The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1254479
C-8 Summer Home Improvement Wednesday, June 3, 2020 The Press-Dispatch Improve soil quality for a better lawn A lush, green lawn can vastly improve a home's curb appeal. ick, healthy grass indicates that homeowners care enough about their prop- erties to invest the time, effort and money to make them beautiful. According to the land- scaping tool company Troy-Bilt, soil fertility is the foundation of healthy lawns. In fact, the qual- ity of the soil is essen- tial whether one is grow- ing acres of grass, potted plants or vegetable garden beds. No matter which type of soil a homeown- er is working with, there are various ways to make it better. Remove thatch atch is a tightly knot- ted layer of leaves, grass roots, stems, and oth- er debris that accumu- lates between the grass blades and the soil. Too much thatch can hinder the movement of water, air and nutrients into the soil. According to organ- ic fertilizer company Or- gano-Lawn, thatch often occurs if the production of dead organic material in the lawn exceeds the ability of the microorgan- isms in the soil to break down that organic matter. A half-inch of thatch is normal. If thatch gets too thick, it will need to be removed. e home im- provement resource DIY Network says dethatching can take place in the sum- mer, fall and winter using a thatching rake. Aerate A lawn aerator will cre- ate holes in the soil. is can improve drainage and encourage worms and helpful microorgan- isms that require oxygen to thrive in the soil. e Briggs & Stratton Com- pany says the best time to aerate a lawn is during the growing season when the grass can heal and fill in any holes, such as spring and fall. Aeration can help develop deeper grass roots for a healthi- er lawn. Test and amend soil A great lawn has loamy soil, which has a key ratio of clay, silt and sand. Silt is a granular material of a size between sand and clay that originates from quartz and feldspar. It is the most fertile of the three types of soil com- ponents. Sand does not retain water, but it helps to create spaces in the soil that permit air to cir- culate. Clay particles are small and bind together tightly, but clay is natural- ly nutrient-rich. e home improvement site BobVi- la.com says loamy soil should have equal parts sand and silt and half as much clay. If the lawn is not yet es- tablished, loamy soil can be created and then the grass seeds planted. For established soil, after re- moving thatch and aerat- ing, top-dressing the lawn can help. is involves adding a thin layer of soil over the lawn. It can im- prove the soil without killing the existing turf. Ideally, it should be done in early fall or spring, as this gives the grass time to grow through three to four more mowings be- fore severe heat or cold sets in. Healthy soil is vital to a lush lawn. It takes a lit- tle work, but improving soil can create vibrant, healthy, green grass. Financing Starting At $ 245 Scag Turf Tiger 2 Available in 52", 61" and 72" Decks Financing Starting At $ 140 Scag Patriot Available in 52"and 61" Decks Financing Starting At $ 94 50 Scag Liberty Z Available in 36", 48", 52"and 61" Decks Best Mowers. Best Prices. Best Services. *See store for complete details and availability. Visit us at www.peterburghardware.com for full terms and conditions or to apply. Financing is not guaranteed. 4502 N SR 61, Petersburg – 812.354.8350 Mon.-Fri. 8am-7pm • Sat. 8am-5pm PETERSBURG H A R D W A R E www.PetersburgHardware.com Did you know? Many lawns contain a mixture of the roughly one dozen types of different grasses. According to the lawn care experts at Scotts®, knowing which type of grass they have in their yard can help homeowners more effec- tively manage and care for their lawns. But with so many lawns containing a mixture of grasses, how can homeowners know ex- actly what's making up that green carpet in their yards? Scotts® notes that lawns typical- ly fall into one of two categories: warm-sea- son grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm- season grasses are those that thrive in re- gions where the climate tends to be especial- ly warm, such as the southern United States. Cool-season grasses are those that are at their best in climates that experience extreme tem- perature fluctuations. For example, cool-sea- son grasses are most likely to be found in the northern United States, as much of this ar- ea of the country experiences cold winters and warm, and in some places very hot, sum- mers. Homeowners who are uncertain about which type of grass they have can consult a lawn care professional for advice. Homeown- ers who learn which type of grass is in their yard can use that information to determine how frequently they should mow and wa- ter their lawns and which type of fertilizer is best-suited to their lawns.