Garden Action

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Caring for your lawn (continued page 2)

Lawn Care Calendar

Our simple lawn care calendar below explains when and how to look after your lawn. This lawn care calendar will automatically adjust all dates (sowing, planting cutting etc.) to be correct for the area where you live. But only if you record your home town with us. If you haven't done this yet, do it now by clicking here. It will only take a minute and once done it never need be done again!


January to March These are the lazy months in your lawn care calendar! Avoid walking on it if it is waterlogged or frozen. This is a good time to check that the lawn mower is in good order, arrange for a service if not.

March Mid month, rake up all the rubbish on the surface of the lawn. Make the first cut of the season when the weather conditions are dry. The first of the new season should just 'top' the grass. Cutting off too much of the grass could damage it this early in the season. 

Worm casts may become a problem at this time of year. If the problem is bad, treat with derris.

Spring Spring is the beginning of the lawn care calendar. During the spring, increase the frequency of mowing and gradually lower the height of the cut to the normal summer cutting height.

Feed the lawn with an application of spring lawn feed. The best feeds contain some long-lasting nitrogen fertiliser. Click here to jump to the 'lawn feed' section for more details.

Mid spring is the best time for applying a weed killer or weed and feed. If moss is a problem, use a good brand of lawn sand and rake up the dead moss a fortnight later. Click here to jump to the 'lawn weed' section for more details.

Summer Mow to the normal summer cutting height once or twice a week if possible.

If weeds or moss have survived the spring weed treatment, apply again in July. If only a few persistent weeds have survived, treat those weeds with a 'spot' treatment.

If dry weather is prolonged, water the lawn well. A good soaking once or twice is far better than frequent light watering. 

September Autumn is here so decrease the frequency of mowing and gradually increase the height of the cut. 

Worm casts may become a problem at this time of year. If the problem is bad, treat with derris - click here to jump to the 'worm treatment' section for more details. 

This is a great month to scarify the lawn and follow it up with spiking to aerate the soil below the lawn.

After September For the last cut of the year, simply 'top' the grass. 

Feed the lawn with an application of autumn lawn feed. Click here to jump to the 'lawn feed' section for more details.

Re-seeding or re-turfing is best done early in the autumn. The ground is still warm from the summer but is also moist.

Brush up autumn leaves.




Name: jim@GardenAction
E-mail: webmaster@gardenaction.co.uk
Date posted: December 12, 2011 - 02:02 pm
Message: Scarifying scratches up the rank growth and dead matter left after winter. Treat with a moss killer or a lawn sand in early spring and get to work with a leaf rake.


Name: Bill Peters
E-mail: williampeters@virginmedia.com
Date posted: December 12, 2011 - 10:40 am
Message: your views on Scarifying the Lawn and the best time to carry out the work


Name: jamie
E-mail: jamieharse@yhoo.uk
Date posted: August 15, 2011 - 10:32 am
Message: yes


Name: Ian Marquis
E-mail: ianmarquis125@hotmail.co.uk
Date posted: January 15, 2011 - 05:54 am
Message: Wonder if you can help, although I have now fenced it off my 2 Labradors have churned up parts of my lawn, to the point where it could do with rolling, in view of the fact the area is now soft ,is it ok to roll it now ? please advise, Thanks Ian.


Name: Jay
E-mail: Private
Date posted: September 01, 2010 - 09:58 am
Message: My lawn is being dug regularly by some one in the night who has a sharp nose. I think its a badger. I have noticed some white color ring worms under the turf. What can I do for this and what is the treatment.

Thanks.


Name: Brett Moore
E-mail: 484bam@googlemail.com
Date posted: August 04, 2010 - 03:26 pm
Message: I have an infestation of red ants in my front and back lawns, I would say there are about 10 - 15 separate nests varying in size. 2 years ago I rotivated the whole lawn and ant dusted all the nest. This hasn't worked. Someone also advised me to use salt, this hasn't worked either but has locally killed my grass. Please can you advise?