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New to lawn care and finding your grass isn’t the greenest on the block? Do you have questions on how to actually achieve the perfect lawn? Have no fear, Jody’s Lawn Care is here.
Want to know a neat trick? Well, it's less of a trick and more of a treatment. Lawn rolling involves creating a smooth and even surface on your lawn, making it not only more aesthetically pleasing but also easier to manage.
In this blog, the experts at Jody’s Lawn Care will cover lawn rolling, its benefits and pitfalls, and how to keep your lawn looking great all year round.
But first: Does lawn rolling actually work? Let’s explore.
What is Lawn Rolling?
The primary purpose of rolling your lawn is to create a smooth and even surface, making it more aesthetically pleasing and functional. One of the most common reasons for using a lawn roller is to flatten bumps or small hills. An even surface not only enhances the lawn's appearance but also makes it easier to mow and use for recreational activities.
Rolling is particularly useful after laying down new sod. Pressing the sod firmly into the soil with the roller ensures better root-to-soil contact, helping the sod to thrive more quickly. This is particularly important to help avoid gaps between your sod and soil, ensuring better growth and avoiding uneven patches.
There are a few tools involved in rolling your lawn:
Lawn Roller
As expected, a lawn roller is the main tool you need for the task. A standard lawn roller consists of a cylindrical drum that can be filled with either water or soil to add weight. The roller is then attached to a handle or towing mechanism, allowing it to be pushed manually or dragged behind a lawn tractor.
There are two common types of lawn rollers you’ll usually see:
Manual Rollers: Lighter-weight rollers that are usually pushed and are suitable for smaller lawns.
Tow-Behind Rollers: These larger rollers are designed for bigger lawns that are capable of being attached to a tractor or riding lawn mower, making large spaces easier to manage.
Lawn Tractor or Riding Mower
As mentioned earlier, having a lawn tractor or riding a mower is extremely helpful when using a tow roller. This helps to save time and physical effort, especially when working on a larger area.
Topsoil or Lawn Levelling Rake
For very uneven areas, topsoil could be required to fill in low spots before rolling. A lawn leveling rake or standard garden rake can help to evenly spread and level out the soil.
Hose or Water Source
If you’re using a water-filled roller, you’ll need a hose or water source to fill the drum. Easy peasy.
The Potential Benefits of Lawn Rolling
Lawn rolling takes an uneven lawn and makes it into something spectacular; proper lawn rolling eliminates bumps and depressions, making a more consistent canvas for you to craft the most stunning lawn possible.
The best time to generally roll your lawn is going to depend entirely on the purpose and condition of your grass. Timing is crucial to make sure you get the most effective results without causing damage to your grass or soil.
Levelling Uneven Ground
Rolling takes uneven soil and brings it back to a flat baseline, providing a better canvas for crafting the most beautiful lawn possible. Besides, flat ground is also a lot safer to walk on and for your kids to play on, too. No one wants to trip over a depression in the ground.
Improving Soil-Seed Contact
Pressing the seeds into the soil improves the seed-to-soil contact, enhancing germination, meaning you’re going to have a lusher lawn.
Repairing Frost Heave Damage
Frost heave damage happens during the winter, causing soil to freeze and subsequently expand, pushing the soil and plants upwards. This happens a lot during freezing and thawing cycles; rolling can help to mitigate this.
The Potential Drawbacks and Risks of Lawn Rolling
If you don’t know how to properly roll your lawn, you could run into potential issues. Mind you, lawn rolling is completely worthwhile when done correctly, this is why you should generally trust in lawn care professionals like Jody’s Lawn Care if you’re unsure of how to do a lawn treatment.
Here are some potential pitfalls of improperly rolling your lawn:
Soil Compaction
When your soil becomes too compacted, the particles that make up the soil are pressed too closely together, meaning there’s less room for oxygen and water to reach the roots of your grass. This can result in a lacklustre lawn. If you roll your lawn during the wrong time or overdo it, you can actually compress the soil too much, leading to compacted soil.
