Spring is here so now’s the time to take action and get your grass gorgeous again!
TV and radio broadcaster Martin is an RHS judge and former head gardener
The lawn is important for many people. It’s green all year round and is the perfect foil for plants in beds and borders around it.
Lawns also take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as well as helping to soak in vast quantities of water, reducing water runoff and soil erosion.
My lawns are an integral part of the garden and I want them to look good all year round, but I’m not looking for a bowling green! My care routine is very simple and the most important thing to do for a healthy lawn is regular mowing. The secret is to mow little and often and not too short. This will really help thicken up a weak lawn over a season, especially if combined with a little lawn fertiliser at this time of the year. I mainly use a rotary mulch mower that finely chops the grass clippings and recycles them down into the lawn.
I do scarify occasionally in spring with an electric scarifier that rakes out dead and congested material known as thatch. It also cuts through spreading grasses, helping the lawn to thicken up. Aeration is beneficial, especially in areas that are compacted and subject to regular footfall, or where drainage is poor, and for this I use a garden fork.
When it comes to feeding, don’t overdo it, especially if you mulch mow. A light feed now when the grass is growing is usually enough. The other thing I do is a little overseeding on thin or bare patches and it’s the perfect time to do it now the soil is warming up.
Once your lawn is in good condition, it’s fairly easy to keep it that way.
TOP TIPS
1 Mowing little and often will greatly improve your lawn. Do this weekly and don’t mow too short. A
