OUTDOOR LIVING/LAWNCARE
Love your
lawn
Look after your grass like a pro, with these
insider tips from our head lawnkeeper
S
pring is the perfect
time to pamper your
lawn and prepare it
for summer. So arm yourself
with some expert know-
how and come in store for
everything you need to feed
and weed your grass to
maximise its strength and
vigour. You’ll find time-
saving gadgets, such as the
EverGreen Drop Spreader,
which makes lawn care
easier than ever, along with
the latest nifty hand tools
to help you keep on top of
weeds and smarten edges.
Before you start, have a
quick tidy up and remove
any debris such as dead
sticks, leaves and rubbish
that may have gathered
during the winter months.
MOSS CONTROL
Jobs to do
Aerating (above)
and watering in
warmer weather.
40/BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
CUTTING
Treat your lawn to its first
trim a few weeks after
temperatures rise above
5°C, when the grass starts
growing again. Keep the
blades on their highest
setting at first. Cutting the
grass too short, too soon
(known as scalping) can
leave it vulnerable to disease
and weeds.
In hot weather, keep the
blades of the mower on their
highest setting; longer grass
copes better in a drought.
Tackle moss by scarifying
your lawn with a spring-tined
rake. Ensure the blades
reach down to the soil
surface, and rake vigorously
to remove all the dead grass
and debris.
Moss thrives in
compacted, waterlogged soil,
so aerate it with a regular
garden fork, inserting the
tines to a depth of 10-15cm
(4-6in). Repeat so the whole
lawn is spiked then top dress
it with a free-draining
compost mix, such as
Westland Lawn Dressing.
Alternatively, try EverGreen
No Rake Moss Remover Lawn
Food. It contains naturally
occurring bacteria, which
digest the dead moss,
together with a feed that will
keep your lawn nourished for
up to three months and helps
prevent moss regrowth.
FEEDING AND
WATERING
Feed and weed with
Evergreen Complete 4 in 1,
a dual-purpose fertiliser and
lawn weedkiller. Water it in
well or apply just before rain
is forecast. Then, a fortnight
after use, remove dead weeds
with a spring-tined rake.
If 2019 proves another
scorcher, use water wisely.
If watering with a sprinkler
choose the cool early morning
or evening when the moisture
will evaporate more
slowly. Repeat every
10 days. Don’t worry
if drought turns
grass yellow;
it is probably
not dead and
will soon green
up again when
rain returns.