life? Do share in a comment below. And if you found this post useful, why not check out these quick gardening hacks for busy mums.
*This is a collaborative post
Apply A Soil Wetting Agent
Apply a quality soil wetting agent at least 4 times a year:
Soils in Perth and the southwest are already sandy and have trouble absorbing water. WA sands are notoriously hydrophobic . Grains of sand have an oily film that literally pushes water away. The only way to fix this is to apply a good wetting system. This should include a wetting agent and a soil moisture retainer.To find out if your soil needs a wetting agent, put some soil in a dish and make a little well in the centre. Then pour some water into the well. If the water isnt easily absorbed, your soil needs the help of a wetting agent.Remember when your lawn starts to die off, it is dehydrating, and a dehydrated plant is not a healthy plant. Regular wetting agent application is always essential for your lawn and gardens, and even more so over summer when the soil is at its driest.
TIP: If your lawn is dying or dead, water alone wont bring it back to life. Water will pool on the surface, flow to the lowest point and disappear down a drain if this simple maintenance is not undertaken. If youve already tried our other tips to save your lawn, the best thing to do is start again with a fresh lawn.
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How To Bring Your Lawn Back To Life
21 July, 2017
A damaged lawn looks unattractive and detracts from your home. Bringing a lawn back to life requires evaluating what caused the damage and fixing the potential problems. Whether your lawn has dead patches, brown spots or has just thinned over the years, correcting some basics will create new, healthy growth.
Tips For How To Revive A Dead Lawn:
- Take action as soon as you notice that somethings wrong with the grass. The longer grass is allowed to remain in poor condition, the harder it is to treat.
- Small patches of brown may be caused by over-watering or under-moisturizing. If you are noticing smaller brown patches, ask yourself if you think youve been watering too much or not enough and experiment with some adjustments.
- Larger areas of brown grass are probably a sign of root damage due to pests or disease. If this is the case, itll take more than just a little water to bring your grass back from the dead. A soil test will help you determine what conditions are best for your lawn so that you can provide it with the nutrients, pH levels, and moisture content needed to thrive in its current state.
- Water the lawn at least once a week. This is often one of the easiest ways to save dying grass.
- Apply fertilizer to your grass according to package directions and consider adding lime if you have acidic soil.
- Create proper drainage by removing any debris or rocks from where water pools around trees, hedges, etc., so that it can flow away naturally instead of sitting stagnant on the lawn.
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How To Rejuvenate Your Lawn This Spring
The winter of 2012/2013 has been a difficult time for the humble British lawn. The almost constant damp conditions in the sward of the grass have encouraged widespread fungal infections within the grass and the wet soil has leached out many of the valuable nutrients which the grass depends on to keep its immune system topped up. These factors, combined with the cold temperature and low light levels have meant that many lawns at the moment are looking in a very sorry state!
However, all is not lost and, as spring is just around the corner, now is the time to start planning your spring lawn regeneration to bring it back to life and looking fantastic this summer. So if your are planning an open day or are just want to improve your garden here is my step-by-step guide to revitalising your lawn this season.
Reasons For Dying Grass
So can a brown lawn be saved? Depending on your particular circumstances, generally, yes. That being said, you should try to pinpoint what is causing the browning in the first place.
Drought: This a big problem across much of the country these days, and drought is one of the primary reasons for dying grass. Many people opt not to water their lawns during the summer, but this may be a mistake when there isnt enough rain to keep the roots alive. Grass naturally goes dormant after two to three weeks without water, and most lawns can tolerate drought for four to six weeks, although they will turn brown. However, extended periods of hot, dry weather may kill the lawn. How to revive a dead lawn?
Bad news: If the grass is totally dead due to drought, theres no way to bring it back. However, reviving brown lawns that are simply dormant usually occurs within three to four weeks of regular irrigation.
Thatch: If your lawn turns brown in spots when summer rolls around, you may have a problem with thatch a thick layer of decomposed plant matter, roots and partially decomposed stems, that builds up under the roots. Thatch usually isnt caused by clippings, which decompose quickly and add healthy nutrients to your lawn.
To determine if you have too much thatch, dig a 2 inch deep chunk of grass. A healthy lawn will have about ¾ to 1 inch of brown, spongy thatch between the green grass and the surface of the soil. If you have more than that, you may have to take steps to control it.
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Fertilize The Soul After Testing
Its a good idea to test the soil for phosphorus. Phosphorus helps develop healthy roots. If your test shows that phosphorus is needed, then you will evenly spread it across the lawn. You might not feel the need to perform a soil test. Purchase a grass-starter fertilizer at your local garden or hardware store in this case. This type of fertilizer is formulated to help aid the development of your new grass.
Heres How To Bring Those Dead Patches Of Grass Back To Life:
- Use a high-quality herbicide or manually tug-out weeds to eliminate nasty, grass-killing plants from your lawn.
- Dethatch your yard to encourage the circulation of air and water this will also help to disburse nutrients down to the soil below.
- Add some really rich organic compost to improve nutrient density, loosen clay soil, and improve the water retention of sandier soil. Pro Tip: till your soil approximately 5 or 6 inches deep.
- Youll also want to play chemist and sample your soil to determine if there are sufficient levels of phosphorus. If not, you can supplement with some grass-starting fertilizeryoull suddenly notice some serious bright green growth!
- Reseed the section and cover the grass seed with a small coating of soil. A slightly less economical shortcut would be to lay new sod. Just ensure the new sod portions are placed securely against any surviving grass and that their roots are touching fresh soil.
Want to know whether youll require new sod or If you can simply reseed? Give us a shout.
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