Mechanical Treatment

Scarification
Annual scarification is an absolute necessity for a great lawn.
In autumn we scarify the lawns to remove thatch and debris that has accumulated over the mowing season. This thatch build up will be choking the grass and making it difficult for the base of the sward to ventilate therefore allowing it to stay damp through the winter, an ideal environment for moss.
Scarifying is probably the most difficult of procedure to perform on a lawn and is usually overlooked as the weather turns cold and the days draw in.

The normal time for scarifying is in autumn, but spring is also a good time especially when moss has been a problem all winter.

It’s important that scarification is carried out at a time when there is a chance of good recovery so that the lawn can look good again in a couple of weeks. We are often called to visit some lawn which absolutely neglected and full of thatch and moss, in this case it doesn’t really matter when we scarify it, as it’s hardly going to make it worse.

Aeration
We consider that regular aeration is the most important weapon in the fight against moss. In the past the only way to do this was to get out and fork all day to relieve the compaction and allow air and water to get to the roots in the soil rather than just keeping the thatch damp. Now we can do it for you more effectively with our powered aeration machines in a fraction of the time it would take using a fork.

In the past we have only been able to offer “Hollow Tine” aeration which, although giving excellent results, it does have the disadvantage of leaving the lawns covered in cores. While we are quite prepared to remove the cores for customers there is hefty cost involved.

We can now offer “Fracture Tine” aeration which has the advantage of not leaving any debris. Furthermore we can use this machine on boggy lawns that would have been impossible to aerate with the Hollow Tine machine.

Lawn Pests and Problems
Moss
Thatch like carpet tile
Dry patches
Over enthusiastic DIY
Drought
Bad Drainage
Junior League Goalmouth
Bumps & Hollows
Banks

Pests
“Leather Jackets”
“Chafer Grubs”
“Pooch Patch”
“Ants in the Lawn”

Many customers find ants in the lawn a complete nightmare.

What we suggest is to aerate the lawn, we don’t consider that it is a guaranteed answer at all, but it certainly disturbs nests and they don’t like it. If you disturb then enough they will have to go somewhere else. Plus we think its always a benefit to aerate the lawn regularly, so we don’t mind selling the service to our customers.

What harm does ant do?

Well the main problem they cause is a swelling up of the surface of the lawn that the mower is going to scalp. This in turn allows the moss to get in.

Benefits, well the ants will attract green woodpeckers which are a beautiful sight.

Diseases
Rust
Yellow Tip

Fungus
Microdochium patch (Fusarium)
Dollar Spot
Snow Mould
Red Thread See the details on Red Thread in the LAWN TIPS page.
Fairy Ring