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Natural Lawn Care
Improve Poor Lawns
April/May or September are the best times to aerate and overseed, or to amend the soil and replant a lawn.
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Aeration
Aerate compacted soil in the spring or fall to improve root development. Use a rented power aerator for best results, or hire a professional. The soil should be moist, and making 2 or more passes gives better results. Rake or mow to break up the cores - the soil left will help to decompose excess thatch layers in the lawn. If your soil is deeply compacted (more than 2 inches – dig a hole to find out) find a landscape professional who has equipment that penetrates 6 to 8 inches to aerate for you.
Overseeding, or Consider Fixing the Soil and Replanting
Overseed, after raking or aerating to expose soil, with a perennial rye/fine fescue mix designed for Pacific Northwest conditions - talk to a knowledgeable nursery-person or call Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension for seed recommendations. A light application of "starter" fertilizer can help the seeds grow quickly and crowd out weeds.
Dethatching
A ½-inch thatch layer can be beneficial, but much more than that can keep water, air and fertilizer from reaching the roots. Rent a power dethatcher and make several passes, then overseed to thicken the lawn and crowd out weeds. Prevent future thatch buildup by avoiding over-watering and over-fertilizing.
Fix the soil and replant
If your soil is very poor and compacted, it may be best to fix the soil and replant.
If very weedy, remove the sod with a rented sod stripper or kill the lawn and weeds with an herbicide glyphosate (Roundup.) Then:
1. Get a soil test to find out what's missing and spread the amendments (like lime) recommended in the test results.
2. Spread 2 inches of Grade A compost and till it in to a depth of 6-8 inches. Sandy or gravelly soils may need other amendments too - consult a certified landscaper or Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension for help with these soils.
3. Rake to level the soil, roll with a landscape roller, water to settle for a day, and rake again.
4. Seed with an appropriate grass mix, and water daily if the weather is hot and dry until the lawn is well established.
5. Contact WSU Cooperative Extension for more information, or consider hiring a qualified professional for this big job.
Links to other sites
WSU Extension - Lawn & Garden Information
WSU - Snohomish County Extension
WSU - Pierce County Extension
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