A lush green lawn is what we all dream of having in our gardens. But after the winter weather, it may be looking a little worst for wear. But you can get your grass in top condition this spring with these top lawn care tips to make it last through summer too.
1 REMOVE LEAVES AND DEBRIS
Leaves and other dead plant matter can block out light, smother the grass, and harbour diseases. Keep your lawn healthy by raking out and removing plant material regularly throughout the year.
You should also collect grass clippings as you mow to keep the lawn clear. These materials can be added to your compost heap which will break down and supply you with good quality garden compost.
2 RAKE IT OVER
Before you mow, lightly rake the lawn to remove moss and thatch.
Lightly de-thatching or scarifying willl also lift up clover runners to stop the weeds spreading.
3 MOW AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT
You should not cut grass lower than one inch (2.5cm) high. If it’s quite dry, raise the lawnmower blades to 1.5 inches (4cm) high.
For the first cut of the year, raise the blades to their highest setting to avoid scalping the grass, and gradually lower them later in the spring.
4 MOW EVEN HIGHER IN SHADE
Shady areas of the lawn should be cut higher because they receive less light. Aim for at least 1.5 inches (4cm) high.
By keeping the grass longer, you will increase its drought resistance and discourage the germination of weeds.
5 RESEED BARE PATCHES
The next spring lawn care tip is to fill in any bare spots with grass seed. Lightly fork over the soil to loosen it up and add a layer of fresh topsoil. Sow the seed over the top and cover with a light sprinkling of more topsoil.
Water this in well and keep birds at bay by covering the area with netting or string held up with plant markers. Keep the soil moist to encourage germination and beware mowing it too low and scalping the emerging grass.
6 AERATE COMPACTED LAWNS
When soil gets compacted, it reduces the air available to plants and soil organisms and can cause waterlogging. Compaction is most prevalent on walkways or lawns that get used a lot. It is also a common problem with clay soils.
Aerate the lawn by pushing the prongs of a garden fork deep into the grass at regular intervals to open up air channels. You can backfill these holes with sand or grit if your lawn is prone to waterlogging.
7 GET RID OF WEEDS
Weeds in the lawn can look unsightly and compete for moisture and nutrients with the grass. If you have a few weeds in odd spots, use my guide for weed removal.
If your lawn is covered in weeds, apply a grass fertiliser with a built-in weedkiller to both remove weeds and strengthen the grass. There are also products get rid of moss in the lawn.
8 FEED WITH FERTILISER
Want the kind of lush, dense green lawn you see in photos? Special lawn feed is the answer. Add nutrients to boost growth and strength, and your lawn will be transformed.
Make sure you choose the right one – spring fertilisers are rich in nitrogen and create lots of fresh green leaf growth. Autumn fertilisers promote strong root growth to help grass survive the winter.
With these tips for lawn care, you will have glorious grass in now time to use through spring and summer. Taking care of your lawn all year round will help it bounce back after the winter weather and summer scorching.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
It’s all very well saying treat your lawn witg spring ferilisers. These are all oil based and many of us are trying to fight climate chane. better if you can compost as much garden waste as possible, then make a mix of one third horticultural sand, two thirds sieved garden compost. After scavenging and aerating the lawn, mark out 2 sq. metres with bamboo sticks, and sieve the mix onto the lawn. Afterwards brush in with a broom. Harder work I’m afraid.
We have lovely green grass – no chemicals at all. Just ask your family to pee in the watering can (or a bucket and then add to the watering can) – water it down by filling to the top with rainwater and apply (it is not smelly and your neighbours wont know) – by using wee on the lawn you also save the water that would have been used to flush it down the loo (even if you only flush every 2/3 times someone has a wee in it). We have a wormery and sometimes i use the liquid from that this way too. Please leave the clover on your lawn – the bees love it (especially if it is a chemical free lawn). The only thing I use is salt on the dandelions – just pull up and where the tap root has snapped put a little salt down there (easier with an old small funnel as you can make sure the salt just goes on the tap root top). Using those fertilisers just wastes your money – you could be spending that on plants and seeds instead!
Lawn laying is just the first towards achieving that thick lush grass. It’s important to know how to maintain a healthy lawn. Great advice for homeowners on ow to take care of their lawn. However, it’s important to know that some fertilizers and pest control sprays can be extremely toxic to humans and animals and should be handled with caution.
I’m guilty of cutting my grass too short. I always think it will allow me to cut it less often. This article has given me some great advice about how to make my lawn look better. Thanks!
Best advice at the moment is keep off your lawn – we have heavy clay in Warwickshire and consequently the grass is completely water logged and we need a few good drying days with good winds and a bit of spring sun. I have re-seeded some patches which are just starting to come through with new growth – don’t forget the netting to keep the birds off.
I’m doing my best to keep my children and dog away from the lawn but hardly manage to. I’ve never actually managed to get that shiny green I’ve always wanted. Reading ur article I might have an idea of what I was doing wrong – always cutting it too short, didn’t know that could actually influence the end result.
Hi……………your ideas and tips are awesome. All tips are super to keep our lawn fertilizer. i must apply these tips for my little garden.