How to get your lawn looking good once more
The advent of spring signals more than the time when homes traditionally get a top to tail spring clean.
For green-fingered homeowners, and those wondering what next to do in the garden, it is the time for a post-winter makeover.
As the temperature starts to rise one area that can do with a little TLC is the lawn.
Andrew White, of Kettering, became interested in lawns as a teenager watching the greensmen at work on his local golf course.
His career after university took him to Boughton Loam on the Telford Way industrial estate, where he learned all about composting, before becoming an adviser for lawn care experts TruGreen.
He said: "This is the perfect time to start working on your lawn to get it in good shape for the summer.
"Lawns are multi-functional and can be a play area for children and grandchildren, a centrepiece for an ornamental garden, a striped or patterned lawn which can be accomplished with a mower that has a roller attachment or it can be your dining area for barbecues and even a place for sunbathing.
"If you are looking for a bowling green finish you need to be working on it all day five days a week, which is why golf clubs employ full-time greensmen."
As we approach the middle of March and head towards April the first job he recommends for your lawn is aeration.
If you don't fancy hiring expensive equipment to do the job using a garden pitchfork will accomplish the job. Simply pierce holes in your lawn about four inches deep, distributed evenly across any problems areas (look out for patchy growth and moss).
Aeration will improve drainage, which will also help to control or eliminate moss and will ultimately improve your lawn's health and appearance.
Aside from looking untidy, moss outperforms grass and will reduce the quality and density of your lawn.
Mr White said: "Applying a moss treatment in March, such as I am doing now, will get your lawn in tip top condition for summer."
If the winter has caused a build-up of moss and thatch on your lawn a process called scarification will help create a great looking lawn.
Scarification is an intensive treatment that stresses the grass plant but if done now, at the start of the growth period, the grass will have the best chance of recovery and in a few weeks you will be able to enjoy a lush carpet of thick green grass.
March is also the best time to start feeding your lawn as this gives strength to the grass plants and give your lawn the best chance of surviving the hot summer months.
Looking ahead to the time when the grass needs cutting for the first time, Mr White had the following piece of advice.
He said: "Before you begin mowing, get the blade sharpened. If it is blunt it will not slice the grass but pull it.
"The easy way to tell if your blade needs sharpening or not is not to run your finger along it but look at the grass you have cut.
"It should look clean on top, if the tips of the blades of grass are pale, your blade needs sharpening."
Mr White also offers gardeners a tip on watering lawns.
He said: "People can over-water them and excessive watering only increases the risk of spreading diseases.
"At this time of year lawns get enough water naturally and in a dry summer they only need watering every ten to 14 days.
Then they should be watered thoroughly to allow the water to seep into the roots, a light watering, even if done frequently, will not do the job properly.
Lawn care treatments are available from TruGreen (www.trugreen.co.uk) and other lawn care providers and experts are always on hand to offer advice.
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Weather for Kettering
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: South east
