Mistakes that are hurting your lawn – Part 4

Daleys Turf has collated some of the most common mistakes that are being made in backyards across Queensland and our recommendations on how to fix them. We’ve covered mowing in Part 1, watering in Part 2, fertilising and dethatching in Part 3. Here’s our final instalment:

Aerating a lawn is usually recommended when the soil becomes compacted and water and nutrients can’t get to the roots of the plant. Lawn aeration equipment will pull cores or plugs of soil out of the ground, letting air in. These plugs should be 5-7cms in depth. Such a plug should be pulled out of the lawn at about every 7cms. The plug-removal process is facilitated by watering the lawn the day before, but don’t water to the point of muddying the soil. One of the most frequently made mistakes is the lack of sufficient cores or plugs removed from the lawn. If the tines of the aerator are set more than 7cm,s apart, and only one pass is taken on the lawn, the effort may not have been sufficient to solve the problem. Two passes may be required to ensure that air, water and nutrients can get down to the roots. Take care to mark all sprinkler heads so that they can be avoided with the aerator. This will save on costly repairs to the irrigation system.

Core aeration, a process where plugs of soil and grass are removed at regular intervals, can be done either by renting equipment or hiring a professional. A cool, dry day is the perfect time for this lawn care chore. Core aeration reduces compaction in heavy clay soils, permits a more rapid exchange of oxygen and water with grass roots and reduces the thatch layer on lawns. The soil and grass plugs can remain on the lawn since they will gradually decompose and return all their nutrients to the soil. Often times, two passes in the form of a criss-cross pattern are recommended to make sure aeration is sufficient. The type of grass in your yard will determine whether to aerate in the cooler months or in the summer. Most turf varieties found in Queensland can be aerated in late spring and summer. Allow at least four weeks of good growing weather to help the plants recover. Choose a day when temperatures are mild and soil is moderately moist, which makes the soil easier to penetrate. Avoid aerating wet soil, as it is messy and leads to further compaction of the soil as well. If the soil sticks to your shoes or if the core samples you take stick to your probe, you should wait until it dries out some before restarting the job.

For more information on lawn care mistakes you might be making and how to avoid them just contact the team at Daleys Turf today – with you for the life of your lawn.