Everyone wants a stunning lawn for the spring and summer and thankfully there are several gardening tips that can help you achieve this. You can easily turn a thin, threadbare or brown lawn into a lush carpet of green grass in no time if you follow a few sensible tips.
1. Edging
One of the first things to do is properly edge your lawn. Using long-handled shears you can define the edges and stop grass growing into the borders and giving it a messy appearance. You can use a half-moon edger to re-shape any areas where grass has grown over. You could install a shallow moat or permanent edging so the grass cannot encroach further.
2. Feeding
Lawns sometimes need feeding to keep in top shape. Often the lawn responds best to feeding in the spring and summer, so apply fertiliser when rain is forecast so it can be washed down into the roots. The grass should respond and appear greener and lusher in a week or so. When preparing lawns for winter, use an autumn lawn fertiliser high in phosphates and potash, rather than a spring fertiliser.
3. Reduce compaction
If the grass is too compacted it can lead to bare patches and waterlogging. You can push a garden fork into the soil every 10cm or so to relieve any compaction and rolling the handle back and forth. The prongs will open up the soil and encourage the grass to breathe and grow. Any bare patches should be filled with turf.
4. Mowing
Lawns should be left longer in summer so leave about 10cm of grass to prevent drought. Keep blades sharp and choose a quality mower and replacement parts such as Mountfield spares from online shops such as https://www.diyspareparts.com/parts/mountfield/. Cut lawns once per week in summer and once every two weeks at most in other seasons.
5. Weeding
Some weeds can spread quickly through the lawn so get them out swiftly with a trowel. Rake before mowing to lift weeds and make them easier to remove. Mowing regularly removes weeds naturally and chemicals can sometimes cause more harm than good by weakening the grass.
6. Watering
Finally, watering grass in hot summer months is advisable, especially with younger lawns. Tough fescue can withstand less watering and its deep roots allow it to stay green and rich for longer in dry spells.