Soil compaction is a major problem here in North Texas due to our clay-like soil conditions.
That’s a concern considering the fact that the secret to a healthy lawn is in the soil! Most people don’t realize that they can’t have a healthy and thriving lawn if their soil health is poor. And compacted soil is a big part of the problem! A lawn is really going to struggle to grow in dry, compacted soil.
Fortunately, the compacted soil in your lawn can be fixed.
In this article, we’ll talk about what to do about compacted soil so that you can get the lawn that you truly desire.
If you are wondering how to loosen compacted soil, the answer is lawn aeration!
Aeration is the process of making holes throughout your lawn by pulling small soil plugs (called “cores”) with a special machine called a core aerator. By doing this, it breaks up the compacted soil and allows more oxygen, water, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil and down to the root zone.
That’s important because it creates a more favorable environment for the root system to grow.
Healthier roots add up to a healthier lawn.
Aeration can also assist with thatch build-up which is common in Texas Zoysia grass. This naturally-occurring, dead organic material that can build atop your soil—is a common problem in our region. Thatch build-up of over ½” can prevent oxygen, water, and nutrients from penetrating the soil to reach the root zone.
We know that it’s not uncommon for homeowners to try and take matters into their own hands. You have compacted soil in your lawn, so you decide you’re going to rent an aerator yourself.
While this might sound easy enough, we have written an entire article on why DIY aeration is probably not the best choice. It can be a lot more work than people realize and doesn’t always yield the best results.
We also find that homeowners sometimes underestimate how much time it’s going to take to perform this service. They think it’ll take up a couple of hours of their day—but it could be your whole Saturday or Sunday.
Do you really want to spend time on your precious weekend aerating your lawn?
Plus, it’s not like it’s inexpensive. You still need to rent the core aerator and go through the process of figuring out transporting it.
If you have compacted soil in your lawn, you’ll definitely want to have lawn aeration performed. And once that is completed, you should also consider topdressing.
When a lawn is topdressed with compost, it can mix into the clay soil and play a role in breaking up that top layer by improving soil structure and microbial life.
Microbial life is the key to healthy soil but isn’t always given much thought.
Naturally healthy soil is full of beneficial microorganisms like fungi and bacteria which help your lawn digest nutrients and use them to the fullest. These microorganisms also help strengthen your lawn against disease and pests.
Healthy and thriving soil has a nice array of microscopic life. Dry and compacted soil does not.
Finally, we would be remiss not to mention watering in an article about compacted soil in your lawn.
Water is obviously essential to the overall health of your lawn as grass needs it to survive. However, it also obviously plays a role in preventing lawns from getting too dried out and compacted.
Properly watering your lawn means ensuring that water makes it down to the root zone where it’s needed.
It’s also really critical to water properly after an aeration service so that you give your new grass seedlings the best start at life. Grass isn’t going to germinate without water.
It’s important that you keep the soil moist (but that you don’t overwater).
Talk to your lawn care professional about the right way to water following your lawn aeration and overseeding service so that you get the best results.
Hopefully this article has given you some guidance on what to do about compacted soil. It is a very common problem here in North Texas so you certainly are not alone.
But the good news is that there are solutions!
Even if you are struggling with poor compacted soil, you can start to turn things around with some professional help.
At Grassperson, we have worked on plenty of lawns where the homeowners thought it was unfixable. The soil might have been so compacted that the lawn was struggling to grow! When this happens, there are often bare patches throughout the lawn.
But by performing lawn aeration and topdressing, and watering properly, we can take a struggling and compacted lawn and transform it into the best one on the block!
Ready to get a professional-looking lawn at your Flower Mound, Highland Village, or Lewisville, TX home? Get a free quote and get ready to enjoy the best lawn on the block with no hassles!