With spring just around the corner, warmer weather may be on the horizon, which means it’s important to start maintaining the lawn early to make sure it doesn’t struggle. According to one expert, gardeners must perform a number of tasks when it comes to lawns, including raking, feeding and mowing.
1. Rake the lawn
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Fiona Jenkins, gardening expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk, explained: “In March, as the weather begins to warm, gardeners need to remove any dead leaves, twigs and debris The lawn must be raked. Frozen in winter.
“Raking also helps loosen the soil and allows air and water to penetrate the grass roots. This process stimulates growth and helps the lawn recover from winter dormancy.
“The gardener should then use a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed growth. The herbicide works by forming a barrier on the soil surface that prevents weeds from germinating.
“This is an essential step in lawn care because it prevents weeds from competing with grass for nutrients and sunlight.”
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2. Feed the Lawn
Gardeners should also add a slow-release fertilizer to their lawn, which will provide the grass with the nutrients it needs to grow and stay healthy.
Slow-release fertilizers are ideal because they release nutrients slowly over time, providing a steady supply to lawns and making it easier for gardeners.
The expert added: “To keep grass green and thick for summer, gardeners should continue to fertilize their lawns regularly throughout the spring and summer months.
“A balanced fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is ideal. You must water the lawn thoroughly and regularly to help the roots grow deeper and stronger. Proper watering also encourages new growth and helps prevent dry patches.
3. Mowing the Lawn
Although it’s almost spring, areas of the UK are still experiencing bitter temperatures, meaning lawn mowing may not be needed this month.
The grass starts to grow when the soil temperature reaches around 10C for two consecutive weeks.
Fiona said: “In March, it is better to mow your lawn less often. Mowing every two to three weeks is recommended, depending on how fast it is growing.
“It’s important to note that during the early spring months, grass can be weak, and cutting it too short can damage the roots.
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“When mowing the lawn, it’s important to take off no more than one-third of the blade length of the grass with each cut.
“Mowing too much can cause stress in the lawn, making it more vulnerable to disease and insect damage.
“It’s also important to keep mower blades sharp because dull blades can tear the grass, causing brown, uneven patches.”
One problem gardeners may encounter with their lawns in the spring is growing an often damp, poorly drained lawn.
Carlos Real, lawn expert and managing director of lawn care products manufacturer Total Lawn, said: “If you have a lot of moss, you just need to kill it.
“This is done with a heavy dose of iron sulfate, which is a key ingredient in many moss killing products and can kill moss in a matter of days.
“After applying it, the moss should turn black within two to three days, then it’s ready to be removed. To remove dead moss, it’s a job to rake it off the lawn with a hand rake and discard.
“To avoid spreading it further, avoid spreading the moss too far and instead carry a refuse bag to collect the residue at the source. You’d be surprised how much moss comes out of the ground.