Could your lawn do with a bit of TLC? If you have more weeds than lawn, patchy areas and your lawn looks more lacklustre than lush and green then it may be time to take a step back and repair your lawn to help it grow back thicker and healthier. Grass is an amazing plant which has the ability to regenerate quickly, so yes, the grass can look greener on the other side. Simply follow these few handy tips to get your lawn looking tip top.
Top Tip: It’s best to repair your lawn in the autumn or spring, when moisture levels are at an optimum and help it grow back lush and strong. However it's always best to diagnose the problem to avoid repeated lawn and garden care mistakes.
Common lawn problem can include…
1. Lack of sunshine: Where areas of your garden are heavily shaded and not getting enough light to maintain healthy growth and instead becomes yellow and thinner as time passes.
Fix: Try trimming back any shrubs and trees that are casting too much shade over your lawn, will help your lawn enormously. After all, everything is better when it’s sunnier, right? Where possible replace solid fences with trellises.
Also try raising the height of the lawn mower too. Grass harvests sunlight through its leaves, so the bigger the total surface area of the of the leaves the more sunlight the grass can harvest. Therefore, your grass will appreciate being able to grow a little longer. Remember to weed regularly and/or try re-seeding.
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2. Wear and tear: Can leave your lawn looking tired and patchy, therefore a little love and care is needed to support new growth.
Fix: The best solution is to re-seed to promote new grass growth. For best results cut out any larger damaged turf, then sprinkle and distribute the seed evenly in the affected area. Cover with a light sprinkling of top soil to hide it from birds and water thoroughly with a gentle hose setting. Take time to complete the process and to avoid poor germination. Using a lawn feed such as Aftercut All In One will help promote growth and kill weeds and moss.
3. Animal urine: Is not nice to think about but animal urine kills grass and can destroy precious grass roots. A common problem if you have a pet.
Fix: Firstly, rake out the dead grass, this will also remove dead leaves and moss. Next re-seed bare patches with a good quality seed mixture such as Speedy Seed Grass Seed, rake over and water thoroughly. Alternatively try a lawn patch mix resistant to pet urine damage such as Aftercut Patch Fix Total Lawn Care.
4. Signs your lawn isn’t getting enough water: Include folded and wilted grass blades, yellowing lawn as well as grass growing in clumps is another sign of under watered grass. Try the “Bounce Back Test” – if the grass stays flatter for longer when walked on rather than bouncing back, the lawn is in need of moisture.
Fix: Be sure your grass doesn’t go dry, remember your lawn needs at least 1 inch of water to thrive even in the winter. Water regularly at least once per week, during cooler periods such as in the evening when the sun starts to go down and avoid watering during hotter periods of the day. New lawn on the other hand may need watering every few days. Investing in a water sprinkler will help deliver and distribute water evenly.
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