Lawn Care & Gardening Related Activities at The Minnesota State Fair

The Great Minnesota Get Together is here!  Can you believe it?  This means summer is almost over and its getting close for school to be back in session.

With all the chaos going on, we would like to bring some attention to lawn care and gardening related seminars going on at the Minnesota Fair to help you get a handle on your lawn and garden as things start to get busy.

Lawn Care Activities

Nilgun Tuna from the University of Minnesota will e presenting Sustainable Lawn Care on August 28th and August 29th.

If you love a nice green lawn but dislike the maintenance demands, come meet University of Minnesota turfgrass science experts to learn about water conservation practices for irrigating your lawn. Discover the benefits of auditing your irrigation system, planting drought-tolerant turfgrasses, utilizing smart controllers, rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and much more! Presented with support from the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. At the University of Minnesota CFANS booth in the Agriculture Horticulture Building.

On August 31st,Kim Sullivan from the University of Minnesota will be making a presentation on fall lawn care in Minnesota.

Gardening Activities

Do you want a garden but are too lazy to keep up with the demands?  If so, Theresa Rooney from the University of Minnesota will be presenting Lazy Sustainable Gardening on August 24th and 31st.

How about a rock garden?  One of our favorites you have to check out is the Rock Garden booth.  Their featured items include gazebo and playground equipment, pavers, rocks, fairy gardens, fountains, garden tote bag with books, gardening sheds, illuminated garden stakes, landscaping supplies, lawn ornaments, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor wall art, pinwheels, Regal spinners, stepping stones, wind chimes, flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees.

Peer into distinctive garden kaleidoscopes and see gorgeous flowers transform into mesmerizing images of color and movement. These three unique metal sculptures and spinning flower bowls are created by artist Robert C. Anderson of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Fruit trees, shrubs, and vines are a great way to diversify your landscape and an introduction to local food production. We will share low maintenance species that are great starter options, requiring little pruning and being less susceptible to disease. Presented by a Minnesota Tree Care Advocate, Minnesota Tree Care Advocate Program. Located on the Sustainability Stage in Eco Experience.

Learn from master gardeners, talented florists, lawn enthusiasts and other outdoor experts as they offer informative, entertaining demonstrations and question-and-answer sessions all day long on The DIRT Demo Stage located in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. Demonstrations start at 10 a.m. each day.

Tired of mowing the grass? Replace your lawn with a Food Forest! Learn about all the latest growing trends: Native plants, pollinators, healthy soil, seed saving, wise water use, and harvesting food at home! Presented by Russ Henry, Minnehaha Falls Landscaping and Giving Tree Gardens. Located on the Sustainability Stage in Eco Experience.

 

Common Questions About Dethatching Your Lawn

DethatchingRecently we have been receiving a lot of inquiries about dethatching  Dethatching is an important aspect to maintaining a healthy lawn so below we are going to answer the most popular questions consumers have about it.

What Is Dethatching?

Dethatching, also know as power raking, is the process of removing dead grass (aka thatch) from your lawn.  This process can be completed using a handheld rake or a special tool that is attached to a lawn mower that works the same way a handheld rake does.

What Does Dethatching Do For Your Lawn?

Dethatching removes the dead blades of grass from your lawn allowing the healthy blades of grass to store nutrients and grow healthy and strong.  Dethatching also loosens up the top layer of soil allowing air and moisture to penetrate deeper into the roots of your lawn.

What Is The Difference Between Dethatching and Aeration?

Dethatching removes a dead layer of grass roots that is found between the grass and the top layer of soil.  Aerating is the process of punching holes in your lawn to giving water and other nutrients the ability to soak deep down into the roots of your lawn.

Can You Dethatch Your Lawn When It Is Wet?

Dethatching your lawn when it is wet is not recommended because it can cause damage to healthy blades of grass by pulling out their roots.  This will ultimately lead to a thinning lawn.

When Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn?

With most lawns in Minnesota being a cool season turf, it is recommended to dethatch your lawn in the early spring or early fall.  Timing is everything, especially in the fall because you need to give your lawn ample amount of time to grow and re-establish its roots before frost begins to form on your lawn.

Conclusion

Dethatching your lawn is an important process to grow a healthy lawn and there is a small window of time when dethatching is in season.  At Peter Doran Lawn, our dethatching schedule does fill up fast making it essential to get on our schedule no later than early-October.

If you found this article informational or have any questions about dethatching, please leave a comment below.