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Fall weather may be upon us, but that doesn’t mean our lawn care duties should just hibernate. In fact, now is the time to take care of our lawns and ensure they are in good shape come spring.
And if you’ve noticed that your once-lush lawn looks patchy, soggy, or generally in poor condition, it may indicate compacted soil. Essentially, this is when pressure or certain weight pushes soil particles together. This thick layer blocks water, essential nutrients or air from reaching the roots – affecting healthy growth.
But how do you know? And more importantly, what can you do to fix it? To solve this dilemma, I asked garden experts to share the key signs of compacted soil, how to test it and the best ways to fix it this fall.
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1. Water your lawn
Puddles or standing water on your lawn clearly indicate compacted soil underneath. This is because tightly packed soil prevents proper drainage, which can lead to water logging, liquid spots and root diseases.
“One of the clearest signs is water on the surface after rain,” says Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.
“If puddles take a long time to drain, it may indicate that compacted soil is preventing water from draining properly into the soil.
The first step to fix this is to aerate the soil (make holes) to allow it to breathe. Typically, there are two types of aerators – spike and core aerators.
Spike aerators literally have long spikes that pierce the soil as you pass over them, while core aerators pull ‘grains’ from the soil as they work, leaving them on the surface.
“If the lawn is poorly compacted, a hollow tin aerator, which removes small soil tiles and takes the pressure off the soil, can be more effective,” advises Alex Dobson, garden and outdoor space expert at Charles & Ivy.
“For smaller gardens, use a garden fork to make holes over the affected areas, gently rocking it back and forth to loosen the soil.”
Just avoid exposure when the soil is very wet or frozen, as this can worsen waterlogging. If in doubt, check out these expert tips for lighting a wet lawn.
2. The ground feels heavy
Just as the floor feels squishy to walk on, you may also encounter a hardened surface. This is especially so in the colder autumn months.
“You may also notice that the soil feels unusually hard, grass growth has thinned, or moss and algae appear in persistently moist areas,” adds Bonnett.
So how do I check for this? Fortunately, there is an easy way to check compaction before aerating. “An easy way to check is to push a screwdriver or garden fork into the soil when it’s slightly damp. If it’s hard to penetrate the soil, especially in areas where people walk regularly, compaction could be the problem.”
“Fall is a good time to do this, as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged. You can also monitor bare spots to stimulate fresh growth. Also, try not to walk on the grass when it’s wet, as this can make compaction worse.”
3. The grass is thin or liquid
Another clear warning sign is when your once lush lawn starts to become sparse and liquid. If the soil is heavily compacted, grass roots are starved of essential air and water, making it almost impossible for your lawn to develop.
One way to fix this is to monitor your lawn. But before you sprinkle more grass seed or lawn food, you must first check and deal with compacted soil.
“For lawns with bare patches, mulching can help the grass fill in once the soil has improved and conditions are suitable for new growth,” advises Dobson. “If the water continues to collect in the same places, you may also need to look at the drainage of the garden rather than relying on lighting alone.”
“Once you’ve aerated the lawn, try to avoid walking over the same areas over and over again, especially if the ground is wet. You can also add stepping stones to the lawn to prevent the soil from compacting again.”
So if you’ve seen any of these warning signs on your lawn, the key is to loosen the soil and reduce the pressure on the grass. If these problems are fixed immediately, you will have lush and healthy grass all year round.
For more top tips, see how often you should aerate your lawn and how many passes are best.
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