Your lawn is a living organism and like all living things deteriorates as it gets older. Replacing a lawn is expensive, it is cheaper to look after what you have.

The weather and various other conditions such as quality of soil, shade, mowing height and frequency, type of grass, insect damage and drainage are critical to the health and appearance of any lawn.   To help you we have listed the following basic tips to aid you in looking after your lawn. 

 

Mowing

Grass responds to regular mowing and feeding.  In the main growing seasons April - June and Sept - October, try to mow at least once per week, you can mow your grass in the winter as long as the ground is not waterlogged or frozen.  Never cut your grass shorter than 1 – 1.5 inches and never remove more than 1/3 of its overall length at any one time. Remove clippings as this can encourage thatch and mossbuild up. Do not scalp the grass especially in dry weather.  Let it grow longer in very dry weather – it will become more drought tolerant.  Be sure to mow your lawn in a different direction each time you cut it as this will strengthen and improve the quality of the grass.

 

Shade

Lawns under shade and in sheltered positions stay damper longer and dampness encourages moss. Grass also requires a few hours of sun each day to grow correctly. If you can, cut back branches and shrubs to let light and airflow onto the lawn 

 

Weather

Grass enjoys and thrives in periods of warm wet weather. It can also tolerate cold dry, cold and wet and hot and dry periods. Too much rain creates dampness and encourages moss. Too dry and the grass is stressed through lack of moisture. Too much snow can create problems with diseases. Stay off grass in heavy frosts and very dry weather. 

 

Watering your lawn

All living things require water, grass can tolerate dry weather but prolonged periods of dry weather can cause damage. If we have more than 2 weeks of dry weather you need to water. If after walking on it your grass stays flat and does not spring back up then it requires water.  It is better to water heavily once a week than every night! Watering every night will encourage the roots to turn towards the damp surface and encourage moss. 

 

Leaf fall and other debris

Try to remove leaves as soon as you can. Just leaving them on the grass for a few days can weaken grass. Grass needs to receive sunshine or it will die. 

 

Weeds and Moss

Weed seeds and moss spores are carried in the wind, land randomly and quickly establish themselves. Common lawn weeds are generally easy to control. Normally, regular applications of a professional herbicide will keep your lawn 90% weed free.  Moss is usually the biggest problem on most lawns and must be treated every year to avoid causing serious damage. A good moss control product turns the moss black. Be careful not to apply too much or you may scorch your lawn. Dead moss must be raked out and seed sown in bare patches of your lawn.

 

Basic seasonal rules for treating lawns are as follows

Late winter / early spring - Apply a fertiliser high in nitrogen to give the grass the nutrients it requires to grow in the wet warm spring conditions. Combine it with an application of herbicide to control weeds.

Late Spring / Summer - Apply a fertiliser with a lower nitrogen content but high in phosphorous and potassium content. These are nutrients critical for root development. Combine the feed with a second application of herbicide to control more difficult clovers and weeds that appear later in the year.  

Late summer / early autumn - Apply a fertiliser with a high potassium and phosphorous content combined with a dose of moss control. Moss will turn brown / black and needs to be raked out for grass to grow. 

Late Autumn & Winter - Apply a very heavy dose of moss control and iron to toughen up the grass over the winter and improve colour. Moss will turn brown / black and needs to be raked out for grass to grow. Consider scarifying and aerating the lawns. 

 

Weed killers.

Weeds are controlled by herbicides. The weeds need to be growing to die off effectively. Controlling weeds in cold or very hot dry weather tends to be a lot slower as the metabolism of the weeds (and grass) is a lot slower. Weeds are 70 % water and decompose quickly usually wilting 10 – 21 days after treating in normal conditions. They may take longer in dry or cold conditions. 

 

Moss control

Moss can be controlled at most times of the year but it does not decompose easily and the dead moss carcass may just sit on the soil surface blocking any new grass growth. Dead moss should be raked out from the lawn. Scarifying is a mechanical process of raking out dead moss and thatch – it is brutal and may leave your lawn looking bare and untidy and requiring top dressing and over seeding to recover. It is sensible to schedule scarifying just before a period of warm wet weather that will help the lawn recover. Do not scarify in extreme temperatures as your lawn may not recover for several months 

 

Aeration and compaction

With wear soil/lawns become compacted over time meaning that the soil particles are pushed closer together reducing the spaces between them which prevents oxygen and moisture moving through the soil.  Aeration and spiking punch holes into the soil. Cores pulled out of the soil should be collected not left on the surface.  Aeration improves surface drainage – it does not improve overall soil drainage. 

 

Disease and pest damage

There are a number of diseases and insects that can damage your lawn. Regularly inspect your lawn and look out for excessive weed and moss growth, discoloured grass or bare patches. 

 

Brown patches

There are a number of different reasons for brown patches on your lawn. Insects – leather jackets can cause serious damage in a few days. Animal urine will create dark green patches which can turn into scorch marks. Petrol or chemical spills also cause scorch marks. Walking on your lawn when it is frozen or covered in snow can cause brown marks to appear later in the year. 

 

Top dressing and over seeding

This is simply spreading a mixture of sand and soil over your lawns surface to improve drainage and irritate / impede moss growth. The principle is to gradually create a layer of sandy well drained soil on the surface and even out any undulations. Seed can be added to thicken up the lawn. 

 

Growing grass from seed

Grass seed requires three things - good soil contact, warmth and moisture to germinate. If it is too dry, too cold or even too hot seed will not germinate. The best time to sow seed is early spring and late summer early autumn.   

 

We hope the above is helpful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Lawn and Weed Solutions.