What Can Be Done to Prevent a Soggy Lawn?

Thatch

• Lawns that have thick thatch problems retain excessive moisture, poor spreading abilities and little air flow. Thatch is the organic material that naturally accumulates between the grass and the soil. A thick layer over 1/2-inch must be removed to restore the health of the lawn. To check your thatch layer, cut out a 2-inch wedge piece of turf out of your lawn. Measure the thatch layer. Prepare your lawn for thatch removal by mowing down the turf to 2 inches in height.

Thatch Removal

• Thatch is removed either with a rake or a power dethatcher. Using a rake is both back breaking and not as effective as the blades of a power dethatcher. Set your power dethatcher blades 1 inch apart and 1 inch into the soil for creeping type grasses such as bermuda. Bunch type grasses like fescue are dethatched with the blades set 2 inches apart. Push the power dethatcher back and forth across the lawn. Rake up the debris.

Aerating

• Lawn aeration typically occurs right after dethatching. Gardeners aerate their lawns with a core aerator to increase soil drainage and air flow. Core aerators like power dethatchers are rented from gardening supply stores. A core aerator creates plugs in the soil that are 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter and 1 to 6 inches deep, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Push the core aerator over a moist lawn. Rake up the tiny plugs that are left on the surface of the lawn.

Watering

• Most lawns need 1 inch of water a week. Oftentimes, gardeners apply too much water or water their lawns at the wrong time. Lawns should be watered in the morning when dew is still on grass blades. Watering your lawn in the afternoon increases the chances of moisture evaporation from the heat or lawn disease. Cool nighttime temperatures combined with wet grass is a recipe for fungal diseases. Check how much rainfall you have received that week before watering. Leave cans in the yard and measure the amount of water that has accumulated. Supplement water when there has been less than an inch of rainfall.