SPRING LAWN CARE

Jason Anning, Landscape Manager, Queen Thorne Landscapes

There is a vast array of options available to create your ideal outdoor space, from paving to gravel to astroturf to wildflower meadows. Each has its advantages and disadvantages but we would like to offer a defence for keeping your lawn.

Though occasionally maligned as an enemy to pollinators, your lawn actually offers a vital highway, providing access to plants and flowers throughout your garden. It is an important ecosystem in its own right, providing an important habitat for creatures both above and below the surface, encouraging wildlife to return to your garden again and again. And on top of this, it is a versatile and useful surface, perfect for games or entertaining whilst looking attractive all year round, if maintained.

An Early Spring

In the southwest of England, our lawns come back to life as early as the end of February. Keep your alexkich/iStock eyes peeled for signs such as worm casts appearing on the surface. Even if this is the case, there is no need to do any real work to your lawn, except gently sweeping the worm casts away using an outdoor brush to keep an even surface.

March

March is when lawn care can begin. By now the grass should have started to grow and the ground should have softened. Key tasks include:

• Raking away thatch, leaves and other debris. (Thatch is a layer of material on top of the soil surface that, if left, can reduce water penetration and increase the possibility of disease.) Rake gently so as not to damage the grass.

• Rolling the lawn. If there have been heavy frosts, the surface may need evening out with light rolling.

• Mow your lawn. Only remove the top of the grass with the first cut so as not to stress the grass and to avoid yellowing. Try to cut when the weather is dry. You should only need to mow twice this month.

• Look out for and treat moss. We recommend a high-iron fertiliser or eco-friendly moss treatment.

• Neaten edges with an edging tool.

• If your grass is growing well, now’s the time to fertilise. Your lawn has been asleep all winter and when it wakes up it will be hungry. Stripy Green Fertiliser is the ideal choice as it contains a mixture of micronutrients which encourage leafy growth so your lawn will green up quickly. The perfect conditions for applying fertiliser are when the lawn is dry and just before rain. If there is not much rain, make sure to water the lawn well instead.

April

The grass will be actively growing now and so will the weeds. Key tasks include:

• Dig out patches of unwanted coarse grass or weeds. Fill holes with soil and either re-seed or re-turf as necessary.

• Cut more regularly to ensure the grass doesn’t get too long. Remember your lawns should never be reduced/cut by more than 1/3 of their total length.

• If you didn’t fertilise in March, then apply Stripy Green Fertiliser now to give your lawn a good feed, making sure it is well watered in.

May

Be wary of long dry spells. Key tasks include: queenthorne.co.uk

• Increase mowing frequency to about once a week, lowering the height of the mower to keep the grass shorter.

• If there is a dry spell, ensure the lawn is well watered. It might be a good idea to prick the surface lightly to ensure good irrigation.