How do I keep my lawn looking good all summer?
As we move towards the warmer and dryer months of summer, the garden view you present to potential buyers becomes more important. A dry and yellow lawn, in midsummer, is not a problem – we all know what happens if there’s a long dry spell – but a patchy, lumpy, weed-filled lawn, that’s a non-no, as it immediately flags up the ‘work to be done here’ concern.
After last year’s dry summer and this very wet winter and spring, lawns are an open invitation to weeds and moss, so here are our top tips for some easy steps to take to ensure your lawn doesn’t let you down.
How often should I mow my lawn?
Mowing the lawn plays a major part in the lawn’s overall appearance, but you can over-mow. You should aim to mow your lawn every seven days, except when it’s very dry. Mowing during a drought is unnecessary, as the grass growth slows down anyway, and by shaving off the upper lengths of grass, you’re exposing the more vulnerable lower levels to heat and further drying out.
Don’t set your mowing height too low. A scalped lawn isn’t a good look. Aim for between one and two inches – this encourages the grass to grow evenly and help prevent weeds from gaining a purchase.
Make sure the cutting blades are sharp. A dull blade can tear grass out, or rip it up, rather than cut through the blades of grass. Stripping out grass can result in patchy gaps, creating space for weeds to find a home, or muddy patches that gives a scruffy and uncared for impression.
What is lawn aeration?
The wet, winter weather after a dry summer, when your lawn probably experienced much foot traffic, may have caused your lawn to become compacted, which in turn can cause drainage issues and moss growth. You can help prevent this by aerating your lawn, which simply means poking small holes through the soil with a garden fork to encourage the soil to drain and provide some space in which grass roots can spread. Spike the lawn to a maximum of 15 cm (6in) to de-compact the soil. It’s best to do this before true summer arrives, so it has a chance to recover a little before use.
How do I get weeds and moss out of my lawn?
Right now is a vital time to get on top of moss and weeds. You really do need to clear out weeds like dandelions and, sadly, daisies, because they can swiftly take over, taking all the nutrients and soil moisture, which are vital in the hotter weather to prevent the shallower grass roots from suffering any lasting damage.
You could, of course, spend an evening on hands and knees, with an old-fashioned potato peeler lifting out all the weeds by the root, and with a small hand-fork scraping out any moss, or you could turn to the professionals and invest in some weed killer.
There are many very safe child- and pet-friendly options now, and your local garden centre can certainly advise on that.
Should I feed my lawn?
Actually, most lawns do quite fine without any extra feeding. You could do a weed killer and fertiliser top dressing in early spring, to give it a boost just as the rapid growth period starts, but the best thing you can do really is just stay on top of the weeds and moss, give the roots space to grow and prevent it from becoming compacted. Grass is super-hardy, super-vigorous stuff, and will keep doing what it does best with just a little encouragement. Even in severe drought, current recommendations are not to put on the sprinklers, but just to let it go yellow and dry – you’ll be amazed how fast it comes back when the rain starts. If you really want to water it, just give it a huge drench once a week, at night, to give it time for the water to properly soak in before the sun rises.
Eddie – Friday 14th April 2023 (Picture used from Manley Road, Whalley Range).
