For a beautiful lawn that will be the envy of your neighbours, just follow this simple guide:
Spring Lawn Care
Spring is the time for sowing seeds and laying turf ready for the growing season.
As the warmer weather stimulates more vigorous growth, cut your lawn as often as possible to encourage a dense and even texture.
Apply spring fertilisers and weed and moss killers and if required continue with light scarifying.
As the ground firms up in drier weather, trim, and if necessary repair the lawn edges. Remember when mowing to vary the turning point to avoid undue damage and wear.
Continue mowing regularly, remembering to increase the cutting height in drier weather. A slightly longer nap retains the moisture better and is less susceptible to burn.
Also during drier weather (hose pipe bans permitting), water lawns in early morning or late evening.
Continue with your weed control policy followed by light scarifying.
Summer Lawn Care
During the summer months, continue mowing regularly, twice a week if possible. Apart from stimulating healthy growth, this also helps to suppress weeds.
If the weather is particularly dry, raise the height of the cut. Leaving weed-free clippings on the lawn will help preserve moisture.
Scarify lightly but not in drought conditions, and if possible water regularly. Also, during very dry conditions aerate your lawn’s surface helping to get moisture to the roots.
When dry and dusty check and clean the air filter on your lawnmower engine.
New lawns can also be sown in the late summer. These should receive their first cut before the season is over, trimming to a height of 4-5 cm – then avoid walking on any new lawns until the following spring.
For established lawns raise the height-of-cut as grass growth slows, scarify vigorously to remove thatch and moss and if the lawn looks unhealthy, or if compacted, spike the surface to improve aeration.
Your final job for the late summer/early autumn is to top dress your lawn with a mixture made up of peat, sand and loam.
A top dressing spread onto the surface of your lawn will promote vigorous growth.
Autumn Lawn Care
Newly laid lawns should still be cut regularly but only down to a height of 4-5cm. Reduce the frequency of mowing on established lawns. Spike, scarify and remedy any drainage problems.
As leaves start to fall a regular programme of collection should be implemented. If any areas of lawn have suffered through being in shade, now is the time to trim back any trees or bushes.
All prunings, deadfall and accumulated garden waste can be shredded and composted ready for the following spring.
During November, if weather permits, you should be making your final cut of the year. Once this has been completed your mower should be given a thorough cleaning.
Use a scraper to remove all dried mud, grass and leaves. Clean with a stiff brush and all exposed metal parts with oil.
Remember to get your lawnmower in for its annual service as soon as possible to avoid the spring rush.
And don’t forget to regularly clear your lawn of leaves and debris. Keep off the grass if frosty or waterlogged to avoid lawn damage.
Winter Lawn Care
During the winter months it is better to avoid walking on your lawn, particularly if it is waterlogged or heavily frosted.
When your lawn is dormant you have the opportunity to get your lawnmower serviced and blades sharpened at your local dealer.
When the worst of the winter months are over it is time to plan any new lawns or major repairs. March is the time to sow new seeds and lay turf.
If the weather is mild and not too wet, scarify your lawns to remove dead thatch and moss. This is most effective if you have applied a dressing of moss killer a week or two before scarifying.
Once you start to see signs of lawn growth, it is time for the first cut of the season. Firstly scatter any worm casts with a broom and then with the blade set at its highest position, make your first sweep.
Gradually lower your cut during the season until the desired level is reached, but at this stage of the year do not cut too short and make sure you remove any clippings.
