Lawn care
Instead of raking up grass clippings, go ahead and leave them on the turf, where the tiny pieces will break down and add nutrients back to the soil. Similarly, in fall you can set a lawn mower on the “mulch” setting and go over a scattering of fallen leaves on the grass to add additional organic material to the lawn.
Lawns receive frequent foot traffic, even if just from mowing, and very little seasonal aeration. This can lead to compacted soil and poor lawn health. If you can’t stick a trowel in your lawn, it’s likely time to aerate. “I may look at [a lawn that is performing poorly] and see that there’s an issue with compaction,” Armillei says. She recommends treating compaction through core aeration to help air reach the roots of the turf. Then, she says she would top-dress the lawn with organic compost and overseed to promote denser turf growth.
Lawns receive frequent foot traffic, even if just from mowing, and very little seasonal aeration. This can lead to compacted soil and poor lawn health. If you can’t stick a trowel in your lawn, it’s likely time to aerate. “I may look at [a lawn that is performing poorly] and see that there’s an issue with compaction,” Armillei says. She recommends treating compaction through core aeration to help air reach the roots of the turf. Then, she says she would top-dress the lawn with organic compost and overseed to promote denser turf growth.
To overseed, start by mowing the lawn with the lawnmower set to a low height. Then, scatter lawn seed mixed with sand evenly over the existing turf and top with a thin layer of compost. (If you’re already applying a layer of compost to fertilize, it can be a great time to reseed.) Rake thoroughly to help the seeds make their way through the turf and make contact with soil. Then, water consistently until seeds germinate — which can be from seven to 21 days, depending on growing conditions.
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