I Improving Site Conditions

I na perfect world, your lawn would sit atop a deep

layer of loam and bask in a wealth of sunshine and
ideal temperatures. The lawn would slope gently, almost
the lawn and where, why, and how it collects.
Ensuring proper drainage can involve solutions from
the simple, such as slowly improving the soil by top-
imperceptibly, creating efficient, non-eroding drainage dressing, to the complex, such as installing a French
for whatever excess water the lawn received. In the real drain. The solution that you choose will be guided by
world, there are very few perfect places for lawns. how serious and extensive your drainage issues are.
The fact is, if your yard is fairly large-and even Drainage can involve grading the soil and
if it isn't-chances are that the lawn will have one landscape, but grading may also be required for
or more trouble spots or challenging areas where different features in the lawn. For instance, if you are
it's hard to keep the grass healthy. Some site-related adding a child's play structure or putting green, you
problems are easily fixed, while others call for more may need to grade that particular area differently then
creative solutions. the rest of the lawn.
One of the most common inhibitors to thick, Lastly, your site location and particular features
lush turf is shade. Shade is a reality for many mature may lead you to make aesthetic improvements. For
landscapes where shrubs have grown tall and the instance, installing edging between the lawn border
canopies of long-established trees arch over whole and the line of a flower or shrub bed will provide a
areas of the lawn. The trick is in opening up those crisp look to the lawn, but it also may be necessary
screens as much as possible, and in ensuring watering to prevent aggressive species such as ivies or other
and mowing practices don't make the situation worse. ground covers from invading your lawn.
Drainage is another key issue for any lawn. The The point is, by proactively responding to the
soil composition will control drainage to a certain challenges posed by your site, you can head off a lot
degree, but the topography of your lawn will also of problems before they begin. It's one more way to
influence how quickly water makes its way through ensure a healthy, trouble-free lawn.

A severe slope can be an unusable and hard-to-maintain area of a lawn. A few simple terraces create an attractive, low-
maintenance yard feature instead.

194 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

Deep shade such as this can lead to a host of lawn problems, from poor grass growth to a proliferation of lawn diseases. The
solution is to prune trees judiciously, to thin out sun-blocking canopies.

Certain types of gardens, such as native perennial beds, contain fairly aggressive plants that will covet your turf space and
eventually make a play for it. You can keep most of them at bay with simple lawn edging.

So lvi.ng Lawn Problems • 195

 I Dealing With Shaded Areas
Shade is a hard thing to plan for. Trees that were
relatively young when your lawn was planted often Tools & Materials ~
grow to become incredible sun blockers. Or you
may have made your lawn-care plan in the winter, Pole chainsaw Safety glasses
when the trees surrounding your yard were bare Alligator loppers Gloves
of leaves, not realizing that in season they were Hard hat Protective shoes
going to create dense dark areas inhospitable to
grass growth.
Areas of deep or persistent shade call for a change
in lawn-care tactics. The challenge is changing
the way you care for one small area of lawn, while
maintaining the proper maintenance for the rest of
the yard. That can be a bit of bother, but if you're
going to keep shaded grass healthy, you need to
make adjustments.
The first is in how you feed shaded parts of the
lawn. You may want to skip any mid-season feedings
in the shady areas, because those feedings will divert
resources of already challenged grass from roots
to top growth. Shaded top growth is already full of
moisture, so adding denser leaves means attracting
insects and disease that prefer moist environments.
It's best for shaded areas of grass to be fertilized in
spring and fall when deciduous trees are leafless.
When winterizing a shady area, use a potassium-
heavy fertilizer to fortify the grass against the stress of
its location.
Watering is also important. Shaded areas need
less water than other areas of the lawn, and allowing
consistently moist conditions in a shady part of the
lawn is simply asking for insect and disease problems.
Check that shaded portions are regularly drying out
before watering.
Overseed the problem area with shade-
tolerant species and varieties. This is a simple way
to introduce a more appropriate strain of grass
over time.
You can also approach the problem from
the other side of the equation, by increasing the
sunlight in the area. This usually entails pruning
back shrubs and trees that are keeping the lawn in
shadow. In some cases, where a significant portion
of the lawn has suffered under the shade of a
large tree, you may want remove the tree if your
goal is to have a healthy and vibrant lawn. You'll
find instructions for doing just that in the pages
that follow. A pole chainsaw. like the one shown here, is ideal for
pruning back smaller tree branches that clutter the canopy and
create denser shade.

196 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

 How to Prune a Shade Tree

Start by undercutting from beneath the limb with your bow Finish the cut from above. This keeps the bark from tearing
saw or chain saw. when the limb breaks loose.

