7 Lawn Care Tips
With summer just around the corner, you’re probably looking forward to making full use of your garden in the warmer temperatures. However, before you begin planning barbecues and garden parties, it’s important to ensure that your lawn looks its best and is in good enough condition to cope with more frequent usage.
While you might assume that you can just leave your grass to sort itself out, it’s not quite as simple as that. To ensure your lawn remains in lush, green condition all year round, it will require some extra care and attention.
Luckily, the team at Scotts Tree Surgery & Garden Maintenance is here to help with our top lawn care tips.
Don’t let your grass become overgrown
Without regular mowing, not only does your lawn look unkempt and neglected, but overgrown grass can also prevent nutrients and sunlight from reaching the soil properly, leading to additional lawn problems in the future.
While most people may think that you can just give your grass a quick going over with a lawnmower and leave it at that, you must mow your lawn in the correct way to ensure its continued health. Regular mowing is essential; if your grass is too long, you can actually end up scalping it once you finally get around to mowing it. It’s also vital to ensure that the blades of your lawnmower are sharp and that the ground is firm – you should never mow in waterlogged or frozen conditions.
Unless the temperature is especially warm, you won’t need to mow your lawn throughout the winter. However, during spring, summer and autumn, you should cut your grass every couple of weeks, except during periods of drought.
Weed regularly
Weeds can crop up anywhere and these invasive plants can seriously spoil the look of your lawn. Unfortunately, weeds can survive regular mowing, meaning proper weeding techniques are required to control their growth. The best way to weed your lawn is by hand, using a hand fork or weeding tool, and you must remove the entirety of the root to prevent resprouting in the future.
The best time to weed your lawn is typically during the spring before the weeds have a chance to properly take hold.
Scarify your lawn
Over time, dead leaves, grass and moss can accumulate on your lawn – this is known as thatch. If this builds up, it can prevent vital water, air and nutrients from reaching the soil, which can even lead to fungal disease if left for an extended period.
Removing this dead matter from your lawn is called scarifying, and this process basically involves raking the dead thatch up and out of the lawn. Be careful not to use too much pressure, as if you’re too rough then this can end up damaging your lawn. You should also work in different directions to ensure the thatch comes out evenly.
The best time to scarify your lawn is during spring or early autumn, but if you have a new lawn, you should wait until it’s been planted for a year before attempting this.
Aeration
If you want your lawn to thrive, it’s important that it can breathe and access all the nutrients and water that it needs – that’s where aeration comes in. Aeration is the process of perforating the ground with small holes to relieve compaction and allow water, air and nutrients to penetrate. This can be done using a garden fork or special aerating tools – you can even get aerating shoes!
Aeration should typically be done in spring or autumn when the soil is most likely to be moist.
Watering
The UK is known for its rainy conditions, which means your lawn can often get all the water it needs naturally. However, during summer or particularly dry weather, your grass might require a bit of extra help to keep it looking lush and green. You can water your lawn using a watering can or a sprinkler system, if you have one, for added convenience.
It’s important not to overwater your lawn, however, as this can overwhelm the grass and create mushy, swamp-like soil.
Overseeding
Without overseeding, your lawn can become thin and weak, creating the ideal conditions for weeds to flourish. Overseeding your lawn can improve its appearance and fill in any patchy areas; simply apply the seeds evenly by hand or using a spreader and then rake them through the grass. To give these seeds the best chance of germinating, you should only overseed during milder months when it’s not too hot or too cold – spring or early autumn is best.
Feeding
If you’re a keen gardener, you’re probably familiar with how to feed your plants. However, what you might not know is that your lawn requires regular feeding as well, particularly if it looks a little patchy or thin. By using a specialised lawn fertiliser with a high nitrogen content, you’re promoting growth and ensuring your lawn has all the nutrients it requires.
You should apply lawn fertiliser in the spring or summer when your grass is actively growing.
Keeping your lawn in good condition can be challenging and often back-breaking work. If you’d like the help of a professional to ensure your grass looks green, lush and healthy, get in touch with the team at Scotts Tree Surgery & Garden Maintenance today. Our experts have over 20 years of experience and provide lawn care services to gardens and estates across Dorking, Guildford, Horsham and beyond.