Lawn algae is a very genuine problem of those lawns where people become careless and compromise with drainage, sunlight access, shade, soil health, etc.
Lawn algae not even make your lawn look bad but it is not good for the overall health of lawn grass or turf. Its removal and treatment of the affected area can take a long time if you don't manage it in the early days.
Let's understand the basics of lawn algae, its causes, removal, and treatment of the affected area by DIY.
Lawn Algae, causes and removal
Lawn algae appear long period of moist soil without drain. Lawn algae are plants that make a soft green layer on moist soil or turf. Later, it turns into black and brown scum over the soil and grass. It almost stops the growth of lawn grass.
Causes of algae in lawn
There are several reasons for lawn algae but most of the time it appears if the following situations happen at the same time-
Poor drainage in the lawn increases the chances of lawn algae. If unwanted overmoisture remains in the soil for a longer period, then it can increase the chances of rot roots of the turf.
A shady atmosphere increases the chances of lawn algae if the lawn doesn't have proper drainage.
Soil health or fertility is also a factor that is responsible for weeds, moss, and algae. If the soil has fertilizers and it remains in shady and poor drainage lawn, then high chances are of algae on turf.
Are algae bad for the lawn?
Absolutely yes. But most importantly, Algae appears because of the bad condition of the lawn and it restricts lawn growth further.
Algae turn into a thin black layer later that stops almost every passage for water supply to the turf roots. The same impact it makes with fertilizers and weed-removing herbicides.
Overall we can say that lawn algae are a sign of poor and bad management of drainage, sunlight, shade, soil health, and use of fertilizers.
How to remove Algae from the lawn?
A general question raises in one's mind should he treat algae or should he prevent its conditions of appearance?
Well, it is always better to prevent the conditions. So that you don't need to use extra chemical treatment for it. Treatment of lawn algae should be second place.
Let's understand both ways to avoid algae on the lawn. First, start with the prevention methods to apply to lawn-
Prevention of Algae from the lawn
Well, to prevent the lawn algae, just follow the reverse engineering methods. Improve lawn drainage, soil health, access to sunlight, less shade, and plenty of use of fertilizers are helpful to prevent lawn algae. Just that.
Make your lawn sloppy or install a drainage system under the turf.
The shade of fencing, trees, and shrubs shade restrict sunlight access to the lawn. Arrange to improve the sunlight range on your lawn.
Manual method to clean the crust of Algae from lawn
Now, we are considering that somehow you have algae on your lawn. Clean lawn algae may look some people ugly but it is not that difficult to clean. Let's understand what are the requirements you need to clean algae from the lawn and then we will help you to understand how to remove lawn algae process-
Requirements for algae removal
Following are some basic requirements to remove Algae from the lawn-
- Scratching tools to separate the algae from the turf.
- Long handle metal and plastic reck to scratch and collect algae deeply.
- Gardening spade to dig and pull out the deeper algae from the lawn. Also to collect it faster.
- Use plastic buckets or bags to collect the algae scum.
- Long boots make your walk easy on the algae scum and save you from slipping.
Process of algae removal
Here, we are considering that your lawn is affected by lawn algae. It may be in patches or on particular spots but the process is similar in all the affected areas. Following are the steps to clean the algae from the lawn turf-
- Wear all the safety measures to prevent slipping, injury, and effective work on the algae removal.
- First, use scratching tools to make scum lose and pull out from the upper layer. With the help of long-handle recking tools, make it more effective.
- Now use a gardening spade to collect all the scum all over. After collecting all the algae, use it further to pull out deeper. But don't damage turf.
- Now, use scratching tools once again. Collect the scum in the buckets or bags.
- Repeat the same process till you clean all the algae scum from all the affected areas.
Thus, you can remove all the algae from your lawn.
How to recover lawn grass in algae-affected areas?
In 3/5 times, people lose their lawn turf in algae-affected areas. But its recovery is not that difficult once you clean it properly.
After cleaning the algae-affected area, you need proper treatment to make the lawn conditions friendly for lawn grass once again. The following steps will help you to take the right decisions and steps to follow in favor to treat your algae-affected lawn areas-
Inspect the soil pH
First, take the soil sample from the affected areas, and send them to local labs for inspection. You can also check their pH by yourself. But laboratory checkup gives you a broad image of soil condition.
Make a data chart on the soil report and divide it into sections of current conditions and requirements. Choose the right fertilizers according to their needs(because sometimes, you find soil pH too acidic but sometimes it becomes more alkalic). Don't use fertilizers till you aerate your lawn once again.
Improve lawn drainage
Make your lawn sloppy towards the boundaries of the lawn. There are many lawn slope models that you can follow. You can also install a proper automatic drainage system under your lawn turf.
Keep low down the current moisture of the soil till 30% is left in the soil.
Least shady atmosphere
Keep your lawn away from the trees and shrubs shades. In many houses, people make wall fencing on tall heights. Because of these tall wall fencing, people face problems like less growth, moss, algae, and weeds on their lawns.
Provide direct sunlight in the algae-affected area at least for 2 weeks.
Aeration, Overseeding, and fertilization
After 2 weeks of daily direct sunlight(5 to 7 hours daily), now you need to aerate your affected area.
In all the marking areas, aerate the lawn by using aeration machine or aerator tools(in short lawns).
Now use the required fertilizers according to your soil need(based on the soil sample report). You can also add some pre-emergents with fertilizers. Now, mix everything well and level the soil surface.
To increase some moisture in the soil, spray 1-inch water and wait for 2 hours.
Your soil is ready for overseeding. Use high-quality pure seeds of the same grass you had on the rest of the lawn. Sprinkle all the seeds and cover them with the soil by using a plastic reck tool.
Using a sprinkler irrigation system
The best way to irrigate your lawn automatically is to use sprinklers at the corners of the lawn. You can adjust them on multiple points and cover particular sections too. It may increase your cost but is very helpful in the long term.