If your lawn is in Plymouth, Medina, Maple Grove, or Corcoran, you’re likely dealing with heavy clay soil. Unlike sandy soil that drains quickly, clay holds onto moisture and can become as hard as concrete if it’s handled incorrectly in the spring.
Aggressive raking on wet clay can actually smear the soil surface, sealing it off from the air and nutrients your grass needs. In the video below, I show you a much faster and safer way to "wake up" your lawn using a leaf blower:
Why the Leaf Blower Method is Best for Clay Soil
- Prevents Soil Compaction: Heavy foot traffic and metal rakes on damp clay can compress the soil, making it harder for roots to grow. Using a blower allows you to prep the lawn while staying off the grass as much as possible.
- Fights Snow Mold Without the Mess: Clay stays wet much longer than sand. If you rake matted grass while it's still damp, you risk pulling up the entire plant. Blowing the grass stands it up so it can dry out and stop snow mold naturally.
- Preps the "Hard Zones": Clay soil next to driveways and sidewalks in the West Metro can become incredibly compacted and hot. This method clears the debris so your spring applications can actually reach the soil rather than sitting on top of a mat of old grass.
- Forty Years of Results: This channel is designed to help educate our customers and offer time-saving tips. People may disagree with what we say, and that's okay! These are techniques that have worked for us for over 40 years in the Twin Cities.
Pro-Tip for the West Metro
In areas like Maple Grove, Medina and Corcoran, timing is everything. Wait until the "squish" is gone from your lawn before you start this process. Once the surface is dry, use the blower to stand the grass up, and you'll see a much faster green-up without the back-breaking work of raking.
