Couch lawns are one of the most popular lawn types to renovate, and for good reason. Known for their ability to bounce back quickly, couch grasses respond especially well to renovation. In this blog, we take a look at the best practice guides to follow when renovating a couch lawn.
Skip to: When Should I Start My Lawn Renovation? Should I Dethatch Couch Grass? How to Scarify Couch Grass? Should I Aerate My Couch Lawn? Should I Top Dress Couch Grass? How To Care for My Couch Lawn After a Renovation?
When Should I Start My Lawn Renovation?
When planning a lawn renovation, timing is everything. Wait until your grass is actively growing so it can recover quickly. A good sign is if you’ve needed to mow a few times recently to keep up with growth. It’s also best to check the extended forecast and make sure warm weather is set to continue in the weeks ahead.
Should I Dethatch Couch Grass?
Couch grass has both rhizomes (underground runners) and stolons (above-ground runners), which makes it highly resilient during lawn renovations. Thanks to this growth system, it can bounce back quickly, even after aggressive renovations.
One of the most common and effective ways to dethatch a couch lawn is by lowering the cutting height on a standard rotary mower and scalping the lawn right back. This process removes much of the thick above-ground material, and when doing a more aggressive renovation, the ground can be left with little material on the soil surface. While it may seem extreme, couch grasses will be able to grow back and repair from its underground rhizomes.
How to Scarify Couch Grass
Another popular way to remove the thatch buildup in a couch lawn is to use a mechanical scarifying machine. These machines work by having spinning blades that will cut into the thatch and soil layer, picking up and removing the layer of thatch and debris from the turf profile.
When using a scarifier, we recommend starting on a lighter, less aggressive setting first. Then assess how much has been removed before moving to a more aggressive setting.
Should I Aerate My Couch Lawn?
After dethatching, if your soil is hard or compacted, it’s a good time to consider aeration. An easy way to check if your lawn needs aeration is with the screwdriver test. To test, simply try pushing a screwdriver into the soil. If it’s difficult to insert, your lawn will benefit from aeration.
For smaller yards, aeration can be completed in a few ways. These include using a garden fork, aerator sandals or a tyne aerator. For larger lawns, as this is a labour-intensive task, it may be worth looking into hiring out a mechanical aerator.
Should I Top Dress Couch Grass?
When top dressing, the material you choose depends on your goal. To correct soil levels, use washed or screened sand. To improve the soil profile, go with a sandy loam mix (about 80% sand and 20% loam).
Apply no more than 1 cm of top dressing at a time. Once spread, rub it into the lawn with a soil leveller or the back of a rake. This will help create a smooth, even surface after your renovation.
How Do I Care for My Couch Lawn After a Renovation?
Following your renovation, we recommend applying a granular fertiliser to help give the lawn a good boost in nutrients to help the grass repair. A granular fertiliser like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or ProPlus Mini Prill will be ideal. Spread this out to the area, then give it all a good water in.
For the weeks following your renovation, keep the water up to the lawn, especially if your region is experiencing some hotter days.
For more lawn care tips and advice, check out our other lawn care blogs.
