Lawn Care for an Unusual Spring

This winter has been odd to say the least. With unpredictable weather, including massively increased rainfall and fewer frosts, most people’s lawns are in a bit of a state now that spring has finally arrived. But lawns are incredibly hardy – and with the right attention are most likely to bounce back.

So, what do you need to do?

Identify the problem: Is your lawn patchy? Does it have undesirable grasses? Is it holding water? Could there be a problem with leatherjackets? It is important to first identify what is causing the issues in order to properly treat it. For example, if you suspect you might have leatherjackets, simply dig down (about the depth of a spade-head) and look to see if there are any grub-like creatures down there. If you find several of these in a small area, you will need to deal with that before doing anything else – otherwise all your efforts will be wasted. You can find out more about leatherjackets and how to deal with them through our advice page on our website.
If you are good to go, then start by mowing your lawn, being careful not to cut it too short so as not to stress the grass.
For most lawns, the best thing to do once mown is to aerate. After the huge amount of rain we’ve had, a lot of lawns may be struggling with drainage issues. You can aerate with a tubular aerator, or simply with a garden fork. Press the tines into the lawn evenly all over. This should both ease compaction and aid drainage.
If you are having issues with undesirable grasses, aeration will help, or you can verticut the lawn with either an electric scarifier or by hand with a pen knife or Hori Hori. By cutting into the lawn this way, you will be cutting across the horizontal roots of the undesirable grasses, leaving the desirable grasses unaffected.
Next, because of the bad weather, it may be worth scarifying your lawn (or simply giving it a good rake). This will remove any thatch and unwanted debris from the base of the grass and will create space for fertiliser and seed to get through.
Once raked, evenly spread a spring feed fertiliser such as Sherborne Turf’s Stripy Green Fertiliser at a rate of 35g per m2, and Overseed at a rate of 25g per m2. If you have issues with shade, it would be a good idea to use a shade tolerant seed instead. Once applied, allow the rain to water in. If there is no rain, water in by hand.
If you like, you could then add a layer of top dressing (a mixture of sand and compost) at a depth of 3mm. This helps even out the surface and aids drainage whilst also giving the new seeds an element of protection from birds etc.
Then, leave it be. You should start to see new growth within a few weeks, and the new grass will gradually establish over the summer and autumn.

Please contact us on 01935 850388, or message us online through our website or social media, if you would like any advice on your lawn – we are always happy to help.