We all love that patch of green. The space that softens hard landscaped areas and the space where the kiddos get to play. Making your existing lawn the best it can be is worth the time and effort so start showing your lawn some old fashioned TLC during August.
Step 1 – Eradication
Those pesky weeds have to go. If there aren’t too many of them, remove them by hand. If you have quite a serious problem, you may prefer to use a lawn herbicide. Important! Make sure you select the correct one for your lawn as well as the weeds you are targeting. Whatever you do, do not use any product with glyphosate as the active ingredient (eg. Round Up). This will not only kill your weeds, it will kill your lawn too!
Thatch is the next thing to go. Thatch is the buildup of dead grass that accumulates, causing a layer at the base of the lawn. Thatch encourages disease and creates an impermeable barrier which stops the absorption of water. To remove thatch, get a metal rake, press down firmly as you drag it across the lawn. You’ll be surprised how much dead stuff you remove.
Step 2 – Aeration
Lawn soils become compacted over time, especially those areas that receive the most foot traffic. To counteract this, lawns need to be aerated.
Aeration allows better air, water and nutrient absorption. For small lawns, a garden fork or those spiked strap on sandals can be used. Spiked rollers are also available. For larger lawns, motorised aerators can be hired.
The best time to carry out this step is late Winter when the soil is damp. This step also prepares the lawn ready for feeding in Spring.
Step 3 – Feeding
Now that your lawn is weed free, thatch free and nicely aerated, it’s time to give it a good feed. The best time to do this is when the first signs of new growth appear. Make sure there aren’t a lot of leaves and debris on the lawn. If there is, rake it up (and add to your compost if you have one), get the blower out or quickly mow over the top of it with the blades high.
Apply a good quality organic lawn food such as Dynamic Lifter. The smell may make you wish you hadn’t but this will be gone soon enough. Water it in well so the nutrients reach the roots and are absorbed. To keep your lawn looking spot on, give it a repeat feed every 4 months.
Step 4 – Watering
The amount of water your lawn requires depends on which turf variety you have and whether it’s in full sun or shade. In warmer months, a good soak at least once a week is generally required. Water less in Winter.
Regardless of variety, avoid watering your lawn in the middle of the day when temperatures are at their highest. Doing so causes high evaporation and on very hot days can burn the leaves. The best time to water is early morning if possible. It’s not too hot and lawns benefit from the absorbed water during the rest of the day.
Always give your lawn deeper, less frequent waterings. This encourages the grass to send roots deeper into the soil, making it more drought tolerant. Shallow waterings mean shallow roots which will dry out very quickly in hot weather. Wetting agents applied in Spring will improve water absorption.
Step 5 – Maintenance
Keep an eye on your lawn for any dead patches or possible attack by pests and diseases. Mow your lawn regularly, raising the height of your lawnmower during Summer. This will not only keep your lawn looking its best but it will also help reduce water evaporation.
Keep your lawnmower in good condition. Sharp blades give a good, clean cut. Get your mower serviced in Winter each year or replace the blades yourself if you have the know-how. Do not remove any more than one third of the leaf to avoid lawn stress.
Sneaky Step 6…
Step 6 is to sit back, relax and admire the lovely green space you’ve created. Hey, you may even get the friends and family over for a good ole game of backyard cricket.