Trim the stub from the limb so it's flush with the branch An electric alligator lopper makes quick work of fallen tree
collar, but do not cut the collar, which is responsible for healing branches. Remove branches quickly; if they're allowed to sit
the wound. on the lawn too long they can kill the grass underneath and
spread diseases.

Solving Lawn Problems • 197

 I Removing a Shade Tree
Sometimes, for the health of the lawn, you may
choose to remove a tree that has simply grown too
large and blocks too much light. But take your time
and follow all safety precautions; felling a tree is not a
small job. If you don't feel sure of your abilities, hire
a professional arborist or tree trimming company to
remove the tree. You should definitely seek the help
of a professional if the tree is close to the house, or
is diseased.
The first step in removing a shade tree is
determining where you want it to fall. For safety's
sake, you'll also want to decide on two "retreat"
paths that will let you avoid the tree if it falls in the
wrong direction.
Ensure that tree falls where you want it to by
making a series of cuts in the trunk. The first is called
a "notch" and is made by cutting out a triangle-shaped
section on the side of the tree facing the path you
want it to fall along. A felling cut is then made on the
opposite side, forming a wide hinge that guides the
tree's fall.
Always follow the manufacturer's safety
instructions when operating a chain saw. These are
extremely dangerous pieces of power equipment and
every year, thousands of people are injured using
chainsaws. The most common injury is caused by
kickback, a sudden movement in which the saw
unexpectedly jumps up and back. Kickback is caused
by the nose of the guide bar making contact with the
tree. Prevent it by avoiding contact with the nose of
the guide bar, and using both hands on the handles
while making a cut.

Tools & Materials ~

Chainsaw Gloves
Hard hat Wedge
Safety glasses Hand maul
Ear protection

198 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

I How to Fell a Tree

Remove limbs below head level . Start Use a chain saw to make a notch cut Drive a wedge into the felling cut.
at the bottom of the branch, making a one-third of the way through the tree, Push the tree toward the felling path
shallow up-cut. Then cut down from the approximately at waist level. Do not to start its fall, and move into a retreat
top until the branch falls. Note: Hire a cut to the center of the trunk. Make a path to avoid possible injury.
tree service to cut down and remove straight felling cut about 2" above the
trees with a trunk diameter of more base of the notch cut, on the opposite
than 6". side of the trunk. Leave a 3"-thick
"hinge" at the center.

Standing on the opposite side of the trunk from the To cut the trunk into sections, cut down two-thirds of the
branch, remove each branch by cutting from the top of way and roll the trunk over. Finish the cut from the top, cutting
the saw, until the branch separates from the tree. Adopt a down until the section breaks away. Do not cut on compressed
balanced stance, grasp the handles firmly with both hands, and side of trunk or limb.
be cautious with the saw.

So lvi.ng Lawn Problems • 199

 I correcting Lawn Drainage Problems
As crucial as water is to the life of a lawn, too much Poor drainage is often a result of soil compaction,
of it can be as bad as too little. A properly draining in which case regular aeration is the answer.
lawn moves water off the surface rapidly, but Overwatering by automatic sprinklers can also be a
slowly enough for grass roots to absorb it. Drainage source of excess moisture. That's why the "set-it-and-
problems are easy to detect in the form of pooling forget-it" philosophy of automatic sprinkler systems
water, or soil that is moist hours after a rain or doesn't lend itself to sound lawn-care practice. It pays
watering (or, on the flip side, soil that is bone-dry no to regularly check how much water your automatic
matter what you do). system is actually spreading on the lawn, using a rain
Excess moisture sets the stage for many different gauge or cans.
diseases and moisture-loving insects, and it stresses The rain gutters and downspouts on your house
the grass. If you see standing pools of water or notice can also be adding to moisture problems in the lawn.
a section of lawn that is squishy underfoot long after Improperly directed downspouts can create soil
you've watered, it's time to pinpoint the cause, which erosion that sets up a situation of standing water, or
will dictate the solution. saturation in a given area of the lawn.

Standing water in your lawn is an open invitation to problems from nuisance insects such as mosquitoes, to a full range of
damaging lawn diseases.

200 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

 Grading for Multi-Use Lawns ~

Lawns are used for a lot of different activities, and grading stakes and adjust the string until it's level. Measure down
the soil bed is your opportunity to accommodate special from regular, marked areas of the string to the ground,
uses. For instance, if you want to add a bocce ball court, at 2 ft. intervals. Add and remove topsoil as necessary,
volleyball court, putting green, or just a nice, even sitting redistributing it with a landscaping rake until the surface
area, you'll want to grade that particular area so that it under the string is level. Repeat the process until the
is relatively level. Outline the perimeter of the area with entire area is leveled. If the slope leading to the area is
evenly placed stakes-a square is the easiest, but you severe and you suspect that water may pool in the level
can also outline an oval or circle for a putting green. surface, you will need to include a drainage solution-
Extend a string fitted with a line level between a pair of such as a French drain-under the area.

