How to keep your lawn in shape and our tips on irrigation

Creating and completing your perfect garden is an exciting stage of your home improvement. Once you’ve chosen the ideal components of your garden, keeping it looking it’s best all year round is essential. There are steps and techniques that we can help you with to maintain your garden and avoid having a dull, weed-infested lawn.

It’s essential to apply these techniques on your lawn during the autumn and spring, to allow your grass the chance to grow through the summer months.

1. REMOVE WEEDS, THATCH AND MOSS

By removing these items it allows for free-flowing air and for nutrients to find the roots.

WEEDS

• Weeds are brought into the garden by pets, birds flying over your garden, roaming animals, or from your footwear/clothes. They grow appearing as flowers, or seed heads.

• The easiest option for ridding your garden of weeds is to pull out the whole weed, including the roots. You can do this by hand or using a weeding tool. If there are many weeds, consider using a low toxicity herbicide sprayed directly onto the area.

THATCH

• Thatch is generally a layer of debris which builds up between the leaves and the soil, consisting of grass, dead leaves and root stems. This layer sits between the grass and the leaves, and it creates a barrier blocking and preventing the soil from getting essential nutrients and moisture it needs to flourish. To identify these areas which need attending is easy, the ground will feel spongy and appear as dull, dead patches on your lawn. The solution for this is to rake and remove the thatch from your lawn simply. There are a tools which can help you with this process, and we can advise you which ones are best.

MOSS

• Mosses are non-flowering plants which can cause significant lawn problems, thriving in moist, shaded areas and low quality turf. If left untreated, the moss will increase and reduce the quality or ability for your grass to grow. A variety of moss causes include shade, clay within the soil, high level of thatch and poor drainage. To remove moss efficiently, you need to identify and reduce the reason for the problem. We can advise you on how to rid your garden of moss to help it thrive.

2. IMPROVE DRAINAGE

• Poor drainage can complicate your garden's health, as it can become saturated for days, damaging the quality of your lawn. The two leading causes for a build up of water in your garden are the soils inability to absorb water, and the landscaping of your garden. 

SOIL PERMEABILITY

• The prevention of water absorption is caused by increased thatch, compacted soil, clay in the ground, and thick layers of roots. Generally, aeration can improve the flow of water and air to reduce the surface build up of moisture. Alternatively, changing your soil can help achieve the level of drainage required for your lawn. This can be done by changing your plants, existing soil, or gradually changing the organic matter within your garden.

GARDEN TOPOGRAPHY

• Any slope in your garden should naturally direct water away from your house, if not, it will allow water to pool in one area, damaging the grass and roots. If this occurs, gutters or drains can be fitted to direct excess moisture away from your lawn. This can also be improved by including plants in your garden which thrive in water.

3. AERATE

• Aeration is created by making small holes in the soil with specific intervals and depths, allowing for better penetration of air and water to the roots of the grass. This is an essential process to enable the soil to access the right nutrients to prosper. This can be done using a garden fork, or specialised aeration tools. Fortunately, for most gardens, this will only have to be done once every few years, although if needed, small amounts of affected areas can be treated as required.

4. OVER-SEEDING

• The process of over seeding is used to rejuvenate damaged and thinning areas within your lawn. It is implemented by covering the entire area with large quantities of seed and fertiliser. This procedure improves the colour and appearance of your lawn while reducing the likelihood of moss and weed to invade. This process requires your lawn to be firstly aerated, mowed and sufficiently watered. 

• There are tools which will help you achieve an even distribution of seeds called ‘spreaders’, and this process can be performed annually. A top-dressing can also be used to provide further nourishment and encourage germination.

5. MOWING AND EDGING

• The frequency of when you mow depends on the time of year and current weather condition. During the colder months, especially during frost, the amount of mowing will be reduced. The summer months tend to increase the growing time of the grass; therefore, mowing becomes more frequent.

• It’s best to avoid mowing the grass when the soil is wet, as it can cause damage and prevent healthy growth in the future. When mowing your lawn, it’s ideal only to cut one third of the length of the grass.

• Mowing tools such as borders and edgers can be used to maintain a tidy appearance after mowing.

6. FEEDING AND WATERING

• To maintain a healthy lawn nourish your grass with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed once a year in the Spring. During the Autumn, it is best to use a feed rich in phosphate and potash. Alongside fertilising your lawn, watering is essential. The amount you water your garden will depend on your soil type and weather conditions.

• A wide variety of fertilisers and lawn feeds are accessible at most Garden Centres, the type you require is something we can assist you with.

7. TOP DRESSING

A top dressing is used to build up the quality on your existing soil, help repair any damaged soil and aids in promoting processes to break down thatch. To find a suitable top dressing for your lawn the soil type in your garden will have to be assessed to provide insight into the materials and consistency of top dressing you need. Once applied this will help keep your lawn looking luscious and bright.