Lawns actually show their appreciation - treat and maintain
your lawns well and
you will be rewarded with a lawn which will the envy of your
friends and neighbours !
Actually
the requirements for lawns will vary depending on factors
such as soil type, amount of sunlight, traffic and wear and tear,
drainage and climate. If you are unsure, speak to a qualified green keeper or qualified gardener
to draw up a programme specially for your lawn.
Mowing
A quality luxury domestic lawn requires mowing at least
fortnightly initially as from mid March to weekly through the
season, until October, with either a rotary with roller and box
or cylinder mower.
A luxury class lawn (example above) is mown frequently with a cylinder mower
1-2 times per week at around 8-10mm, increasing height to cope
with drought conditions when necessary. This gives a 1st
class surface. If you want a lawn suitable for golf putting
practice you need to take it down to about 5mm but that will
depend on the grass species and lawn levels.
Feeding
Do not overfeed! Maintain adequate growth rates by applying
the right amount of fertiliser in spring,
and again in summer when conditions permit. This will ensure
the sward remains healthy and stand up to daily wear and tear from
children and adults. Never apply spring
summer fertiliser in autumn. It will encourage fungal diseases.
It is beneficial to use an Autumn Winter fertiliser in October.
Lawn Treatments
In the autumn and spring apply mosskiller. This could be
an lawn sand based mosskiller, when rain is imminent within a
couple of days. This will hit the moss and encourage the
grass to replace the moss.
For special occasions e.g. a garden party, or just to give your
lawn a tonic apply a liquid based iron and micro nutrient feed
around 10 days prior. This will give a deep green
finish to the sward.
Occasionally scarify lightly with a machine or lawn rake, to discourage grass weeds
such as moss and comb
the sward upright before cutting.
Apply selective weedkiller to any weeds you see over the spring
and summer if you wish to have a
weed free lawn.

Monitor your lawn all year round for signs of fungal diseases.
Fusarium patch or snow mould is quite common from September until
March in the UK. Treatment with a systemic fungicide in the
autumn may be necessary.

Some treatments can be dual acting and eliminate earth
worms and insects. Worms can cause problems in fine turf. In the average lawn
they are beneficial. See our newlsetter issues 4 & 5 for details of the leather jacket.
This insect can devastate entire lawns by consuming the roots.
Remember... Much of the work for a top class lawn takes
place at the end or weather permitting out of the growing season
Scarify at least once per year (over the autumn/ winter) to remove any
thatch, dead grass and moss. Apply a mosskiller or autumn/winter
fertiliser if necessary will ensure that your lawn will be growing
sufficiently over the winter.
If you have drainage problems consider installing land
drains, improving the rootzone to enable surface water to drain
away is also worth trying. Deep spiking, (hollow tining if possible) and adding coarse
sand can help. In some instancies a drainage system may be
reuqired.
Top Dress Annually
One of the most beneficial lawn operations is top dressing with
special weed free 70/30 compost. This is undertaken every year on
green and top quality lawns - especially after spiking. It is applied
and then incorporated with the use of a tru-lute. This ensures a
surface free from lumps and bumps and helps counter damage and compaction from daily
traffic.
Ensure that piles of debris or compost are not left on lawns.
It can take up to 8 weeks for lawns to recover and may require day
to day attention such as seeding any patches.
Autumn / Winter
Leaves should be removed from the surface and edges regularly
(weekly) during the autumn/winter.
Further Help and Advice
More
info is available is available on the RHS web site at
www.rhs.org.uk
For safety you should follow the manufacturers label
recommendations at all times.
Engaging the services of a qualified professional will help
ensure that your lawn is properly treated at the correct rates and
prevent mishaps such as scorched patches
Free advice is also available from Country Landscapes on 01204 40 22 22