Lawn care is proving to be very popular right now in the UK. Especially for the fact it provides us with the same mental health benefits that gardening in general brings.
However, many of us think if we just leave the lawn to cope itself, it will continue to create the thick lush growth year after year.
In most cases, especially in shaded areas, it tends to lose its thickness and often more weeds and moss will set in to take over what was a nice, lush grassy patch.
Believe it or not, there are just a few things you need to do, each season, to keep the grass as the main stronghold of the garden in that space.
Starting the feed in the Autumn
Some companies have created specialist lawn feed for Autumn, which gives the roots extra strength for the cool, wet months ahead.
Just one application of this between October and December will mean the grass can survive the upcoming weather.
Leaves will start to fall towards the end of the Autumn, so it’s a good idea to remove these as soon as possible. Weekly if you can.
Bear in mind, the way you care for your lawn during October to March will determine how early the following season your grass can look it’s best.
For example, if you wait until April to begin ‘fixing’ the problems, it could take a few months to revive the lawn and then you’re into end of Summer before it looks and feels good under the feet.
Following up in Winter
If your lawn is in the shade or has poor drainage, then there’s a good chance that moss will thrive. Moss also thrives in slightly acidic soil during the Autumn/Winter.
So, you may want to do a pH test to find out what the pH of your soil is. While it’s really easy to do, for some that’s a bit much.
Either way, it’s a good idea to use another application of product that helps suppress moss. By suppressing moss, you can help the lawn to thrive.
There are both organic and non-organic ways of supressing moss in the garden, so whichever takes your preference, there are options out there.
Sitting Pretty in Spring
Spring is the time of year where we need to encourage growth in the garden. For this to happen, nitrogen is generally applied to most plants.
There are multiple organic options for introducing nitrogen into your garden. From specially manufactured products to all-natural, manure-based products.
As you move into Spring, you should look for a high-nitrogen product to apply to your lawn. That way, you will encourage grass growth and build on the previous care you’ve been giving it.
Shining in the Summer
In some respects, the Summer months can be just as harsh as the Winter.
All plants, including grass, need to receive frequent watering if they are to survive during hot weather. Not enough water, and they will just dry out.
What’s more, applying dried, granular products to the lawn could have a negative impact in the form of burning it when the weather is too hot.
That’s why it’s recommended to use a liquid feed during this time – from June through August.
Liquid applications with nitrogen in them can also act as a wetting agent to help the lawn maintain its moisture – even if there’s been no rain or it’s not been watered.
Once again, these come in the form of organic liquid feeds, such as liquid seaweed, which can help hugely towards increasing the microbial activity in the soil and greening up the garden.
Alternatively, there are non-organic options, which will have been specially manufactured to help feed the lawn and overcome drought.
A few physical activities
During the year, there are a few physical activities that can help maintain a lawn too. You can undertake these using either manual tools or electric tools.
Aerating
Aerating will improve drainage to reduce weeds and moss.
It will also help the oxygen and water get through to the roots of the plant.
Hiring or buying an electric aeration machine is very expensive, so it’s recommended to use a manual aeration tool to complete this job.
Scarifying
Scarifying is a way of raking up the dead under growth that’s blocking the nutrients from getting to the base of the plant.
You can pick up a scarifying machine, which will save heaps of time, for under £100. If you plan to continue with your maintenance programme and want to do this every year as is necessary, it’s definitely a great investment.
If you simply plan on raking up the dead stuff every now and then, and you have a pretty small garden, then a garden or leaf rake will be enough for the job.
A final thought
Many surveys on social media and elsewhere, suggest that most people get out in the garden because it makes them feel good and reduces stress.
If you’ve not tried dabbling your hand at a bit of gardening, then creating a small lawn could be a great place to start.
Remember, you can begin caring for or creating your ‘grassy space’ whenever you want during the year. However, it’s still important to apply the right products at the right season to achieve the best results.
Relentlessgardener.co.uk is one website which helps with advice and offers seasonal products to get you through the challenging questions you might have.
