One of the best parts of having a nice lawn is having a beautiful and safe space to play or relax. If you have children or pets or simply like to host outdoor parties, you will know that heavy foot traffic is not good for lawns or that heavy activity ruins your lawn. Constant traffic can cause both soil compaction and damage to a grass’s root system. This can lead to a yard with thin grass or bare patches. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to not only fix the damage done to your lawn by foot traffic but also to prevent it.

About Traffic Damage

The most notable damage that heavy foot traffic causes is compaction. The constant pressure pushes small air pockets out of the soil, which are essential for maintaining soil texture of soil and allowing beneficial microbes to survive. It is also of note that clay-heavy soils are more prone to becoming compacting than sandy ones. Dense soil cannot hold very much water and also makes it difficult for plants to grow deep roots, which means that they cannot harness as much water and nutrients. 

Heavy traffic can also damage the root system of your grass. The pressure of foot traffic can crush and even pull up grassroots. This is especially true after a rainfall when the soil is softer and the grassroots are tender.

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Signs of Damage

There are a few signs of damage from heavy traffic. You should first look at the plants growing out of the soil where you have high traffic. If the flora growing here have very shallow roots or you have patches where even weeds will not grow, then the soil is likely compacted. The soil may also be compacted if your grass grows thinly around these high-traffic areas. Another way to tell is if water has a hard time penetrating the soil because there are no air pockets to go into. This can cause puddling or polling on low areas of your lawn. Lastly and the most telltale sign is the texture of your soil. Try taking a shovel or shape and piercing the ground. If even a shovel cannot get very deep into the soil, you likely have a compaction problem. Heavy activity ruins your lawn and may cause you stress.

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Turf Types to Stand Up to Traffic

One way to prevent these problems is to plant grass that can withstand a high amount of foot traffic. The types of grass suitable for your lawn will depend on your climate, rainfall, and how much you are willing to maintain it. For cool season grasses, Tall Fescue is generally considered to be the best for foot traffic Kentucky Bluegrass may also be a good option because of its ability to repair itself. On the other hand, you should avoid Fine Fescue in cooler weather; it is a delicate grass that does not tolerate much foot traffic. For warm-season grasses, Bahia, Bermuda, and Zoysia will likely do you well. They are all hardy and resilient grasses that stand up to wear and tear. Buffalo and Centipede grasses, however, are more prone to thin out with foot traffic.

Reducing Compaction

In many circumstances, prevention is easier than fixing the damage. However, when it comes to compacted soil, reducing compaction often involves refraining from doing what lawns are meant for: playing sports, hosting garden parties, and relaxing. However, there are a few steps you can take to minimize compaction without giving up these fun activities. Firstly, refrain from using heavy machinery on your lawn such as tractors or ATVs unless necessary. Also, if you have soil that is prone to compaction, avoid applying any pressure to it while it’s wet; the softness of wet soil makes it easier to push out its small air pockets. Lastly, consider applying compost to your lawn; this soil amendment works wonders for minimizing compaction while also improving drainage and moisture retention.

Fixing Compaction

Aeration is the most effective way to fix compaction. It is the process of reintroducing air into the soil to improve its texture. Core aeration, which removes small plugs of soil, is a very common way to aerate, but other methods exist as well. Removing these small cores of soil will allow more air, sunlight, and water to reach the grass and soil. If you are planning to reseed, aeration will be especially helpful because it will provide the grass seed with more area to grow their roots.

When it comes to core aeration, it can be done both manually and mechanically. If you are planning on aerating a large area, it may be worth it to rent a core aerating machine. Manual aeration will likely be more practical and cost-effective for smaller areas. However, both methods work identically; they both remove a core of soil and deposit it on top of the ground. These small cores can be left on the ground as topsoil, or you could remove them with a rake.

Reseeding

Lastly, it is important to fix any damage done by the foot traffic. For a more complete guide on fixing bare spots, we recommend our article on Renovating a Patchy Lawn. After all your soil preparation, also make sure that the ground is moist. You can reseed anytime your grass is in an active growly stage as long as the soil is moist. Depending on the extent of the damage, you will either need to overseed or reseed completely. Bags of grass seed should have the needed amounts for both purposes, so make sure to read the beag’s instructions. Do not use more than the instructed amount, as it will not allow the grass to spread out as it grows. 

If you have a lot of ground to cover, consider getting a seed spreader to save time. If instead, you have a few smaller areas, you can lay out the seeds with your hands. Next, work the seeds in gently with a rake or your hands and pat them into the soil. The seeds do not need to be pushed in deep into the soil; as long as the seeds make good contact with the soil, they will be able to germinate. Make sure the seeds receive a good watering after they are sown.