In other cases, the problem may be more water even during heavy rainfall. These solutions
endemic; the lawn itself may not be situated for can be used regardless of the underlying cause ,
efficient drainage. Properly grading the yard is the first whether it be a poorly graded yard or clay soil.
step in ensuring water moves as it should through the Drainage can be routed to another area of the
lawn. This is best done before you create your new garden or yard, off the property into a culvert or
lawn. But even if improper grading is causing drainage gutter, or into a dry well-a simple underground
problems in an existing lawn, you can use localized structure that can be highly efficient at draining
solutions such as a French drain, dry bed, or a lawn away excess water.
swale to improve the drainage. Whatever the solution, take action as soon as you
Each of these follows the same basic principle notice a moisture problem. Excess water in the lawn
of creating a drainage "field" in the area where is one of the more debilitating conditions that can
moisture is accumulating, to carry away excess quickly lead to a host of serious problems.

So lvi.ng Lawn Problems • 201

 I Installing a French Drain
A French drain is a very simple, but very effective
solution for poorly draining lawn areas. It involves
digging a trench for gravel-covered length of pipe
Your tile should underlie the lowest part of the
problem area and slope slightly toward an above-grade
exit point. Use a 2 x 4 with a level on top to ensure
that filters runoff from the lawn, leading it to a low- the trench floor carries a gentle downward slope. The
lying area such as a gutter or wooded section of the trench needs to be at least 1 inch deep where gravel
property. Never direct a French drain or any other covers it in the problem area. The tile will exit into the
drainage improvement to a neighbor's property. gently sloped swale that will carry the water away.
The most important part of the French drain is
the slope. Maintaining a reasonable slope ensures
that the runoff will follow the drain. The drain tube Tools & Materials ~
itself is covered with permeable landscape fabric.
The idea is to allow for water to flow through, while Electric edger Level
blocking fine soil that could clog up the holes in Plastic tarp Turf cutter or garden spade
the drainpipe. Do not use rubber or standard plastic Gloves Straight 8' 2 x 4
sheeting or pond liners. These will not allow for the Tall stakes 4" Perforated drain pipe
free flow of water. You should use clear gravel to Mason's string %" (or larger) washed gravel
surround the pipe for the same reason. Don't use String level Permeable landscape fabric
gravel with fines that could clog or block the holes in Tape measure Safety glasses
the drainpipe.

I How to Install a French Drain

Use stakes, mason's string, and a string level to Use a handheld turf cutter or spade to dig up the sod
determine a drain path with an above-grade exit point below along the trench line. Store the cut sod in a cool, shaded place
the level. Use a power edger or spade to cut the turf at the and moisten regularly while you dig the trench.
outside edges of the drain trench-usually 8" to 14" wide.

202 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

Dig out a squared trench over the Line the bottom of the trench from Lay perforated pipe (called drain tile)
length of the drain. Place the dirt on a start to end with permeable landscape all the way along the trench. Gravel is
tarp next to the trench site. Use a 2 x 4 fabric wide enough to run 1 ft. up each not needed toward the exit of the tile
with a level on top to ensure the trench side. Add about 1" of washed gravel to where the trench becomes shallow.
slopes slightly to outlet. the bottom of the trench.

Add 3" to 4" of gravel on top of the Fill the trench with soil, and tamp Replace the sod you removed . Roll
pipe and then fold the edges of the down, leaving about 1" for the sad. the sad to ensure firm contact with the
landscape fabric over the top of the Scratch the top of the soil lightly with a soil and water well along the length of
gravel and pipe, essentially making an garden rake. the trench. Cover the outlet of the tile
outer sheath of fabric. with a PVC grate and/or large rocks.

So lvi.ng Lawn Problems • 203

 I Creating a Drainage Swale
A swale is a very basic drainage solution for an
existing lawn. It's essentially a drainage ditch in
a natural V of the yard, with a slope that uses gravity
Tools & Materials ~

to naturally lead water from an area of saturation. The Hammer Sod cutter (optional)
advantages of a swale over more involved solutions Shovel Gloves
such as drainage tiles or French drains is that a Wheelbarrow Stakes
swale requires far less excavation, is easier to install, Spade Level
and creates just as nice an appearance as any other Drum roller Landscape fabric
drainage option. Garden fork
As an alternative to a swale-if your yard
experiences a significant amount of runoff for may
months out of the year-you can create a dry creek.
This is essentially a swale without the covering of Filtering Water ~
topsoil and sod. Dry creeks should be half as deep as
they are wide and they are often filled with decorative A swale can double as a water filter if you install plants
stones, such as polished river rock, and designed as with well-established root systems along the entrance
interesting and attractive yard features. area to "clean" water as it runs off into the trench.
Regardless of the drainage option you choose, you Grasses planted in the swale dip will clean run-off
need to contact your local utilities and cable company water (so long as you avoid using chemical lawn care
to ensure that excavation for the planned drainage will products on this land) before it reaches storm sewers.
not dig up cables or hit pipes.

