Lawn Maintenance

A lawn is one of the most important features in a garden. It provides an important refreshing green foil for colourful flowering plants and a place for the family to relax and play. However, in order for it to be a success, much careful thought and preparation are necessary during its establishment. As long as you do proper preparations and follow a few simple guidelines, the perfect lawn could be just a few short steps away. (more…)

Shopping for turf as a domestic customer 

Domestic customers looking for turf for a garden will need to know that they are investing in a high quality product, that is going to grow well in their garden. This is a good time to assess the kind of turf you have in your garden – ask about the different types that could be beneficial, like turf for shady gardens, or extra strong turf. If you find that the grass your house came with isn’t doing the job, then this is a great option for you. It will give you the chance to select something better, so you can enjoy greener, healthier grass.

Shopping for turf as a business 

If you run a business that requires turf, it’s also important you look for quality in the product. This will be especially important if you run a golf course or a bowling green – some kind of business where specialist turf is needed. County greens turf is usually the best option here, as it is a premium type of turf made especially for business customers and for particular use on golf courses.

If you run a business like landscaping or gardening, you might need turf on a more regular basis. Finding a local turf supplier can be important, when you know that you need to rely on the supply chain in the summer months especially. Suppliers can offer you different types of turf, so that you can in turn offer a better service to your customers.

If you have a lawned area of the garden that has to be walked on regularly perhaps by the family pet dog or as you make your way to the log store it can get very muddy at this time of the year usually resulting in the mud being trodden into the house. You may wonder whether to dig up the lawn altogether and either put down artificial grass or pave the area instead. Before you take these drastic measures it is worth taking a good hard look at the lawn to see whether it can be improved at all simply by putting in some drainage and making sure that the lawn is adequately aerated so that the water can drain away or evaporate more easily.

Aerating a lawn can be done with a specialist aerator tool that is rolled along the lawn, but it is equally as effective to use a garden fork. Just go over the lawn poking holes on the surface which will allow air to get to the soil.

If the lawn suffers from poor drainage then it may need to have some channels dug into the lawn that are filled with fine gravel which will allow the rainwater on the lawn to drain away quickly.

As summer is now upon us our lawns will need regular mowing and trimming possibly once a week or certainly once a fortnight but is your mower up to the job or does it struggle to cut longer grass or get stuck on ground that is damp and uneven?

It is important to get the right mower for your lawn so that mowing does not become a chore to be avoided. There are lots of different mowers on the market, so it is a good idea to do a spot of research and look at buyer reviews before you buy. Consider things such as is there an electrical socket suitable for an electric lawnmower near enough to the lawned area or is it better to get a petrol mower instead? Do you need a self-propelled petrol mower to make mowing easier if the lawn is large or on an incline?

Cordless lawnmowers that run on battery power are a good option if you have a smaller lawn and do not want a large petrol mower. These can be charged up in the garage or house and are light-weight and compact. Some people are purchasing the robotic lawnmowers that once started will mow the lawn without any human intervention.

The issue that puts many people off petrol mowers is having to pull start it but there are now models that have electronic starters making starting the mower less strenuous.

If your lawn is looking patchy in places after the winter months there are some easy ways to make it lush and green again.

Removing any debris such as leaves, twigs and dead plants is the first step to a rejuvenated lawn. A clean up will allow you to assess the state of the grass and decide what to do next. Using a lawn rake to do this will help the process of bringing your lawn back to its former glory.

As you are examining the lawn, get rid of any weeds by pulling them out so that they will not benefit from the fertiliser that you will be putting on the lawn later. Dandelions and plantain weeds are the main culprits in our lawns and if left they can soon take over.

It is important to aerate the topsoil of the lawn as it can get waterlogged and compacted over the winter. A purpose made spike aerator can be used but a garden fork can be equally as effective. Once this has been done, grass seed can be sprinkled on bare patches and covered with a fine layer of compost to prevent birds pinching the seed.

Lastly, it is a good idea to fertilise the lawn with a good quality fertiliser to make your lawn look greener and healthier.