Mechanical treatments are an essential tool to maintain a healthy, green and attractive lawn. From aeration to scarification, these treatments can help improve the soil, remove excess thatch and promote fresh growth – here’s how they’ll help your lawn achieve that wow factor…
Aeration
Aeration is the process of creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass and generally refers to two different types of lawn treatment – hollow tine aeration and spiking. These improve the health of the soil and reduce compaction, which can be a particular problem in heavily trodden areas. Aeration can also help reduce the volume of fertiliser and water needed, as both will penetrate the soil more easily after aeration.
It’s all about the soil…
For lawns to look truly spectacular, the soil needs to allow water, oxygen and nutrients to move quickly down into the root layer. However, the soil particles that form the earth beneath your lawn will compress over time, which can hinder grass growth and contribute to poor drainage or even waterlogging. Here at Greensleeves, we recommend that most lawns undergo a hollow tine aeration annually as part of our comprehensive lawn care programme, to combat this. If your lawn experiences increased usage – either from the kids playing or from social events – more frequent aeration treatment may be recommended.
Moss & thatch control
Moss & thatch control, technically known as scarification, addresses various lawn diseases and helps to maximise the amount of water and nutrients that can reach the grass roots. Thatch is a natural accumulation of dead and organic matter – either above or below the soil line. As well as compromising both hydration levels and the absorption of nutrients, excess thatch can reduce a lawn’s capability to stay green in dry weather, become a breeding ground for red thread, and hamper healthy root development.
When is moss & thatch control most important?
The answer here is simple – when your lawn needs it. It can be done at any time throughout the year. Thinning out thatch and other organic matter in spring will encourage fresh growth. It’s a crucial time of year for your lawn if you want it to look its absolute best in the summer months when you will get the most use out of it with those BBQs and late-night social gatherings. So spring is certainly a good time to consider both moss & thatch control and aeration, but it can and should be done whenever conditions are suitable – as long as your lawn isn’t too damp or isn’t frozen!
Time for overseeding
Overseeding is the process of adding new grass seed to an existing lawn. Overseeding is usually recommended as a treatment following aeration or moss & thatch control, and your Greensleeves lawn care manager will deploy it using a machine that ensures an even and efficient spread of the grass seed across the lawn.
Overseeding can help fill in bare or thin areas caused by mowing and wear and tear, improve the density of the grass and promote fresh growth. It is an important component of annual lawn care as it increases your lawn’s resistance to disease and reduces moss growth. Lawns that are regularly reseeded become progressively thicker and more luscious – a great way for that wow factor to impress your friends and neighbours.
Every lawn deserves as much help as possible to keep it healthy and to thrive as much as possible. Find your local Greensleeves lawn care expert here, and they’ll do the rest!
