Lawn Tips

About Lawns

As a nation we love our lawns! A properly maintained lawn not only looks great itself but also shows off the rest of the garden. But how can this be achieved?

A profesional lawn care company such as Grassroots Lawn Treatments will be able to provide a range of services to help - from a balanced program of feriliser and weed control to lawn renovation.

But there are still things that need to be done by someone who is on site more frequently such as mowing, watering and also leaf clearance during the Autumn. Grassroots will be able to advise you on the best practise for your individual lawn each time they visit. But there are also some general rules laid out below.

Annual Schedule

Try and stick to the general rules:

WINTER - Avoid walking on waterlogged or frozen grass

SPRING - For the first cut in the spring, just 'top' the grass as cutting too much off in one go can cause damage. Gradually reduce cutting height each week until normal length is achieved

SUMMER - Mow to the normal cutting height (1-1.5 inches or 25-35mm) once or even twice per week if possible. In dry weather a good soaking once a week is better than frequent light watering

AUTUMN - Raise the height of the mower blades. Decrease the mowing frequency. Clear any leaves off the lawn as often as possible! If they are left, they will block out light and kill the grass underneath.

Points to Remember:

• Mow regularly
• Adjust the height of your mowing according to seasons
• Water regularly, especially in summer
• Fertilise on a regular basis
• Aerate and Scarify at least every two/three years

Seeding

Choose the right type of seed for the use of the lawn, ie is it ornamental, or is it going to be used? Will it serve as a children's play area for football, cricket etc? If it will be used, we recommend a seed mix that includes Rye grass. It is much tougher than 'finer' grasses and the dwarf cultivars used today are fine enough to still look attractive!

Once you have chosen the correct seed it is best to carry out the seeding in the autumn. This is because the ground is still warm from the summer months and there is good moisture expected.

Of course seed can also be sown in the Spring but this may need extra watering if we go into a hot, dry spell.

Prepare the ground

Simply applying the seed is not enough. Prepare the ground first! This may involve a combination of Aeration, Scarification and Top Dressing (or all three!) before the seed is applied and raked in. Later on nutrients can be added to maximise growth.

Additional information

Put grass cuttings in the compost to rot down and allow the goodness and nutrients to return to the soil. In an extremly hot summer you can keep the cuttings on the lawn to help preserve moisture content.