How to Keep Your Lawn in Tip-Top Condition

A well-maintained lawn is a boost for any garden. There are plenty of health benefits – the grass absorbs harmful dust and pollen, for example, improving the air quality. Also, nothing beats the sight and smell of a freshly-mown patch of grass. 

Leading lawn turf suppliers Madingley Mulch are based on the edge of Cambridge. Here we have compiled these five top tips for making sure you can enjoy some gorgeous green grass all the year round.

Stay on Top of the Cutting

Spring is the time when you will be thinking about getting your lawn mower out of the garden shed. For the first cut of the year, make sure your mower is on its highest setting, as taking too much off too early can damage the grass.

The frequency and the height of the cut will vary depending on the time of year. In spring and autumn, you shouldn’t need to cut your lawn more than once a week. In summer you may need to do it more regularly, particularly if there is good growing mix of sunshine and showers. The mower should also be on a lower setting,

Kill the Moss and Weeds

From late March onwards, you should be trying to get rid of any unwanted moss or weeds, so your grass isn’t competing with them for valuable nutrients in the soil. Remove them either by hand or with a fork, then aerate and scarify the grass. 

If manual controls haven’t worked, then try artificial ones by applying a fertiliser which will get rid of the problem plants. Within a couple of weeks, you should be able to rake out all the dead moss and weeds. Don’t forget to repeat this process in the autumn, when the grass-growing season is over.

Water it Well

The variable British weather means that it can be tricky if you want a lush, green lawn all the year round. Try to water when the soil dries out, but before the colour of the grass changes. Once a week during hot weather should enough, and don’t water during the heat of the day. Early morning or late evening is the best time, as it won’t evaporate as quickly.

If your grass turns brown, don’t despair, as it will usually recover, given time. And remember too much water can do just as much damage as too little, because excess moisture encourages moss and means your grass will have shallower roots.

Running Repairs

Does your lawn have any bare patches? Spring or autumn are the best times to repair or overseed them. Rake the surface before sowing in the seed, then lightly rake it into the ground.

Consider putting up some protective netting if there are hungry birds around. If the weather is dry for the first two or three days after overseeding, then water the affected areas gently. You should see the first blades of grass around a week after the seeds were sown.

Laying Down New Turf

If your lawn requires more radical surgery, you may have to consider laying down new turf. Autumn is the best time to create a new lawn, as the grass roots can establish themselves in the soil while it is still warm and moist. Make sure the soil you are laying your turf on is free of weeds, but don’t use weedkiller, as this can stunt the growth of the grass. Either remove them by hand or rotavate the soil to a depth of 20-25cms, then dig in some soil conditioner or well-rotted compost, such as our exclusive products Tony’s Tonic or Denise’s Delight.

The turf should be laid within 24 hours of delivery. You may need to add or remove soil to make sure the rolls are laid flat. Once down, spread in a thin mix of soil or compost and sand over the top to fill in any minor gaps and help the rolls knit together. Water it well and don’t walk on it for the first few days.

Lawn Turf Supplies from Madingley Mulch

Lawn turf suppliers Madingley Mulch are the people to call to keep your grass in pristine condition. Our turf is all grown close to our base near Cambridge. We can also meet all your needs when it comes to top dressing, soil conditioners, compost and grass seed. If you have any questions, talk to our friendly, experienced staff.

If you live within 15 miles of us, we can deliver all your turf free and our weekly routes include Ely, Newmarket, Saffron Walden, Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots. We apply a standard £20 charge for addresses up to 24.5 miles away, and we can also deliver further afield as well.

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