Do lawn leveling rakes really work?
A lawn leveling rake is a very important tool for getting the best possible result when you top dressing your lawn. While there are other types of rakes, using a lawn leveling rake will save a lot of time during the lawn top dressing process. It allows you to quickly move the top dressing mixture around while simultane. It’s best to use a lawn levelling mix of sand, topsoil and organic material to level a lawn. This is also called lawn dressing or top dressing. Lawn dressing improves drainage and also adds nutrients to the soil, enabling the grass to develop a healthy root system.Regular topsoil is fine for filling in low spots with depths greater than 3″. Adding fine sand to the topsoil creates a silky-smooth soil blend perfect for leveling lawns at depths between ½” and 3″. This topdressing blend spreads easily, holds it depth and contributes to overall lawn improvement.Top dressing a lawn can help iron out small undulations by adding a fresh layer of soil to the surface, leveling it out over the surface to leave extra soil in the low spots. This should be done following scarification (which will remove unwanted moss and thatch from a lawn), as well aerating and over seeding.The short answer is yes, topdressing with quality soil can dramatically improve your lawn’s health. When applied correctly, topsoil enhances nutrients, evens out the surface, and provides the perfect base for new grass seed. But like most lawn care practices, timing, technique, and soil selection matter.
Which rake is better for grass?
Rubber rakes won’t damage the surface of grass, wood or paving so are ideal for clearing wet leaves off decking or patios without scratching. They are also good for raking up leaves and grass clippings without damaging manicured lawns – they’re often used on bowling greens. A heavy-duty blade and rotating flails on a power rake remove a lot more debris than a dethatcher. A power rake is a much more aggressive tool than a dethatcher because it’s made to remove thatch and other organic debris from the lawn that has reached a thickness exceeding 1/2 inch.A metal rake usually has more spring and is better suited for large areas. It is easier to clean around flowerbeds, shrubs and bushes and does not rake up essential thatch in a lawn.Dethatching rakes are good for light thatch and general thatch maintenance on small lawn areas. Power rakes are mower-like devices with rotating, rake-like tines that dig into thatch at the soil level and pull it up. Power rakes work well for lawns with thinner thatch layers and grass that can withstand intense raking.
Is it better to rake or scarify a lawn?
Scarifying should be conducted in autumn where possible with only light scarifying being done in spring. Raking is influenced by the amount of moss that grows in your lawn. If it’s wet, shady or perhaps on a clay soil then you’ll have your share of moss and you’ll need to do some raking. Spring is ideal for gentle scarifying, especially if moss has started to appear over winter. By late March or April, soil temperatures rise and grass enters a growth phase. This means the lawn can recover from surface disruption without being pushed too hard.Apply an autumn lawn feed Instead, autumn lawn fertilisers are high in potassium and phosphates which harden the grass in preparation for cold conditions and encourage good root growth over winter. Autumn is also a good time to tackle moss, using an autumn lawn weed and feed product.Fertilizing in early fall helps your lawn begin rebuilding grassroots that were damaged during the hot, dry summer. If fall weeds are a problem in your lawn, this is a great time for Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Weed & Feed3.