Damaging Healthy Turf
You need to avoid rolling over actively growing grass or existing turf during wet conditions; rolling over this area can actively damage your grass and cause serious physical stress, including harming the roots. Lawn rolling should ideally be done once a year in the early spring, ideally during clear weather.
Not Addressing Underlying Problems
Rolling is great for preparing your grass for the growing season, but it isn’t a fix-all. If you’re struggling with additional issues with your lawn, such as poor drainage, you need to address these issues, ideally before you break out the roller.
If you’re having other issues with your lawn, here are some alternative treatments to consider:
Aeration
Topdressing with sand or soil
Installing French drains
Using a lawn levelling rake
Amending the soil with organic matter
Regrading the lawn
Planting grass varieties suited for poor drainage
Creating drainage swales
Adding permeable pathways
When is the Best Time to Roll Your Lawn?
If you've recently laid down brand new sod, professionals suggest you roll your lawn immediately after the installation. Rolling presses the sod into the soil, making sure there's good root-to-soil contact while also eliminating air pockets that can dry out the roots. This is absolutely essential for promoting healthy roots.
Also, the time of year matters, too. Early spring tends to be a good time to roll your lawn because working out the bumps and uneven ground caused by frost from the winter ensures you get a great start on having a great lawn. The soil also tends to be pretty wet during this time, making it much easier to level out your lawn without over-pressing the soil, causing it to be compacted. Rolling during the early spring also prepares you for the growing season. You can also roll your lawn after reseeding or overseeding.
Situations Where Lawn Rolling is Recommended
So, we’ve talked a lot about the benefits of lawn rolling, what it actually entails, and when the best time to roll out is. But when is lawn rolling truly recommended?
After you’ve just laid new sod, ensuring proper root-to-soil contact.
To smooth out frost heaves in the early spring, bringing the soil back to baseline.
After repairing mole tunnels and other soil disturbances.
When levelling uneven ground.
After overseeding/reseeding to improve seed-to-soil contact.
To prepare your lawn for recreational activities/events.
When lightly compacting soil for specific maintenance goals.
Situations Where Rolling is NOT Recommended
Of course, we can’t talk about the best time to roll your lawn without telling you when lawn rolling IS NOT recommended:
When your soil is too wet or visibly soggy.
During drought or dry spells that have made the soil too hard or compacted
On newly aerated lawns, it can completely destroy the benefits of the aeration treatment
When the lawn has unaddressed drainage problems.
On slopes where rolling can cause uneven compression.
When the lawn is already compacted and can benefit better from aeration instead.
And, lastly, if your lawn is already in good condition and simply doesn't require rolling.
How to Prepare Your Lawn for Rolling & Aftercare
You can’t just bust out the rolling and get rolling along; your grass needs to be inspected and prepared ahead of time to make sure your efforts aren’t for nothing. Also, you have to carefully consider your technique and aftercare once the treatment is completed.
Preparation
Check the moisture levels of your lawn before rolling; if you notice the ground is sopping or even squishy, it’s not a good time to roll. Light moisture in the early spring is fine, but the ground shouldn’t be soaking.
Make sure your lawn is cleared of any debris, such as rocks, foliage, personal items such as children’s toys or pet toys, etc.
Rolling Technique
If using a push/pull roller, make sure you’re moving it in straight, overlapping rows, just like you would if you were pushing a lawn mower. If certain areas remain uneven, you can roll over them twice, but don’t overdo it.
For tow-behind rollers, attach the roller to your tractor/mower and drive slowly in careful, straight lines.
Avoid over-rolling.
Post-Rolling Care
After rolling is complete, consider fertilizing the grass or irrigating to get the best results.
Also, keep an eye out for any signs of stress or compaction in the soil. If you notice any issues, give us a call.
Jody’s Lawn Care Will Get Your Best Lawn Rolling
So, does lawn rolling actually work? We feel we’ve answered that question: Yes, if done properly, during the right season and circumstances, and if followed up with additional lawn care.
When in doubt, you can rely on Jody’s Lawn Care to get the best results. We’re a family-run, Canadian business with years of experience. We’re here to take care of your lawn needs so you can simply relax and enjoy the season.
Contact us today and let us do the work for you!
