How to Care for Your Lawn
TURFING OR SEEDING
If we’re landscaping your garden we always suggest turfing over seeding. This gives you an instant lawn rather than waiting for seeds to grow. Turfing is almost always successful with the right preparation and after care, sometimes it can just take a bit longer if it’s colder.
Seeding can be cheaper but is much less reliable and takes longer which is more time you can’t be using your lawn.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WITH A NEWLY LAID LAWN?
Whenever we lay a new lawn we always rotavate beforehand adding soil improver as well as using the best quality turf available to give your lawn the best start. However, there are some things you will need to do to help it establish.
Don’t walk on the lawn until it has rooted (usually 2 - 4 weeks depending on the weather). Try to lift a corner of turf, if it is firmly fixed to the soil below then it has rooted and can be walked on.
Newly laid turf must never be allowed to dry out, especially during the summer, and should be watered every day during very dry weather with a lawn sprinkler for at least half an hour. Continue watering until the turf has rooted properly.
The first cut should be carried out once the turf has rooted. Ensure that the blades are on a high setting for the first cut.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I MOW MY LAWN?
Cutting your lawn regularly will ensure thicker and more even growth, leaving grass to grow long can stop new blades below and cause it to go patchy. Aim to cut your lawn once or twice a fortnight during the growing season (April to November) and it may need cutting occasionally during the rest of the year depending on the weather. New turf especially can grow very fast and may need cutting more than once a week.
You should never cut it to less than one inch or remove more than one third of the grass height. Keeping your lawn a bit longer (up to two inches) will create a home for insects and you could consider leaving a small area to grow long throughout the summer to encourage more wildlife.
Never mow your lawn when it’s wet or when frost is forecast.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WATER MY LAWN?
Once established your lawn need only be watered during very dry weather to keep it green. A healthy lawn will recover from very dry spells so even if you don’t water regularly a yellow lawn will green up again once the rain comes. Try and use a water butt to save water and only water the lawn in the evening to be more efficient.
SHOULD I FEED MY LAWN?
You should not feed new turf. A fertiliser will be incorporated during the preparation and laying of the turf which provides nutrients specific to root development. Established lawns are best fed in spring and autumn using an appropriate fertiliser. Always apply lawn fertiliser evenly and water in during dry weather.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT A BOGGY LAWN?
If your lawn holds a lot of water and is squelchy underfoot you may want to consider aerating the lawn, usually done in spring or autumn. An ordinary garden fork will do the job as the main goal is to break up the soil pan underneath. However, a better tool to relieve compaction is a hollow tine aerator which removes a small amount of the soil. Coarse sharp sand can then be spread over the lawn filling in the holes and will get washed into the soil to improve drainage.
Dry weather can cause cracks and yellow grass, irregular mowing can lead to patches where weeds can thrive
WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN MY LAWN IS PATCHY?
A lawn can be patchy for a few reasons. With the hot summers we’ve had lately a lot of lawns end up bare, patchy and cracked (like the one pictured above). The best solution is to top dress it and overseed it. This is best done in autumn or spring while the weather is still warm but not too dry.
It’s worth aerating beforehand to improve the soil deeper down. Then use a rake in all directions to remove thatch (dead grass) and loosen up the top layer of soil. Then spread and lightly rake in lawn dressing (a mix of nutritious soil, sand and fertiliser) to a depth of 5-12mm levelling across the lawn filling in any cracks or dips. Then spread a good quality grass seed and rake to mix in with the lawn dressing. Water in and make sure the lawn doesn’t dry out over the next few weeks until the grass has grown.