From the cold winter months to (hopefully) hot UK summers, it’s safe to say that our grass has been through a lot. Fortunately, these lawn care tips will help you maintain a happy, healthy lawn year-round.
It can be easy to forget about grass. But if you have a great lawn idea and want your lawn to be the focal point of your yard, you need to give it some much-needed TLC. But we understand that lawns can be difficult and it can be difficult to understand what your lawn needs…and when.
That’s why we consulted the experts and compiled the top lawn care tips everyone should know. We’ve also divided these lawn care tips into general maintenance sections to help restore your lawn after winter, mowing, improving drainage and more.
Top lawn care tips
“Having a beautiful and vibrant yard is a great way to add value and beauty to your property and create a beautiful and relaxing environment,” says Josh Novell, director of Polhill Garden Centre. “There are several steps you can take to achieve a healthy lawn.”
So you can keep your lawn healthy, happy and lush, we’ve put together our top 12 lawn care tips. Full of expert advice, our guide tells you everything you need to know to get a perfectly manicured lawn that will be the envy of all your neighbors.
Revive your lawn after winter
1. Fertilize the grass
“Spring is the perfect time to help your lawn recover from winter and provide all the nutrients it needs during the growing season,” says Jamie Shipley, horticulturist and CEO of Hedges Direct.
Learning how to revive your lawn after winter can transform it from dry and damaged to nutritious and healthy. Applying fertilizer is the easiest way to do this. Make sure any weeds or leaves in your lawn are cut, aerated and removed before fertilizing. Then apply liquid fertilizer to your lawn. Continue misting lightly with water to help it soak into the soil.
“And applying fertilizer in the fall prepares the grass for harsh winter weather, as well as increasing recovery time if damaged,” adds Jamie.
2. Remove leaves, weeds and moss
Removing debris, moss and dead “grass” from your lawn (i.e. scaring the lawn) is essential to reviving your lawn after winter. Josh from Polhill Garden Center says: “Using a rake to remove rubbish and dead grass breaks up the topsoil so you can plant new grass seeds to make your lawn look thicker and greener.”
If you’re working with a small garden idea, use a spring fence and a little elbow grease. For larger areas, consider renting or buying a motorized scarifier like this VonHaus lawn aerator from Amazon, which removes all moss and dead organic matter from the lawn and lets in light and air. comb and discard.
Pick up leaves as soon as they fall to prevent them from rotting and damaging your lawn. There are several ways to learn how to kill weeds to eliminate agricultural pests, by hand, with the traditional chamomile starter, or with chemical treatment. Chemicals use a little effort, but make sure you follow the directions to avoid over-processing and unnecessary damage.
Mulching grass is hard work, but it prevents moss from crowding out the grass and gives it a chance to grow. Scarify only in the spring; Otherwise, you can cause permanent damage.
3. Carefully adjust the cutting height.
If you “let the garden grow” in the colder months and your yard is looking a little unkempt in the spring, don’t panic. You can reduce the height of the best grass cutting gradually over several weeks to reach the desired length. It is also important to know when to start harvesting after winter; Wait until the frost is completely gone or the grass may not grow well.
Make sure the mower is set to cut 25 per cent of the growth and leave three centimeters of grass,” says Jamie from Hedges Direct. “If the grass is cut too short, the leaf area will decrease. absorb oxygen and sunlight, which slows root development and can also damage the crown of blade grass plants.
As the temperature starts to rise, you’ll be able to mow more grass while you learn. Dobbies director of horticulture, Marcus Eyles, said: “Mowing with the mower raised a few times and then using a good lawnmower will keep your lawn looking its best.”
4. Aerate your lawn
There are many ways to improve lawn drainage. If the lawn is very dense and does not drain well, use lawn aeration; A very simple tool with hollow tines inserted into the grass like a pitchfork. This will remove small plugs of soil that may later contain turf sand, and aerating the turf will ultimately help it dry out faster.
This can also be done with a garden fork pushed into the grass and moved to break up the soil and reduce compaction. If you have wet, wet grass, run a fork into the soil over the entire patch (called aeration). Go as deep as possible every 12 inches or so to aid drainage and encourage root growth for an overall healthier lawn.
“This simple process can save your lawn if it suffers from compacted soil because it improves drainage and the flow of nutrients, air and water,” explains Jamie.
5. Install French drains
Although not a common addition to gardens, French drains are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, particularly in flooded gardens.
“If flooding is a regular problem, you may want to consider installing a French drain,” says Matt Kent, landscape director at Toolstation. “It’s a gravel-filled trench with an underground pipe with holes to drain the water.”
Installing a French drain requires digging in your garden, but if you have a sloping garden, it can make a big difference to your lawn as it directs water from these muddy areas to more suitable drainage areas.
While you can install French drains yourself, you should consider hiring a professional for the job.
6. Level your lawn
A garden full of potholes, bumps and potholes will not have good drainage. Water collects in low areas and falls on heavier areas, resulting in very uneven grass. So leveling the grass can help.
Steve Chilton, Gardening Expert at LeisureBench, explains: “Having the wrong lawn can cause a host of problems, such as waterlogging, difficulty placing outdoor furniture, difficulty laying paving and decking, danger to children and of course an unsightly sight. ” appearance.’
However, you need to make sure you level your lawn properly, so we recommend following our guide on how to level a lawn.
7. Trim the edges of your lawn
Sometimes a lawnmower can’t reach the edge of your yard, especially if your lawn is leaning against a wall or fence,” says Josh. “You may have to spend a little time and use garden shears to trim the edges.”
Use semi-monthly borders twice a year to keep your garden decorating ideas organized. These tools are readily available and often very affordable, blurring the lines between flower beds and lawns, making your entire garden tidy in an instant.
“Trimming your mustache is a great way to instantly improve its overall appearance,” says Steve. “It helps keep your garden neat and tidy and is great for shaping a small garden.”