4 ways to love your lawn a little bit better!

4 ways to love your lawn a little bit better!
Love is in the air as we approach Valentine’s day, so it seems like a good time to give you some tips on how to show your lawn the affection it deserves.

1. Feed

Who doesn’t enjoy a little fine dining? We certainly do and we know your lawn does too! That’s why it’s important to apply the right fertiliser at the right time to make sure your garden gets the nutrients it requires. Spring is the best time to apply a fertiliser to ensure your grass sward is looking healthy and luscious for the coming summer months. Similarly, a winter fertiliser should be applied in autumn to strengthen and protect your lawn and leave it in tip-top condition, ready for the next growing season.

2. Mow

Mowing your lawn correctly can be trickier than it may seem. Getting the timings and cutting heights right can make a big difference to how your garden looks. Grass that is mowed well will look significantly better than grass that isn’t and will be much healthier, too! Cutting your lawn according to a schedule can be convenient and easy to track, but it may not be the best practice for your grass, as growth can vary over time periods. Perennial ryegrasses should be mown at 9cm and reduced to 4cm which is a medium height on most mowers. Shorter lawn grasses such as fescues should be cut to 2cm to get the best results. These heights stimulate growth, reduce risk of disease and promote a lush and vibrant sward.

3. Fend off disease

Grasses are constantly under threat from all manner of diseases, whether it be moss and snow mould in the winter or red thread in the summer. Feeding your lawn is the best way to avoid and often remedy any diseases that might appear. Keep in mind that prevention is usually much easier and more cost effective than treatment. Our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer is particularly effective in spring, as this is when moss is most common. Fungi such as algae and lichen can be fought off by aerating and applying sand to the area, along with the right fertiliser. Other diseases may need to be treated using specific fungicides.

4. Scarify

Another great method of avoiding problems like moss and thatch is to scarify in the spring and autumn. Scarification helps water and oxygen drain freely though the soil and prevents longer term problems such as compaction or lack of soil nutrients. Using a hand rake is the simplest way to scarify, however it also requires more physical effort and can be somewhat ineffective. An automated scarifier requires less effort, removes much more material and is particularly useful if planning to overseed. This, along with the other practices mentioned above should keep your lawn looking and feeling fab all year round!