Fall is the ideal time to think about fixing lawn issues that may have come up over the summer. Beloved pets, neighbourhood kids, wild animals, weeds, disease and even your own plantings and landscaping activities may have created areas where grass just isn’t thriving.
Overseeding
Overseeding is a common method for repairing areas of grass that may have thinned out due to any number of reasons. It will serve to thicken new growth and it’s an easy measure to put into action.
• Add compost, peat or topsoil to the area of thinned out grass.
• Overseed by using double the normal amount of seed that you would use if you were seeding a brand new lawn.
• Look for types of grass that are designed for your specific circumstances – there are drought-resistant and shade loving varieties, for example.
Mid-August into September is the ideal time to overseed. To irrigate:
• The overseeded area should be kept moist at all times for the first week, watering several times a day.
• After one week, reduce watering to twice a day – keep up the schedule until the seedlings are well established.
• This schedule is true of sodded areas as well – they should be watered within an hour of being laid and kept moist until well rooted.
Aerating & Thatch
Thatch is that increasingly dense layer of organic material that grows and develops between the tops of your grass and the roots – a web of shoots, stems, dead material and more. If left unchecked, it can choke out the growth of the plants that are rooting below it and trying to reach the sun above it – including your lawn. More than about 2.5cm is too much.
Aerating your lawn in the fall is a great way to prepare the soil for top dressing or fertilizing. It involves a machine that physically breaks up the surface of the soil and you can rent one or hire a lawn maintenance company to do it for you. There are several advantages.
• Water can penetrate soil better, making your irrigation efforts more efficient.
• It breaks up compacted soils and allows for stronger, deeper root growth.
• It also serves to break up thatch, which can prevent roots from properly absorbing water and nutrients.
FutureGreen Irrigation
Our experienced residential irrigation technicians can tailor an irrigation system to your specific needs. We can custom design a system that works for you and saves water and money too.
Contact us for any of your irrigation design or maintenance service needs by visiting us online at http://www.futuregreenirrigation.ca. Call (416) 553-7488 in Toronto, 905-960-0040 in York Region or 705-999-0907 in Barrie or toll free 1-866-936-5296 for a free consultation with no obligation at any time. You’ll be glad you did!
ABOUT FUTURE GREEN IRRIGATION
It’s our mission to provide our customers with the best in irrigation and lawn sprinkler system installation and service, exceeding all expectations – whether it’s a new installation or maintaining an existing system. With Future Green Irrigation, no project is too large or too small and you deal directly with the principals of our business, which provides you with a commitment to quality through a personalized, hands-on approach and peace-of-mind through accountability and trust. We cover the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Durham, Barrie, Newmarket, Bradford, Orangeville and Caledon, Ontario.