A swale is an excellent and easy to way to create efficient drainage for excess runoff water. If your region receives frequent heavy
rainfall or if you have clay soil, you may need the more involved solution of a French drain (see page 202).

204 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

I Swale options

For severe drainage problems. dig a 1-ft. deep swale angled slightly downward to the outlet point. Line the swale with
landscape fabric. Spread a 2"-layer of coarse gravel in the bottom of the swale. Then lay perforated drainpipe over the gravel. Cover
the pipe with a 5"-layer of gravel and wrap the landscape fabric over the top of it. Cover the swale with soil and fresh sod. Set a
splash block at the outlet to distribute the runoff and prevent erosion .

Coarse Smooth

Gravel comes in two forms: coarse and smooth. When buying gravel for shaping projects, such as drainage swales, select
coarse gravel. Coarse gravel clings to the sides of the trench, creating an even drainage layer. Smooth gravel is typically used as a
decorative ground cover. When used for shaping projects, it tends to slide toward the middle of the trench.

So lving Lawn Problems • 205

 I How to Create a Drainage Swale

Use stakes to mark a swale route that directs water away from the problem area toward a run-off zone. Place stakes slightly
uphill from the drainage area.

Remove soil from the marked zone using a shovel. If you Shape the trench so it slopes gradually downwa rd toward
must remove grass before digging, consider cutting grass the outlet, and smooth the sides.
pieces carefully and setting them aside so you can use the turf
as sod squares to finish the trench. You can rent or buy a sod
cutter to improve your chances of getting reusable cuttings.
Otherwise, pile dirt on one side of the trench for a berm.

206 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN

Level the trench by laying a 2 x 4 board with a carpenter's Lay sod in the trench to complete the swale. Compress the
level on the foundation. Distribute soil so the base is level, sod and water the area thoroughly to check drainage.
moving the board to different areas of the trench to check for
leve lness. Crack the bottom of the swale with a spading fork
to aid in percolation (optional).

I option: compact Skidloader

Use the digging attachment on the compact skid loader Use a grading attachment on the skid loader to level and
to move earth. This could mean shearing off the top of move earth. Swales should have very shallow sides and
a small hill that creates a drainage issue, or excavating low slopes.
to create a natural drainage pattern . Unless you have
experience operating utility vehicles, hire a contractor to
do this job.

Solving Lawn Problems • 207

 I Adding a Mowing Strip
M owing strips are often considered aesthetic
improvements, but they are actually excellent
ways to prevent ugly and unhealthy edge compaction
while mulch is less so. Second, you need to make sure
the strip itself is reasonably level and firm.
Those aren't hard objectives to achieve if you work
in a lawn. They also provide many other benefits steadily and check the strip as you move along. If you lay
for both the lawn and beds and garden plots they a brick mowing strip like the one discussed in the steps
butt up against. Not only do these strips provide a shown here, it's easy to adjust any mistakes by simply
stable surface for the wheels of lawnmowers, they pulling out the offending brick or bricks, adjusting the
also block aggressive weeds and plants such as ivies surface below, and then replacing the bricks. In the same
from invading the lawn, and likewise they prevent vein, you can fix any unevenness that occurs in settling
strong and healthy turfgrasses from growing into tidy over time by simply resetting the bricks in their place.
garden beds. Lastly, they form a barrier that prevents
runoff-that may contain fertilizer, herbicides,
or pesticides-from moving between garden bed
and lawn. Tools & Materials ~
So the question is not whether to add a mowing
strip but rather, why would you not? Tape measure Sand
The trick to installing a mowing strip that looks Square-edged shovel Landscape fabric
sharp and serves the purpose of a stable platform for Trowel Bricks
your mower's wheels is twofold. First, you should use a Mallet 2 x 4 scrap
solid, strong edging material. Bricks are a great choice,

A solid mowing strip is as much

protection for flower beds as it is for
the lawn. This edge is made from brick
pavers set on edge, but many other
materials can also be used, including
poured concrete, natural stone, or
wood timbers.

208 • THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN