The pros and (manageable) cons of lawn rolling

​Lawn rolling can help you smooth out minor bumps and uneven lawn sections, but there are other benefits and some manageable cons you should understand before deciding if rolling is right for you.

Benefits of lawn rolling:
 

1. After a harsh winter with fluctuating temperatures, you might find soil heaving throughout your yard. Smoothing out these bumps not only means you’ll have a nice even lawn to walk or play on, but your mowing job will be safer and easier without the risk of lawn scalping (cutting the grass lower than expected and exposing the stems of your grass blades).
   
   
2. Smoothing out bumps caused by animal tunnels and warrens. Enough said.
   
   
3. Rolling a lawn after seeding can establish good contact with the soil, helping to press the soil particles together and eliminate air pockets that could interfere with seed germination and growth. A rolled seedbed can also hold moisture longer.
   
   
4. Rolling a lawn after sodding presses the roots firmly into the soil and encourages growth to start immediately. It can also eliminate small air pockets around the roots (that causes dieback of the turf in those areas) if the bed of soil under the sod is not perfectly smooth.

The downside of rolling…and what you can do about it:

1. Lawn rolling compacts the soil, which can limit the amount of air and moisture flow that’s need for healthy lawn growth. Clay soil is more prone to compaction than other kinds of soil. You can manage and reverse compaction by aerating the lawn immediately following a rolling.
   
   
2. If you’re trying to level out an uneven lawn (more extensive than just minor bumps and heaves), you’ll need to add soil first to any hollows before rolling. For the long term, you might want to consider an annual light topdressing each spring to prevent further cracks or dips in the lawn. The topdressing can help keep your lawn level and maintain a good quality soil texture.

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If you’re interested in having your lawn rolled, know that the best time to do so is in the spring — when grass is just coming out of the dormant season and the roots are actively growing. Send us an email or give us a call and we’d be happy to give you a quote or answer any questions you have.