Renewing your lawn, stimulating new growth.

 The best lawn grasses are those that constantly 

reproduce new plants to renew the lawn.

The goal is to reduce the number of stolons on leaf blades that grow laterally, says Ron Wright, certified superintendent at The Country Club of Mobile (Ala.)."Every time a plant grows new shoots, it takes energy," Wright says. "If you cut off some of the lateral plant growth, it forces the plant to use that energy elsewhere. The plant will use the excess energy to grow upward, creating a more upright and dense stand of turf." There are myriad benefits to verticutting, which has also fueled its popularity. Jeff Buchko, a product manager for Jacobsen, says more university researchers have concluded that verticutting is a cultural practice that's critical to turf care. Turf that is verticut can withstand the threat of disease and harsh weather better. Simply put, verticutting stimulates growth.Not only does verticutting remove thatch, which is a breeding ground for turf disease, but it also provides channels to allow moisture and oxygen to get into the rootzone, says Tony F. 

What Causes Thatch?

Although thatch forms naturally, some situations promote rapid thatch formation:

• Over fertilizing with too much nitrogen
• Over watering
• Always mowing too high

Certain grasses tend to form thicker thatch layers. Creeping turf types that spread by above- and underground stems often rapidly form thatch; this includes St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass and zoysia grass. Cool-season grasses, such as bent grass and aggressive Kentucky bluegrass varieties, also can quickly form thatch, especially if soil is compacted and turf hasn't been properly fertilized for a few years.

If you use a mulching mower and leave grass clippings on the lawn, that does not lead to thatch formation. Those are healthy practices that can help prevent thatch formation. Typically grass clippings decompose readily. Thatch arises from grass stems and roots in the top inches of soil that die and don’t fully decompose. 

Prepare your lawn see: 

Training your St. Augustine lawn

Training your St. Augustine lawn

This spring, one Sat. we traveled 110 miles one way for two verticutting jobs. In this beautiful place Maitland, Florida, we found a 8,000 sq. ft. Zoysia lawn, and a 6,000 sq. ft St. Augustine lawn. Exquisite lawns, cared for by owners who care. They control the mowing, fertilizing and irrigation.
Rarely do you find a St. Augustine lawn, that is kept mowed at 2.5 inches. 90% of the St. Augustine lawns we verticutt are 4" above the sidewalk after mowing.

The thatch is on the surface and top inch of the soil

A while back in a speech I gave about verticutting, I told this true story. It was Sat. morning, John set out to mow his lush St. Augustine yard.  After mowing, it was so peaceful, with the wife and kids of to the park.  John decided to take a nap under a big oak.  With that 4 inches of top growth and a mat of

thatch

thatch, John fell fast asleep. Then he thought he was dreaming, when he heard a voice " i'm dying, i'm dying"  verticutt me, verticutt me, his lawn was crying out!  The moral of the story 'train your lawn'.

In conversation with the gentlemen in Maitland, he explained how he trained his lawn, by just mowing it down a little each week.  But the secret is just not more then a 1/4 inch at a time, and the drier the better.  Start here in Florida in early fall, or in the winter season.  This will get it ready for fall or spring verticutting.
Reasons for verticutting:

• Help remove the thatch
• Thin the top growth
• Prepare lawns for seed
• Thin the runners, cut the rizomes
• In some grasses like Bahia, cutting the rizomes will double it's density
• Aerates the lawn
• Improves the lawns ability to take-up water, fertilizer and pesticides
• Regular verticutting stimulates branching and tightens the turf

If you have any more questions, see all the posts here. Than ask why are golf courses verticutt multiple times a year?

York