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Best practice lawn guide for people with kids
Our grass puts up with quite a lot of stress during the year, especially from kids when the spring and summer months roll around. So, it’s no surprise that you will occasionally see a few thin spots, some brown grass or areas that just need a bit of care and attention. Follow our lawn guide for people with kids to keep your busy lawn in top condition all year round.
While some of us are happy to let our lawn succumb to the effects of kids playing, if you want to protect your lawn and keep it in top condition, even with a family to cater for, it is certainly possible. This is where our lawn guide for people with kids helps make the process of keeping your lawn in top condition easier!
Choosing a family-friendly grass seed for a lawn with kids
If you have a garden that plays host to your family's fun year-round, then you will need a grass seed that will be able to withstand the wear and tear and endless playing that will undoubtedly occur on your lawn - after all, that’s what gardens are for!
Our FAMILY: Kids and Pets grass seed was created to do just that; it is an expertly blended mix of perennial ryegrass and fescues that will leave you with a hardwearing, fast-growing lawn that not only plays the part but looks the part too. The finer-leafed fescues in this seed mix will leave you with a lawn that is lush and green, while the ryegrass will create a strong and durable garden that can put up with just about anything that comes along. So, whether that’s a makeshift football field or a family barbeque, this grass seed mix will have you covered.
Tips from our lawn guide for people with kids
Keep the toys moving
Any garden that is a hub of entertainment for kids will most likely feature a few child-friendly bits of equipment, from trampolines and tables to paddling pools and play mats. While these do provide endless hours of fun, they aren’t much fun when it comes to maintaining healthy grass. Our first piece of advice for a garden lawn with kids is to keep these larger play items moving; move them to a different area of your garden every few weeks if you can.
Paddling pools are a big culprit when it comes to grass damage. While they may seem light on the ground, the weight isn’t the problem. Having a pool sitting on your lawn will block any air, sunlight and water that is essential for grass to survive. If you are having a pool on your lawn this summer, we suggest moving it around every two days to minimise damage.
The same applies to play mats and tables, trampolines, and sand pits - keep them moving to minimise the damage to the grass underneath! Be sure to store them off the lawn when not in use, so there’s less pressure on the grass, and it has the chance to grow and breathe.
Keep your grass well fed
Even with a hardwearing grass seed like our FAMILY: Kids and Pets mix, there is only so much our grass can put up with before it needs some TLC in return. Making sure that you maintain a good feeding regime throughout the year is the key to keeping a healthy lawn that is durable and strong for the spring and summer seasons.
We recommend using our SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter granular fertiliser during the autumn months to help sustain your lawn health during the challenging winter months. When spring comes around, try using our SLOW RELEASE: Spring / Summer granular fertiliser on your lawn to help revitalise it after winter and before the increased usage in summer. A healthy, well-fed lawn will allow your grass to bounce back every time it gets a bashing from your kids.
Another option in our lawn guide for people with kids is to feed your lawn quickly using a fast-acting liquid fertiliser. Our liquid fertilisers feed your lawn over 6-8 weeks and will provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs to feed your grass instantly, and you will start to see the results in only a few days.
Do I need to keep kids and pets off the grass after using fertiliser?
- We recommend waiting at least 48 hours before letting your kids or pets on your lawn after spreading granular fertiliser. This will allow the soil to absorb your fertiliser undisturbed; after that, it's fine to use your garden as normal.
- Our liquid fertiliser is pet-safe! - We still recommend you take necessary precautions and keep your pets (and people) off the lawn for 48 hours to allow the fertiliser to get to work undisturbed, and this ensures your grass gets the best results.
Let your lawn breathe
Over time, the soil beneath your grass can become compacted. This can cause problems with water drainage, nutrient absorption, and air circulation in your soil. Heavy footfall, swing sets, paddling pools and kids running can all contribute to the soil becoming compacted in your garden. To help alleviate the problem, you should introduce aeration into your lawn care regime, if you haven’t already done so. For smaller areas, this can be done using a garden fork, or for larger areas, you might want to try using a corer that will do the work for you.
Fill in the bare spots
If your kids have a favourite spot in the garden that tends to get more use than others, like right in front of the makeshift goalposts or next to the swing set, then you might notice those areas become thin and worn down over time. Wear and tear of these areas and excess footfall can’t be avoided, but you can work to give it the best chance of survival. A simple bit of overseeding will rejuvenate those areas and thicken them up, helping the overall look of your lawn.
We have linked a few other blogs we've written over the years below that are good for further reading and will help you get the most out of your garden lawn: