Yard Care

Attention Homeowners!

Learn Secrets for A Thick Growing, Lush Green Lawn

Does your lawn have dead spots in it? Have you sodded your lawn only to watch the expensive, luxurious green carpet slowly get thinner and less beautiful each year ? Have you tried experiment after experiment only to find your money, time and lawn disappearing? Are you trying to start your very first lawn and having a difficult time of it? You are not alone. In fact, poor looking, difficult to grow lawns are in every neighborhood in Brandon this spring.

What Causes the Problems??

Thatch is defined as an accumulation of dead and living plant material (stems, roots, and shoots) that develop between the soil surface and the green leaves of a turf. Compaction occurs from foot traffic to tree roots from pets and time. Together these guys kill your grass! It happens slowly, over a period of months or years. It must be corrected to get a green, thick growing lawn. Please let me explain just a few of the details.

Too much thatch and compacted soils leads to the decline of your lawn!

For example; Thatch will:

• Prevent water and air movement into the soil.

• Harbor turf insects and disease organisms.

• Make mowing difficult. A spongy turf will allow the mower to sink into the turf and cause scalping.

• Keep stems, runners (rhizomes and stolons) and roots above the soil level . Then exposure to temperature extremes results in winter injury.

• Thatch restricts the effectiveness of fertilizer and weed control applications.

Compaction will:

• Prevent root growth.

• Prevent water and fertilizer from penetrating the soil.

• Encourage thatch build-up.

• Weaken the lawn. Then, diseases and weeds begin infest your lawn.

What Is the Cure??

Verticut mowing or dethatching is the most effective method of reducing thatch that has already accumulated! This special mower cuts into the lawn with blades that revolve perpendicularly to the turf. In most cases thatch can be prevented by proper





	Yard Care Attention Homeowners! Learn Secrets for A Thick Growing, Lush Green Lawn Does your lawn have dead spots in it? Have you sodded your lawn only to watch the expensive, luxurious green carpet slowly get thinner and less beautiful each year ? Have you tried experiment after experiment only to find your money, time and lawn disappearing? Are you trying to start your very first lawn and having a difficult time of it? You are not alone. In fact, poor looking, difficult to grow lawns are in every neighborhood in Brandon this spring. What Causes the Problems?? Thatch is defined as an accumulation of dead and living plant material (stems, roots, and shoots) that develop between the soil surface and the green leaves of a turf. Compaction occurs from foot traffic to tree roots from pets and time. Together these guys kill your grass! It happens slowly, over a period of months or years. It must be corrected to get a green, thick growing lawn. Please let me explain just a few of the details. Too much thatch and compacted soils leads to the decline of your lawn! For example; Thatch will: • Prevent water and air movement into the soil. • Harbor turf insects and disease organisms. • Make mowing difficult. A spongy turf will allow the mower to sink into the turf and cause scalping. • Keep stems, runners (rhizomes and stolons) and roots above the soil level . Then exposure to temperature extremes results in winter injury. • Thatch restricts the effectiveness of fertilizer and weed control applications. Compaction will: • Prevent root growth. • Prevent water and fertilizer from penetrating the soil. • Encourage thatch build-up. • Weaken the lawn. Then, diseases and weeds begin infest your lawn. What Is the Cure?? Verticut mowing or dethatching is the most effective method of reducing thatch that has already accumulated! This special mower cuts into the lawn with blades that revolve perpendicularly to the turf. In most cases thatch can be prevented by proper