What Does Your Lawn Need?
Answer the questions below to identify the most common issue affecting your lawn.
STEP 1 — What happens when you water your lawn?
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Water runs off or pools on the surface
Your soil may be compacted, preventing water from soaking into the root zone. -
Water soaks in normally
Your soil structure may be healthy. Continue to Step 2. - The lawn feels soft or spongy
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You may have excessive thatch buildup preventing water from reaching the soil. -
Some areas stay dry
Compacted soil or shallow roots may be limiting water absorption.
STEP 2 — How does your lawn feel when you walk on it?
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Hard and firm
This is a common sign of soil compaction. -
Soft or springy
This usually indicates a buildup of thatch or organic material. -
Feels normal but growth is weak
Nutrient availability or root depth may be limited.👉 Learn how a liquid lawn aerator improves soil structure and helps loosen compacted soil.
STEP 3 — Which best describes your lawn right now?
- Thin or struggling to grow
- Looks healthy but dries quickly
- Fertilizer doesn’t seem to help much
- Mostly healthy, just maintaining
Your Lawn Diagnosis
✔ Compacted Soil
If water runs off, soil feels hard, or your lawn dries quickly, compacted soil may be preventing water, air, and nutrients from reaching the root zone.
Recommended Approach: Use a liquid lawn aerator to improve soil structure and encourage deeper root growth.
✔ Excessive Thatch Buildup
If your lawn feels soft or spongy, organic buildup may be blocking water and nutrients from reaching the soil. 👉 See how lawn dethatcher helps break down thatch and improve water penetration.
Recommended Approach: Apply a lawn dethatcher to help break down thatch, followed by aeration to improve soil conditions underneath.
✔ Maintenance & Healthy Soil
If your lawn is generally healthy, maintaining soil structure and nutrient availability helps prevent future problems.
Recommended Approach: Periodic aeration and proper fertilization as part of a regular lawn care program.
Most lawn problems are not caused by lack of fertilizer or water, but by soil conditions that prevent the lawn from using what it already has.
Simple Rule of Thumb
Hard Soil → Aerate
Thick Buildup → Dethatch
Healthy Soil → Fertilize
The key is not simply adding more products, but improving the environment where grass roots grow.
Once you understand what’s happening below the surface, choosing when to aerate, dethatch, or fertilize becomes much simpler — and small improvements made consistently throughout the season produce the strongest long-term results.
