March Lawn Tasks: Raking

Raking in any month can be beneficial for your yard. March is a particularly good time to rake since there are few leaves, if any, and plenty of old dead matter to clean up in time for over seeding in April. Just be sure all the snow has gone and the ground is not still frozen.

Raking gets rid of any dead mess and allows fresh grass to grow on the surface. This takes a few weeks, but it's well worth it if you are looking to improve the look of your yard or home in general. While you don't necessarily have to even rake it in order for some of this to occur, raking allows the grass to form in a more uniform fashion and improves the overall health of the soil surface and grass, thus looking a lot better in the long run.

A lot of people are confused as to how exactly this works. Basically, the grass is unable to surface in the first place because the dirt is weighing it down. It is not able to grow nearly as effectively because of this, but when the ground is raked it then has the room and the ability to flourish to its maximum potential. This is the reason that you see so many fields that are often raked or plowed grow some of the most vibrant, green grass. It may take a few tries to get it right, but the outcome is phenomenal.

Raking up the leaves and debris in the fall serves a similar purpose, but fewer people realize it is also important to rake the lawn at the end of the winter. The dirt and any dead grass is actually what causes a majority of the weight. The reason that grass has a tendency to die so often is also because it is shielded from the light, something that larger leaves have a tendency to do in heavy fall. This is not nearly as big of a deal during a month like March, but it's still something to keep in mind.


Finally, don't forget that one of the healthiest ways to maintain fresh grass is to keep it trimmed properly. Cutting it too short causes damage and disease, but regular trimming to the length recommended for your type of grass is important starting in the Spring. Home Depot suggests waiting until grass has gotten a good growth spurt, reaching 3 to 4 inches before the first mowing. A proper trim will put you in a great place when it comes to the health and beauty of your yard.

Resources:

http://www.lifeandlawns.com/2008/04/20/when-why-and-how-to-rake-your-lawn/

Get Rid of Those Bare Spots in the Lawn During Warming April Weather

April, with its warming weather, is the best time to reseed the lawn or grow some grass in areas that are bare. When the seeds are sown for grass to fill in some bare spots in the lawn or thicken the lawn it's called over seeding.

Sowing by Hand or Drill

The seeds can be sown by hand or by a seed drill if the owner has a large area. A seed drill is a box on wheels with perforations at the bottom that allows it to sow the seeds and then cover them. If the owner or gardener is going to hand sow the seeds, the seeds should be divided into two equal portions. The gardener can add sand to the seeds to make sure the distribution is more even. Half the seeds should be sown lengthwise and half should be sown crosswise while the gardener walks around the area. A larger area can be divided into smaller areas to make sowing less cumbersome. The gardener can use a drill to sow the seeds in parallel strips. As with hand-sowing, the seeds should be sown lengthwise then crosswise.

Seeds Need Contact With the Soil

After sowing, the area should be raked through lightly to mix the seeds into the soil. Grass seeds that are buried too deeply might not germinate. To discourage birds, small twigs or sticks can be stuck into the seedbed and then connected by black thread about three or four inches above the soil. The seedbed shouldn't be watered heavily right away but should be gently sprinkled a few times a day at first.

The seeds should be sown on a calm, dry day in a dry seedbed. April is ideal because the soil is beginning to warm up and it’s at the beginning of the growing season.

Further Reading
Seed Vs Sod
Over Seeding
Over Seeding Techniques and Tips