FROM OUR MAINTENANCE DIVISION -Fall 2010 (lawn care)

The summer season can be very stressful on fescue lawns. Thinning occurs and brown dry areas develop due to turf diseases and/or lack of proper irrigation. Core aeration and reducing thatch are two techniques to help improve the health and vigor in turf. Dethatching can be done with a power rake or by hand and is recommended to reduce thatch layers less than ¾".



What is Thatch? Thatch is a tightly interwoven layer of living and dead tissue between the green vegetation and the soil surface. It is composed of products from stems, leaves and roots that are resistant to decay. A little thatch improves the wear tolerance of a lawn. Too much can harbor disease organisms and insects making the lawn more susceptible to damage from disease and drought. Thatch buildup and soil compaction are both conditions that can cause lawns to struggle.

Once thatch is under control, core aeration can be done when lawns are still actively growing. Core aeration can be done in the spring or fall. This involves using a core aeration machine that removes ½" - ¾" cores of soil about 2-3" long every 6" apart via hollow tines or tubes. A benefit of aeration is it opens up the root zone to greater access to air, water and nutrients leading to improved turf health and vigor. Core aeration helps reduce thatch by punching holes into the thatch layer, it reduces soil compaction and allows nutrients such as lime and fertilizers to penetrate deeper into the root zone. Cores are deposited on top of turf grass and allowed to decompose. Grass seed drops into the holes creating a moister, protected environment allowing optimal development for germination.