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 Aeration is one of the most important procedures in maintaining a beautiful and healthy lawn. Aerating prevents soils from becoming overly compact thereby allowing vital nutrients, water, and air to penetrate the soil and access the root zone. Loose soil allows the roots to dig deeper into the soil because they are receiving the proper amount of air, water, and nutrients. Deep digging roots tolerate stress and drought better than shallow roots. Due to the high clay content in Colorado soils, aeration should be performed at least once per year (spring) and for best results again in autumn. Aeration is an essential process for maintaining a healthy lawn. 
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Compact soil prevents turf from establishing a healthy root system. Adequate amounts of vital turf nutrients are unable to reach the roots. |
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Aeration relieves soil compaction by removing cores of turf up to 3 inches in depth.
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Once the soil is aerated, air exchange improves and the soil can easily absorb water, fertilizer and other nutrients.
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Aeration promotes deeper root growth for a lush, healthy and drought-resistant lawn.
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Double Aeration – A double aeration is the same as an aeration except our technician will make two passes over the lawn. This is recommended for people with severely compacted lawns or those that are attempting to top-seed a lawn.
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Scott performs a double aeration on a lawn in Boulder.
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Lawn/Disease Diagnosis – This is a service performed by a state licensed Organo-Lawn professional. He or she will closely inspect the lawn and give an analysis of your lawn's overall health and potential, evaluate any damaged or problem areas and make recommendation to either repair the problem area. |
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This diagnosis includes the following analysis:
- Identification of the Predominant Grass Type
- Identification of Problem Grasses
a. Controllable-i.e. Crabgrass, Foxtail, Barnyard Grass
b. Uncontrollable- i.e. Tall Fescue, Bentgrass
- Measurement of the Thatch Level
a. Dandelion, Clover, Kosha, Mallow, Plantain, Thistle, Bindweed, Spurge, Oxalis, Wild Violet, etc.
- Weed Identification
- Measurement of Mowing Height
- Effectiveness of Watering
- Composition of Soil
- Measurement of Grass Root Depth
- Disease Identification
a. Disease Management Recommendations
- Insect Identification
a. Insect Management Recommendations
- Special Circumstances
a. Drainage, Bare Spots, Sunlight, Hills, Traffic, etc.
- Lawn’s Present Condition
- Lawns Potential
- Specific Recommendations of the Licensed Professional
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An Organo-Lawn licensed professional examines a lawn near Boulder.
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 Power Raking is the act of physically removing the thatch from a lawn. Thatch is defined as a tightly intermingled layer of dead or decaying turf grass tissues derived from stems, roots, and leaves just above the soil. Thatch layers above 3/4 of an inch may need to be physically removed. Thatch layers less than 3/4 of an inch can be managed through proper watering, mowing and fertilizing techniques.
A thick thatch layer prevents existing grass from filling into the bare or thin areas in a lawn because the thatch prevents moisture and air from reaching the soil and the turfs root zone. A thick thatch layer can be used as a food source for problematic funguses; therefore, when a lawn has a thick thatch layer it greatly increase the lawns susceptibility to disease infestations.
In severely thatched lawns there is a greater tendency for root and rhizome growth to occur in the thatch layer rather than in the soil. This situation creates severe problems such as increased susceptibility to disease, poor drought resistance and increased fertilization requirements.
You can check and see if your lawn requires dethatching by combing through the grass until you can see the dirt. If you can see more than 3/4 of an inch of thatch (dead brown spongy grass) between the soil and the blade of the grass you may need to power rake.
Symptoms of a severely thatched lawn include poor drought tolerance, frequent disease infestation especially during hot dry periods, poor color, etc. Typically if you have a newly sodden lawn (1-2 years old) it often needs to be power raked. This is because the sod companies make their sod too thick and fertilize them so often that some of the grass dies after it is installed on your property. This dead grass then turns into thatch.
Please note that dethatching can be dangerous and damaging to lawns if performed incorrectly or at the wrong time of year. In Colorado dethatching needs to be done before the lawn starts to green-up during the months of March and early April.
Always contact a professional to assess the problem prior to ordering this procedure because if it is done improperly it can severely damage a lawn.
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This Organo-Lawn technician power rakes this lawn removing the thatch from the lawn. Power raking must be performed before a lawn turns green in the spring.
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The thatch layer is where the quarter sits.
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The tines of a power rake remove thatch from a lawn.
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 Top-Seeding Package
A Top Seeding Package is designed to help a thinning or older lawn become lush and thick again. Our top-seeding package is a four-step process. We start with a thicker than normal aeration. The aeration alleviates soil compaction and brings dirt to the lawn’s surface, which gives the seeds a foundation to take root. The second step is an application of the soil conditioner Humate, which has been scientifically proven to increase seed germination by as much as 25% and foster new seedling growth. The third step is an application of our water retention polymer Rain Maker, which helps sustain a proper amount of moisture in the ground for a successful seed germination. Finally, we apply either our Supreme Lawn Mix, hardy Low Maintenance Turf Mix, or for an additional charge our Emerald III Turf-type Tall Fescue blend. Our technician will apply the seed at a full 6 lb seeding rate in bare areas, a 2-5 lb rate in thin areas, and a 1 lb rate in strong areas of the lawn. After the seeds have fully germinated the lawn will be a thick and a uniform density. Please note that consistent daily watering is required for 3-5 weeks for a successfully seed germination.
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Scott aerates the dead area in a lawn, breaking
up the soil so new grass seed can germinate.
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Scott applies Humate to the soil which helps
stimulate seed germination.
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Scott applies Rain Maker to the lawn to help
reduce the total watering needs and help
increase the seed germination percentage.
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Scott applies grass seed to the lawn.
Applying more in thin areas and less in
thicker areas creating an even & thick turf.
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Turf-type tall fescue beginning to germinate
two weeks after a top seeding package.
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Turf-type tall fescue beginning to germinate
three weeks after a top seeding package.
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Turf-type tall fescue beginning to germinate
four weeks after a top-seeding package.
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Turf-type tall fescue beginning to germinate
eight weeks after a top-seeding package.
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Suggested Seed Blends
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Supreme Lawn Mix Grass Seed
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Supreme Lawn Mix is a mix of selected fine-textured lawn grass species that form a dense, uniform sod with outstanding deep color, excellent wearability, heat and drought tolerance, winter hardiness, and disease resistance. Supreme Lawn Mix incorporates the features of the Allblue blend, then adds Creeping Red Fescue which tolerates poor soils and shade conditions and Four-Play Perennial Ryegrass blend to enhance quick establishment.
70% Kentucky Blue, Allblue
20% Perennial Rye, Four-Play
10% Creeping Red Fescue
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Low Maintenance Turf Mix is a quick establishing, dense, low growing turf that requires less mowing. This mix is very fine textured, can be used in open sun and yet has good shade and drought tolerance. It tolerates poor soil conditions and low fertility. This mix is not recommended for high traffic areas or athletic fields.
20% Hard Fescue
20% Chewings Fescue
20% Creeping Red Fescue
25% Kentucky Bluegrass
15% Perennial Ryegrass
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Emerald III Turf-type Tall Fescue is a blend of elite varieties of Turf-type Tall Fescue, which have a fine texture, a rich dark green color and a dense, uniform look that resemble bluegrass qualities. Emerald III is tough and durable. It can tolerate and endure low mowing heights, hot weather, extreme drought with limited watering, and is adaptable in high or low pH soils. It bounces back from heavy traffic and heavy use and will perform equally well in shade or full sun.
33 1/3% Jaguar II
33 1/3% Mustang
33 1/3% Rebel II
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