Steps

• Fertilize cool-season lawns such as bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass with a complete fertilizer (containing nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium).
• Water less as the weather cools or rains increase, but don't let the lawn go completely dry. If necessary, adjust automatic timers to water less often.
• Mow the lawn when it's one-third higher than the recommended mowing height for that type of grass.
• Leave the clippings on the lawn. They'll add nutrients as they break down.
• Aerate cool-season lawns to improve water penetration and reduce thatch.
• Renovate cool-season lawns that have been doing poorly.
• Rake up fallen leaves so they don't smother the grass.

Thatching and Aeration

A little thatch is good but a lot can really cause a headache. A thin thatch layer of a half inch or less on lawns is normal and helps insulate the growing point of the plant, lower soil temperatures and retain moisture. However, when the thatch layer starts to accumulate to greater than a half inch, especially if it gets to be over an inch in depth, then it's time to take action. Excessive thatch accumulation can result in decreased rooting, increased potential of scalping and possibly increased insect and disease occurrence.

There are two basic procedures to manage thatch:

Dethatching is the removal of thatch that has accumulated in the turf and is a very aggressive procedure that will leave piles of debris on the lawn that will then need to be raked and removed. Dethatching equipment goes by many names including but not limited to: power rake, dethatcher, lawn comber, vertical mower, and slicer.

Aeration is the removal of soil plugs that will leave your lawn looking like you have rabbit problems. Aeration, besides removing thatch, offers the added benefits of reducing soil compaction and opening up channels in the soil for water infiltration and gas exchange. Aeration equipment simply go by the name aerators. The best time of the year to do aerating or dethatching is in the fall, but make sure to do it early enough that the turf has at least 30 days to recover before the soil freezes and winter sets in.

Solar Landscape offers complete thatching and aeration services.