Tips for Turf Renovation

You can have the best mower in the neighborhood and still not end up with a satisfactory lawn if your turf isn’t up to par. Luckily, Morgan Power Equipment has prepared this useful information to help you renovate your turf so that the lawn of your dreams can be a reality. 

Low Sunlight

Some grasses are fine with a little shade, but even they may find themselves starved of the sunlight they need. Trimming and pruning nearby plants can help, but too much risks damage to the trees and bushes. Sometimes it is necessary to replace certain patches with a different ground cover altogether. 

Bald Spots

Bare patches are a breeding ground for weeds, and while overseeding can help, it takes a lot of prep work and is best saved for doing the entire lawn rather than a patch of it. For smaller scale problems, we suggest digging up the damaged section. Level the soil and add compost or starter fertilizer. If you want to plant grass seed, give it light ground cover and keep the area extra moist for 2-4 weeks. This will allow the grass to germinate. If you are using sod instead, simply cut a section to fit the area and water until the sod takes root. 

Protecting Against The Pincers of the Crabgrass 

Some types of grass, such as crabgrass, love to muscle in and ruin your carefully crafted aesthetic. This invasion force is rarely equipped to deal with General Winter, dying off at first frost. While you may be tempted to just let the cold deal with crabgrass, this will lead to dead patches and possible soil erosion. Take care of crabgrass early if possible.

While herbicides are effective at dealing with crabgrass, take care to select one that will only target the offending grass and not your own. Follow up the herbicide by mowing with a higher cut. This will help deny the crabgrass the chance to make new growth and overtake your own grass. How high you choose to make it is up to you, but we suggest a 3 ½ inch cut. 

Fear the Grub

Many insects like to eat grass roots, causing serious damage to your lawn. Worse still, grubs are a food source for animals like moles, raccoons, and even birds, all of which can damage your lawn in their own way. 

If you find evidence of grub damage, talk to your cooperative extension office. Their knowledge and experience is important to have because there are so many factors to consider when deciding how to proceed, like the grub species, soil condition and grass type. 

Some preventative pesticides can be used early in the growing season, but active measures may cause damage to the turf and are best left until the end of the season. Follow any and all laws and regulations concerning pesticides. Do not attempt anything best left to a professional. 

Thin and Patchy Grass

Good mowing and watering can’t save a lawn with poor soil quality. Even the heartiest grass will struggle in bad soil. Luckily, a soil test kit is relatively cheap, and your local cooperative extension can help here as well. Finding out your soil Ph, as well as discovering any chemicals that may be missing will help determine potential solutions. 

We here at Morgan Power Equipment hope these tips help you create a lawn that fills you with pride. For more information or to view mower models, visit us at our dealership in Halifax, Massachusetts. We are proud to serve the southeast Massachusetts area, including nearby communities like Taunton and Brockton.