Lawns

Learn how to maintain a healthy, green
lawn year-round.

If you choose to make or keep a usable lawn part of your landscape, it can be a challenge to maintain healthy and green grass in the climate and soil of the Mojave Desert. That's why it's important to ensure your irrigation system is in proper working order, and regular lawn maintenance is being conducted to keep your lawn healthy.

Aeration

When you aerate—by punching holes in your soil—you reduce runoff, increase fertilizer effectiveness and aid root growth of your grass. Aeration boosts water penetration, which reduces runoff on slopes and helps water and fertilizer nutrients get down to the roots.

Repeated aerations over time will help your lawn better tolerate heat and the dry climate. Aerate at least twice a year, in spring and fall.

Thatch

Aeration also helps remove thatch—a layer of organic or partially decomposed organic material that is above the soil surface. Thatch becomes a problem when the production of biomass (leaf, rhizome and tiller material) exceeds the decomposition of older biomass. Using too much fertilizer is the main cause of this imbalance.

Some thatch layers can be so thick that grass is "scalped" when mowed, water does not reach the soil and fertilizers become ineffective.

Mowing

Regular mowing not only improves the appearance of your lawn, but also ensures grass is both strong enough to defend against the elements. As well, clippings from mowing can increase the organic content of the soil and earthworm activity, and improve soil aeration and water movement through the soil. Despite popular belief, clippings do not cause thatch buildup.