We often inherit lawns that have been either neglected and so have developed problems thanks to the lawn being too long, or lawns that have been mown terribly short and so are very stressed.

I suppose it makes sense, many plants like regular, but gentle “pruning” and bush out and thrive as a result of not getting too leggy, and conversely if they are cut back harshly and is very little leaf for photosynthesis then the plant will not be able to recover.

Here are our 6 top mowing tips for a great lawn:

1. Never cut the grass lower than 2.5 cms (1 inch). This length is particularly great for creating those all important stripes with a mower that has a roller on the back.
2. Never cut off more than 1/3rd of the growth at a time, as this can shock the grass plants.
3. Mow at least once a week during the season from March to October and longer if circumstances dictate. Long grass tends to lead to a thinner sward and weak grass plants.
4. Alternate the direction in which you cut the grass, this stops the grass getting used to growing in one direction, which can create additional thatch and also stops tram lines from wheeled mowers.
5. Always keep your mower blades sharp. This helps the grass plants to resist disease and avoids the ends of the sward having an unattractive ripped brown edge.
6. If you can, avoid mowers which have no height adjustment. Scalping is sadly often the result in mowers that do not allow the flexibility of raising the blades especially if your lawn is uneven. This rather unforgiving nature of the mower leads to long term brown/bare patches so these mowers are best avoided all together.

There are several things that can be done to help, including properly preparing your lawn during the spring, by feeding, aerating, and generally helping the grass gross strong roots. Its is also important not to mow your lawn too short. A slightly longer lawn will help trap whatever moisture there it.

Most importantly, and perhaps most obviously is to water your lawn. During periods of hot and dry weather (and especially if you have recently seeded) we recommend watering every day. The best solution to do this, is to use a sprinker, or install an irrigation system, which typically will embed sprinkler heads within or close to the lawn.

We’ve just started working with an irrigation company which offers systems that do just that. We’ve seen them in action and they are very good. Typically they install “intelligent” computer controller irrigation i.e. its works on a system but responds to existing water levels.

We’re also particularly impressed by their solution to the enviromental concerns surrounding use of water in your garden – they can use “grey water” (recyled from other domestic uses) or even rainwater (stored in underground tanks).

If you are interested please give us a call in the office and we can point you in the right direction 0800 0612606 or visit Watermatic Ltd (mention you found them through us and we can liase with them on the right system).

MOSS

We have found that due to a horrible wet August, a lot of our lawns are looking pretty mossy this year; unlike weeds, moss cannot be completely killed off as spores live on post treatment. Therefore even if we have done our best to rid our lawns of a moss infestation this autumn you may see it rearing its ugly head again. If this is the case we would recommend a moss control this winter to retard any growth now,  making the spring task of getting your lawn back in shape much easier (and less costly!).

COMPACTION

Moss thrives on lawns which are suffering from compaction meaning that as a result of poor drainage, water sits on or near to the surface. By aerating you loosen the soil which allows the water to drain away with greater ease and permitting better oxygenation of the root zone.

We are spiking lawns that could benefit from some extra aeration this winter. If your lawn is very soggy after rain or you have worn areas due to use (paths to sheds, areas used frequently for garden games etc) then spiking could really make a difference in preparation for a lovely lawn next spring.

LEAF FALL

With the recent cold weather the trees are shedding their final leaves. Make sure you remove the leaves as soon as you can as they encourage worm activity on the surface, shut out the light and oxygen and will generally be deleterious to the health of your lawn. Be warned: piles of leaves left on lawn for any length of time will kill off the grass underneath!

MOWING

Oh yes, and don’t forget to get out there on a dry afternoon and give your lawn at least one haircut this month!

The growing season for lawns is stretching into the winter now with lawns needing to be mown well into November and even have once a month haircuts from December to February. Even if the weather turns autumnal, the grass will keep growing until the soil temperature drops below 5 degrees C. (Our mowers cope well with wetter lawns so let us know if you think that we can help you keep your lawn in trim.)

It is very important to keep on top of the lawn over the winter – letting it grow long will encourage moss and a thinning out of the lawn meaning more repair work in the spring.