Home Lawn Treatments

Diagnostics

• There are certain signs you can look for to help you determine what treatment an ailing lawn needs. Note any discoloration on grass blades, such as yellowing or spots. Also look for molds or mildews that are of a powdery consistency that may indicate a fungus. Determine if grass is being eaten by an insect or insects, or if you have an underground pest, such as moles or groundhogs. A lawn that has an overall unhealthy appearance may be compacted or in need of water or fertilizer. Time of year, temperature, and recent lawn treatments are all important factors in determining how to treat your lawn.

Dethatching

• An important treatment for a lawn that has been ruled free of disease and pests is dethatching. Tthatch is a layer of organic material consisting largely of dead and decaying grass and roots that is woven around the healthy grass and become dense enough to starve the grass of nutrients. Dethatching is simply removing this layer. Dethatch your lawn in cool weather when the ground is dry to keep from uprooting good grass. You can do it by hand or use a dethatching machine; either way, it is a task that requires patience and care.

Aeration

• Treating your home lawn to regular aeration serves a number of purposes. It keeps the soil from becoming so impacted that no oxygen can reach the grass roots. It allows a place for water and fertilizer to go where it is readily available to the roots. You can use the core samples from the aerator tines and see how your lawn is doing beneath the surface, and to take note of the amount of thatch on top of the soil; there should never be more than half an inch. Aerate cool season grasses in the fall and warm season grasses in the spring, both when the weather is mild.

Other Treatments

• Other lawn treatments include watering your lawn when needed. Natural rainwater is best; consider using rain barrels and an irrigation system to keep your lawn hydrated. Treat diseased lawns with the appropriate insecticides or fungicides. Always follow manufacturer's recommendations when using chemicals. Feed your lawn with good fertilizer, or use compost, which both feeds the grass and helps to hold in moisture. Fertilizing in spring and fall (when the weather is mild in your part of the country) with a high nitrogen mix will help keep your lawn green and healthy year-round.