How wet is your lawn? Seems like a simple question. During April you may have felt that your lawn was drying out, given that April 2021 was one of the driest on record. However, since the beginning of May it seems to have done nothing but rain. This probably makes you think that you don’t need to worry about ensuring your grass is getting enough water. Right? Wrong.

While rainfall clearly waters your grass, if your soil is hydrophobic this water won’t be absorbed properly and consequently won’t help your lawn. Whatever the weather wetting agent treatments and seaweed treatments can ensure that the rainfall we do get benefits. This month we’re taking a closer look at how they can help you get a healthier lawn.

What is hydrophobic soil?

Hydrophobic soil repels water, rather than absorbing is. In hydrophobic soil when rain falls, or the lawn is watered, rather than soaking into the soil, it runs off or pools on the surface. Hydrophobic soil become more apparent after extended periods of dry weather, such as the one we’ve just experienced, as the hydrophobic soil becomes more exposed.

Hydrophobic soil is caused by the decomposition of organic matter. This doesn’t normally cause a problem, but if waxy deposits build up during the process it can cause the soil to repel water. In addition if your soil is heavily compacted this will exacerbate the problem.

How will I know if the soil in my garden is hydrophobic?

As well as the water pooling mentioned above, you may notice ‘Localised Dry Patch’. When your lawn dries out during hot weather the grass will turn brown. Usually, once it rains the grass recovers. However, where soil is hydrophobic, the rainwater isn’t absorbed, and consequently your lawn doesn’t recover.

If you look at the soil beneath the affected patches, you will find that it is dry. You may also notice a white fungal growth in the soil, or on the surface of the dry patch.

How do wetting agents help?

Wetting agents work by making it easier for water to penetrate the soil, and therefore allow water to get to the roots of your grass. Wetting agents are generally surfactants, which reduce the surface tension of the water.

All Green Lawn Treatments, use a wetting agent that works in three ways. The treatment enables the water to penetrate more deeply into the ground. It also helps the water to spread more evenly through the ground, and finally the treatment also improves the water holding capacity of the area in which the roots are,(the rootzone).

The application of a wetting agent therefore means that the water your lawn receives, is used more effectively by your lawn, and consequently reduces the frequency that you need to water your lawn

What else can I do?

Combining additional lawn treatments with the application of a lawn wetting agent will help give your grass an extra boost. At All Green Lawn Treatments we recommend you consider feeding your lawn with a seaweed treatment, which is a highly effective method of improving the health of your lawn.

How does seaweed help my lawn?

The seaweed treatment that we use is filled with nutrients that will benefit your lawn in a number of ways. The treatment stimulates the grass’s defence mechanisms. This gives your lawn more protection against not only parasites, bacteria and fungi, but also drought, heat and waterlogging. 

This seaweed treatment also accelerates growth, particularly when your lawn is first establishing itself and also in spring.Using this treatment will both replenish any missing nutrients in the short term and continue to feed your lawn in the long term.

This treatment can be applied regularly as part of a more comprehensive lawn treatment plan. As an added benefit we only use seaweed treatments that are sustainably sourced in the British Isles.

If you’d like to find out more about the treatments we provide and receive a free lawn analysis contact us today.