Raking the Lawn a Rite of Spring

I'm finished procrastinating, and now it's time to get down to business. Every year at about this time I rake my lawn. Yes, I think of every excuse not to get started but, other than a brisk breeze, today should be a good day to take the first step. Today will be sunny, breezy, and slightly milder with daytime high temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Naturally, it takes some preparation. This afternoon 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. If you don’t receive timely Spring rains, watering will certainly help.” This week, our dry weather pattern will continue. Other than an isolated shower or sprinkle late tonight, we'll enjoy smooth sailing the rest of this week and Easter weekend. Daytime highs will reach the 50s tomorrow and close to 60 degrees Thursday through Sunday.

Happy raking.

Paul