HOW TO GET YOUR LAWN SUMMER READY
Lawns are the hearts of our gardens – they’re a place to relax, entertain, play, and of course grow beautiful plants and flowers. Lawns deserve just as much care and attention as any other plant, especially after the harsh winter months where they will have endured cold, frost and heavy rain, potentially leaving them looking a little worse for wear and in need of some TLC
No wonder we all want our lawns to look healthy, verdant and lush again in time for the sunny weather, when they’ll be getting the most use. With our simple steps you can get your lawn into great shape again, ready to be enjoyed for the entire summer season
YOU WILL NEED
- Lawnmower
Garden fork
Spring tine rake or mechanical scarifier
Lawn spreader
GET YOUR MOWER RUNNING
Once your lawn starts to show signs of growth in spring, give it its first mow of the season. Keep the blades on the highest setting to start with to avoid clogging your mower and damaging your grass. Gradually lower the setting as the season progresses and you’re able to mow more frequently
TRIM AND TIDY
Clean up overgrown grass around paths and borders with a lawn edging iron or a sharp spade. Crisp garden edges can make such a difference to the overall look and definition of your lawn
RAKE IT OFF
Rake the entire lawn with a spring tine rake, known as scarifying. This will remove any dead thatch and let more light into the grass to encourage strong growth. Don’t worry if it looks a little bare afterwards, the grass will soon grow back
AIR IT OUT
A wet winter can leave your lawn compacted and waterlogged, so use a garden fork to aerate the soil and help with drainage. Push the fork halfway into the ground every 6 inches/15cm across compacted patches, wiggling it around to create holes which act as air channels down to the grassroots
PATCH UP YOUR GRASS
Repair bare patches by sowing grass seed directly onto the soil. Rake the soil first to create a crumbly surface, then scatter seed evenly. Rake again to settle the seed into place, water with a hose then cover with fleece or fine mesh to protect the seed from hungry birds
UNLEASH YOUR INNER LANDSCAPER
Make changes to your lawn's shape for a new summer look. Curved borders are a great way to make your garden feel more open and natural this summer, and are easier that you’d think to create – simply outline the sweeping edges with a hosepipe laid out on the lawn, then dig out the ground to create your curved border
Our gardening expert’s top tip: Apply all-in-one feed and weed lawn treatment in spring for a lush green lawn