• Best tip possible is to think about how you improve your soils and what have you done to enhance them recently? Grasses are plants and making soils work is the most important aspect you need to think about.  In fact, thinking about grass like your other plants will help you think about what we may be doing wrong. Does it have adequate air, light, water, food?  Does it hold too much water?  Is it hungry looking?

• Try and work out what grass species you may have and whatever condition your lawn may be in, look at why that species may still be doing well? That way you can choose to use that grass species in any work in the future.  In most cases our lawns will benefit from using native grass species (often called luxury lawn mixtures) These will grow best in your lawn, so don’t always be fooled by sexy sales messages.  Hard wearing grasses are not always the answer as they grow singularly.  Meaning that seed (or plant) never develops into two plants (unlike our luxury lawn mixes) Our native species have everything we need, including being able to achieve a bowling green finish

• Mowing is by far the most important thing any homeowner must do. Done well and it can enhance any lawn.  Done badly and the lawn can take months to get back.  Mowing is pruning, so ensure your mower blade is as sharp as your secateurs!  It’s a must do task.

• Aerate your lawn correctly. Soil structure is vital in keeping plant roots healthy.  So, when we aerate, we need to understand what we are trying to do.  Removing soil plugs when Hollow coring will allow soils to breathe and will add huge amounts of oxygen into your soils compared to using a solid tine or fork

• Prune your lawn once a year, again with the correct tools. Our native grasses give us the foundation that when we prune them, they get thicker.  Unlike the hard-wearing ryegrasses.  So, pruning them (scarifying) is a way to control moss and thatch and whilst doing that, allowing the lawns to get even thicker than they were before!  However, be aware that a Spring tine rake will only remove debris from the lawn, it will not prune them.  For this we need to use a machine with a blade spinning at high speed.  This slices through the shoots and stolons to create new plants from the existing ones.  How cool is that!

• Weeds and pests are a common problem, but they’re often found on neglected poor lawns. Removing weeds isn’t an issue when you make grass the dominant species.  This will outcompete many weeds, so much so that you’ll probably accept a few here and there.  The same can be said for pests.  Keep aerating soils, mowing the lawn regularly and the pests will often fine more suitable habitats.  Good lawn care is the best way to prevent weeds and pests without the need for dangerous chemicals.

• Feeding the lawn is always a tricky area in that no one seems to know much about. Feeding is essential when you want that lush green lawn.  Removing the clippings when we mow removes essential nutrient, so adding them when the plants need it is a great way to keep plants healthy.  You can essentially feed your lawn from February to November these days and don’t be fooled by having to apply a Spring feed in Spring and an Autumn one only in Autumn.  Truegrass for example, apart from having its natural carrier made from composted recycled food waste, for its natural balance of amino, fulvic and humic acids is a feed that can be used all year round so no more wasted products hanging around on your shelves.

All in all, doing regular bits of wok to your lawn will mean grass will be dominant and healthy.  This will automatically mean the problems like weeds and pests are nothing more than memories.  Watering becomes something you don’t have to worry about even during dry spells as you know the plants will always bounce back.

Planning now and doing work this Spring should mean all you have to do is enjoy the lawn for the remainder of the year. 

Taking our online lawn care course can make all of that a little easier too.