{"id":15186,"date":"2019-07-26T10:25:59","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T13:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=15186"},"modified":"2024-12-14T02:33:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T05:33:18","slug":"lawn-rollers-rarely-needed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/lawn-rollers-rarely-needed\/","title":{"rendered":"Wholly Into Grass Rollers? Regular Lawns Rarely Need Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve probably seen lawn rollers \u2014 those heavy-duty barrels that look like spare parts from Fred Flintstone’s car. Maybe you saw the cylinders at your favorite sports team’s ballfield, pushed or towed lovingly across the grass, creating pretty patterns of contrasting green stripes. <\/span><\/p>

Although the United States Golf Association (USGA) suggests<\/a> an alternate mowing and rolling program for golf courses with stressed-out greens, do you really need a lawn roller for a yard like yours? <\/span><\/p>

\u201c’Need’ is a big word, so the answer is, ‘No,’\u201d  says Thom Nikolai, Ph.D., Senior Turfgrass Academic Specialist of the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University. \u201cHowever, on high-value areas (to be determined by the contractor and homeowner) the answer is yes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

What Is a Lawn Roller?<\/h2>

Lawn rollers are cylindrical containers that are filled with water or sand to add weight that flatten or compress the soil and have drain plugs for easy emptying. Push lawn rollers have handles that allow you to manually guide the roller across the lawn. Lawn roller attachments connect to your tractor or another vehicle for towing. <\/span><\/p>

Lawn rollers are available in steel and polyurethane (often called poly cylinders). Steel rollers are usually heavier and do not puncture or wear as easily. They can be filled only with water. Poly lawn rollers can be filled with either water or sand. Some lawn managers have a personal preference for poly lawn rollers, because they feel turning is much easier than with steel lawn rollers. Both types come in a variety of sizes, weights, and rolling widths. Users modify a roller\u2019s weight by changing the amount of water or sand. Optional spiked aerator bands are available for many brands of lawn rollers.<\/span><\/p>

Why Lawn Rolling Can Cause Lawn Problems<\/h2>

Good soil for lawns isn’t just dirt. Air pockets make up about a quarter of healthy soils Rolling a hundred-plus pounds over those air pockets can crush them, denying your grass roots a chance to grow. As the University of Kentucky Extension’s lawn guide states<\/a>, “Rolling is not often considered a regular maintenance practice. In fact, rolling wet, heavy clay soils will cause soil compaction and decrease soil aeration. However, on well-drained, medium, and coarse-textured soils, rolling may help:”<\/p>

When Should<\/em> You Consider a Lawn Roller?<\/span><\/h2>

However, Nikolai says, there are some smart times when a lawn roller could help a home lawn:<\/span><\/p>