The Root of the Problem

Harry Bambi, Senior Technician, will contribute his findings throughout Montgomery and Chester Counties and provide additional timely content for our blog.

A beautiful landscape cannot stand on a lush lawn alone. A weed-free lawn will win the approval of the neighbors, but the key to the ideal outdoor oasis is a combination of maintained grass, a variety of shrubs, flower beds, and last, but certainly not least, trees.  Nothing rings in spring quite like a flowering dogwood or the majesty of a mighty oak tree that brings back memories of playing outside as a child.  While trees can differentiate a typical suburban landscape from a memorable outdoor paradise, there are several factors to consider when deciding which tree is right for your lawn, whether you live in Collegeville or Conshohocken.  

          One of the most common lawn issues Weed Man has found in this area actually goes back to trees, not the lawn itself.  Some trees have a natural tendency to produce a large amount of surface roots as the tree matures that emerges above the soil level.  This can spell disaster for a lawn if it is not properly maintained. Last week, I inspected a lawn for thin spots in Glenside, Pennsylvania.  In this area, we’ve noticed a great deal of mature trees that have withstood the test of time, however, that does not always bode well for the lawn underneath the canopy.  The main cause of the lack of overall density for this particular lawn can be traced back to the surface roots pushing through the grass roots.  Grass needs a soil bed in order to properly grow; when a large tree root enters its space, the grass clearly loses this battle.  The tree is simply growing and doing what nature had intended for it, but the lawn can suffer if adjustments aren’t made. 

While it may seem like a daunting task, there are some relatively quick ways to resolve the problem.  In some cases, we’ve advised customers to plant pachysandra plants around the tree roots.  This will addition will certainly add a new flavor to the landscape.   Or if you would like complete grass coverage, you’ll need to bring in topsoil to create a bed for the grass to properly grow.  As I mentioned, the turf needs a soil bed in order to grow to its fullest potential, and introducing topsoil can be a quick and easy fix.  Once the topsoil is introduced, use a mix of Perennial Rye and Kentucky Bluegrass.  This blend, also known as a shady blend will be blend well with all types of lawns, and can survive in shady areas.  

Next time you’re outside, take a look under your trees.  If the lawn is thin in these areas, think about some of these great options to spice up your landscape!