When should I rake off the straw on my newly planted lawn?

Contractors built my new home, lawn and trees in a package deal. No one said when I should rake the straw off. New grass is starting to peek through now and looks healthy.

Asked by kattewyk 54 months ago Similar questions: rake straw newly planted lawn Home.

Similar questions: rake straw newly planted lawn.

Leave the straw It will degrade on its own, and usually by next season it will be all but gone. In the meantime, it will help the soil retain moisture better than the grass seedlings alone. New grass is very narrow and doesn't do much to prevent the moisture from evaporating.It will also help prevent erosion during heavy rains until the grass is more established.

I prefer to trust advice from an educational institution, this says to leave the straw on, look under "mulching" Most site say to leave it on, so as not to damage seedling with raking, or it can be gently picked up. Here is another that recommends leaving it on:johnsonsnursery.com/Lawn_Care.aspxCooper... Extensions are the best kind of source. Here is one that also says to leave it on:umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2367.... consensus seems to be to leave it, unless you want to remove it by hand.

But don't rake! Enjoy your new lawn! Sources: purdue.edu/dp/envirosoft/lawn/src/grass/... .

The straw mulch is good for your lawn. Leave it! People used to recommend raking grass cuttings, now they say leave it for mulch.

Mulch is good for your lawn! Straw mulch is particularly good (though you should beware of hay as it contains seeds that will germinate). So long as the mulch is not too thick to let the grass poke through (and you say you can see yours) it will help and not hinder your lawn.

The only reason to rake it up is if it clumps in small areas. Then you must be careful in raking (use your fingers) not to tear out the new grass. The mulch will take up nitrogen as it first decays and some recommend extra nitrogen fertilizer for the new lawn.

Personally, I don't think it matters. Some references: http://dolphinope.stores.yahoo.net/lawncaretips.htmlseedsuperstore.com/ask_the_expert/planti...http://forums.lawncare.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=11665&enterthread=y Sources: Don't rake! seedsuperstore.com/ask_the_expert/planti... .

1 codepoet, regarding your answer "Leave the straw": .

Codepoet, regarding your answer "Leave the straw.

2 Thanks, this seems to be the what others think.

Thanks, this seems to be the what others think.

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They are about 18 feet tall. How long should this continue?

Best way to remove twigs and small branches from your lawn...to old and lazy to use a rake 1 and 1/2 acres.

When should I remove the straw from my newly seeded lawn.

Ah Spring is here and so are the woodchucks. My newly planted bush beans are now nothing but stalks.

How thick should my new planted lawn be coming in.

How much should one water a newly planted red maple tree. They are about 18 feet tall. How long should this continue?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.