Quiet but chilly weather is expected this weekend, so it's time to get down to business by raking my lawn. Normally, I reserve the first weekend of April to complete the annual task, but I have decided to get a head start since this coming weekend will be dry. Quite frankly, I won't mind it at all since my lawn needs it, and it will provide great exercise for me!
Naturally, it takes some preparation. Tomorrow morning I'll go to the hardware store and purchase my supplies. They include durable gloves, lawn bags, a sturdy rake, and batteries. I need the batteries for my transistor radio, which keeps me company outside. Then, I'll survey my lawn by looking for any matted patches in which the grass blades are stuck together. This can be caused by a disease known as ’snow mold.’ New grass may have difficulty penetrating these matted patches. But a light raking will be sufficient to solve this problem.
A good raking cleans up dead grass which would otherwise clog up the soil surface. The ‘natural compost’ value is not all that great, and raking does free the grass plant crowns which keeps them healthier and allows sunlight in which prompts grass to grow earlier. Raking in Spring is more beneficial than Fall, as the organic matter can help protect crowns during Winter. It should certainly be done before you apply any pre-emergent crab grass control.
Fortunately, lawn raking is also a great form of aerobic exercise. Not only does raking involve upper body activity, it also helps to strengthen the back and core muscles and requires moderate walking. According to several Web sites, raking the lawn burns about 280 calories per hour for a 150-pound person. Since I'll spend about five hours raking this weekend, I figure that I will burn about 1,400 calories just by raking the lawn.
According to beginner.gardening.com, “Don’t forget to keep your lawn well watered if Mother Nature doesn’t provide this for you. Even as snow melts, it normally runs off due to still frozen subsoil. If you don’t receive timely Spring rains, watering will certainly help.” This weekend, though, will be dry. Saturday will be mostly sunny and quite chilly with a high in the upper 30s, while a storm system to our South will provide for more clouds by Sunday with a high near 40 degrees.
Have a good weekend.
Paul
