Most common lawn verticulation mistakes

Outside temperatures are slowly rising and that means many people are heading back to their gardens. However, not to enjoy but to do some work as there is plenty of work be done after the winter. If we do not count basic cleanups and fruit tree trimming there is another area that requires your attention. Yes, it is the lawn and it deserves adequate care. You should start by aerating. Verticutating and aerating your lawn in the spring is a must, but many people tend to underestimate this vital procedure or they make common mistakes while doing so. Here are the most common lawn verticulation and aeration mistakes .

Bad time

Many people cannot wait to “spruce up” their lawn and they do it when the ground is still hard and often frozen. This will damage the blades of the machine and they will not be able to remove all moss and will not aerate the lawn properly. This is not good.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Verticulation in one direction only

If you only verticulate in one direction, you will not remove enough moss. Best is to drive the machine in perpendicular fashion in both directions. This way you will get much more dirt and clean the lawn properly. If you have neglected your lawn for a long time, you should drive perpendicularly and diagonally.

You do not need verticulation machine for small areas

That is right. Rake is enough as it will easily and efficiently remove moss and thatch from your lawn.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

A machine equipped with wire blades is not enough

If you have a machine equipped with a wire head only, it will not be enough. These are used for final “combing” but cannot remove moss and thatch properly. This machine will leave all the dirt in the lawn.

Incorrect depth

If you cut the lawn too deep, you may damage it but if you set an insufficient depth, you will not break the moss apart and your efforts will not do any good.

Mowing the lawn before verticulation is useless

Beware of this myth. The best approach is to let your lawn dry out and mow it properly. When done you can use verticulation machine to do the rest. It should effectively remove thatch, moss and dead grass.

Fertilization after verticulation

That is right. Do not forget to fertilize your lawn after verticulation. If you do not, you are making a big mistake. Take a quality fertilizer and spread it evenly over your lawn using a wheelbarrow for example

Source: magazinzahrada.cz, nasdum.eu, chatar-chalupar.cz, vlastní zkušenosti autora

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán