There is not a more resplendent sight than when a luscious green lawn adorns your property.
But as you might have noticed, well-maintained lawns that are the envy of your neighbours don't happen by magic. Instead, lawns require a little TLC to keep their condition in top form.
If you are experiencing issues with your lawn or just don't know where to start, we've put together the following guide on how to care for your lawn to cover the most important lawn care tips.
What's involved in maintaining a grass lawn?
While grass is fairly resilient, it can succumb to various issues which spoil its appearance or usability if it isn't well maintained.
The good news is that, for the most part, caring for a lawn is quite straightforward. However, some tasks need to be performed regularly or without delay to combat various challenges relating to the weather, diseases or general weed growth, from mowing to grass seed treatment. We have it all covered here!
Regular mowing
As any gardener will tell you, one of the best things you can do for your lawn is to mow regularly.
Mowing the lawn is not just about maintaining the optimum grass height. That's because regular mowing can also encourage healthy growth of the grass while helping to prevent weeds and thatch build-up.
As a general rule, lawns should be mowed weekly or fortnightly between March and October. During the winter, grass becomes dormant, so you do not need to mow your lawn until the weather begins to warm up again in the spring.
To give the best cut, the blades on your lawn mower also need to be cleaned and sharpened regularly. Cutting the grass with blunt mower blades instead of sharp blades can actually stress the grass, which may cause it not to take in nutrients or water.
There are several types of lawnmowers to choose from. When it comes to choosing the right mower for your garden, a cylinder mower can give a pristine finish for bowling green or very fine turf. It's also possible to create a striped lawn with this type of mower. Rotary or hover mowers are perfect for cutting patches of grass found in a typical garden.
Applying lawn feed
Lawn feed is a vital step in lawn care, as it helps ensure that the grass is getting everything it needs to be healthy. It's recommended to apply lawn feed four times a year, including once in spring, twice in summer and once again in late autumn.
Some signs your lawn could benefit from an application of lawn feed or fertiliser include brown or yellow patches. In addition, if you spot any mushroom, moss or weed patches, then your lawn likely has some nutritional imbalances.
Watering the lawn
Nobody likes the look or indeed texture of a dehydrated lawn. To keep the moisture levels topped up, your lawn should ideally be watered at least once a week, depending on how much rainfall it has received. Avoid watering post-heavy rain so that your lawn doesn't become waterlogged.
In the summer months, watering your lawn should happen daily as the higher temperatures may dry out the soil. During those extremely hot days we've experienced in recent years, your grass will need to be watered twice a day.
Dealing with a newly seeded lawn? Water twice a day for the first few weeks until your lawn becomes established. Keep watering the lawn regularly but avoid over saturating the ground.
Here's another top tip. Many areas of the UK become subject to a hosepipe ban in the summer. However, by using a water butt, you can collect natural rainfall for your summer lawn care while also saving money on your water bills.
Lawn edging
Lawn edging is a final optional step, but it will give your grass that pristine and highly manicured look. That's because lawn edging means the edges of the grass will be maintained and sharply cut rather than being allowed to encroach onto paths or borders.
To edge your lawn, you will need an edging tool, which is also known as a half-moon tool due to its shape. You simply need to use the tool to work along the edge, with your weight doing most of the work for you as the tool cuts through the ground. Pop any discarded pieces of turf or soil into your compost heap to finish up.
Common lawn issues and how to fix them - Lawn care tips
The whole reason we put so much effort into lawn care is so that we can have a fantastic-looking asset to boost kerb appeal and enhance the overall enjoyment of our outdoor spaces.
Unfortunately, nature can sometimes work against us by creating unsightly or problematic lawn issues which will require attention to fix.
It may be the case that you've just moved into a property where the lawn has been neglected. Or maybe you've just grown a lawn and want to maintain its appearance. In either case, if you notice any of the following lawn issues, our advice is to be proactive in addressing the problem.
Perform the following tasks to encourage a healthy, thicker lawn and to fill gaps which have occurred due to dehydration or damage to the lawn.
Brown spots - May be caused by dehydration, fungal diseases, pests, thatch, pet urination or improper mowing. Identify the cause and rake the grass to remove dead patches. Follow up with the applicable lawn treatment for the issue and keep the grass hydrated.
Compacted grass - A compacted lawn is usually the result of heavy foot traffic. Compacted grass can be relieved by aerating it to provide opportunities for moisture and oxygen to reach the soil.
Dehydrated lawn - First, check the moisture by placing a screwdriver into the ground to determine how dry it is. If there is a lot of resistance, the soil is likely dry. Scarify to remove any dead material and aerate the soil. Try to resist watering the lawn, as although this might seem like an obvious fix, as soon as the lawn receives rainfall, this will trigger new growth from the grassroots. However, take steps to prevent the problem from recurring by watering regularly once the lawn recovers.
Disease - Lawn disease is usually caused by a fungus which depletes nutrients from the soil, with common lawn diseases including Red Thread, Fusarium, Leaf Spot, Snow Mould and Rust. Identify the disease and follow up with the applicable lawn care treatment.
Nutrient deficiencies - Apply lawn feed to the affected grass and also water regularly. The lawn may also need trimming down first to a short length before treatment can begin to speed up recovery. Weeding grass regularly can also remove nutrient competition from the lawn.
Patchy lawn - Lawn patches may be the result of nutrient deficiency or even poor grass-sowing technique. Identify if the lawn needs lawn treatment or watering. Use a grass seed treatment to fill any patches and keep the area nourished and hydrated until the new growth becomes established.
Thatch buildup - Thatch is usually the result of improper fertilisation. Use a rake to remove the layer of thatch and follow up with an appropriate lawn care maintenance plan to prevent the issue from returning.
Weeds - Weeding grass can be done manually through hand weeding, or you can use a spot treatment that is safe for grass lawns. Mowing your grass at the correct height and applying a slow-release feed can help prevent weeds from appearing on your lawn.
Experiencing any of the above issues? Shoplawn treatment ideas at Gardeners Dream to purchase our top products or accessories to help restore the look of your lawn.
How to take care of grass FAQs
There can be a lot to learn when it comes to how to care for your lawn. We've answered some of the top queries below based on the most popular questions. If you're in search of further help, please reach out to our customer care team.
What is lawn care?
Lawn care is a broad term which covers all of the activities and techniques needed to maintain a healthy lawn. The steps involved in taking care of grass strive to promote the growth, appearance, and longevity of the lawn by managing the effects of environmental conditions, in addition to weeds, pests, and diseases. Effective lawn care comes down to undertaking regular maintenance such as mowing, watering, weeding, aerating, dethatching and fertilising, depending on the needs of the lawn.
When to start watering grass
If your lawn has recently been sown, then you need to be watering it twice a day for the first few weeks. For established lawns, you will need to start watering as soon as the weather gets dry, which can happen as early as spring. Always keep an eye out for signs your lawn is looking parched, which may happen due to unpredictable weather events, as we've seen in recent years.
When to fertilise your lawn
For cool season grasses, aim to fertilise your lawn at least twice a year in spring and autumn but aim for four times a year if possible. Overall, adding nourishment to the soil is an integral part of how to care for your lawn.
When does lawn grass stop growing?
Grass becomes dormant in winter, which is when you will notice the growth reduces or stops. The grass dormancy period is in November, and noticeable growth will resume in March. A good tip is to give a final cut to your grass at the end of October.
Can you mow the lawn when the grass is wet?
It's generally acceptable to cut grass when it's slightly damp. However, if the ground is saturated following heavy rainfall, it is best to wait for the grass to dry out to avoid issues such as clumping. From a practical point of view, lawnmowers may not operate at all or as well in wet conditions.
How to get rid of clover grass on the lawn
Clover is a pesky weed that can spoil the look of your lawn. To remove clover from your grass lawn, you can either use a grass-friendly weed killer as a spot treatment or dig out the affected areas and replace them with new turf or seeds. BrowseGardeners Dream weed killers if you would prefer not to dig out patches of lawn affected by clovers or other weeds.
How to aerate grass lawn
It's quite simple to aerate a lawn using a garden fork. What you're looking to do is create holes of around 30 mm in depth every few inches or so right across the lawn. Doing so will allow oxygen and nutrients to reach the soil. Avoid aerating in very dry or wet conditions.
How to care for a new lawn
The approach on how to take care of grass will differ depending on when the lawn was established. Lawn care for newly established lawns requires the lawn never being allowed to dry out. You should also try to keep off the grass as much as possible for the first few weeks.
How to repair an existing lawn with grass seed
It's possible to sow grass seed to fix bare patches in a lawn. Grab your seed mix and distribute the seeds over the bare patches. Finish by raking over the soil to mix it with the seeds, and then water the ground. The seeds should start to germinate and grow after about a week.
Shop all lawn care at Gardeners Dream
We hope our guide on how to care for a lawn has provided some helpful pointers, especially if you are looking to revive a patchy, brown or generally lacklustre lawn.
Your efforts will definitely be worth it, as not only do healthy lawns look the part, but they also promote biodiversity. Grass can even help purify the air, making lawns particularly valuable in urbanised areas especially.
While you're here, check out our full range ofgardening products and accessories. Shop for all your lawn care needs, including seeds, fertilisers, and tools, and receive free UK delivery on orders over £50.
