Avoid a lawn care mistake that can kill your grass, prevent growth, & result in rotting plants – try my discreet system
A LANDSCAPING expert has revealed how to avoid common gardening mistakes that can kill grass.
He revealed important maintenance tips homeowners should follow for a thriving green lawn.
Many homeowners want to be the envy of their neighbors with a garden that flourishes in every season.
However, a bad lawn can be an eyesore that gets the wrong type of attention.
Tom Clifford is a landscaping expert at Gardenstone, a UK-based garden landscaping product supplier.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, he revealed tips for properly caring for lawns to achieve optimal growth and a tidy look.
NECESSITIES
“To keep your lawn healthy you must follow some key maintenance tips,” Clifford said.
“Ensure that you mow your lawn regularly, at least once a fortnight, to avoid overgrowth.
“However, do not mow over one-third of your grass at one given time as this can make your lawn vulnerable to weeds.”
He said weeds need to be dealt with “quickly and effectively” to reduce the chances of them spreading if they do appear.
As weed repellents can be harsh, he recommends “spot treating” to avoid affecting an otherwise healthy lawn.
“Provide your lawn with fertilizer a minimum of once a year, it is essential that your lawn is fed to maintain healthy growth,” he continued.
“Ideally I recommend that you feed your lawn at the start of spring, in April or May, and once again at the beginning of autumn.”
Clifford raved about the importance of aeration for a healthy green lawn.
Aeration is making small holes in the lawn’s surface to break up the soil and allow water to drain effectively.
“Ensure that your lawn has good drainage, if not your lawn may get waterlogged which can kill your grass, prevent growth, and result in rotting plants,” he said.
“If you find your lawn does not drain well then aerate it twice a year in spring and autumn, using a garden fork to create small holes in the surface of the soil.”
MOWING MAGIC
The landscaping expert said the first mow of the year should be done when the weather begins to warm up.
The change in weather will have sparked growth and the grass will no longer be dormant.
For the rest of the year aim to cut your grass roughly 4cm in height.
Tom Clifford
“For most gardens, this will be sometime in early spring, I recommend the start of April to ensure the majority of the cold weather is over,” Clifford said.
“However, if during April the weather is particularly wet then hold off on mowing your lawn until the conditions have improved to avoid clogging your lawn mower.
“Make sure to prepare your lawn appropriately before mowing, start by clearing your lawn of furniture, equipment, and stones.
“Rocks and stones are especially important as they can cause damage to your lawn mower.
“Next adjust the blades of your lawn mower, for the first cut of the year place them at their highest setting as the grass will be longer.
“For the rest of the year aim to cut your grass roughly 4cm in height.”
“Always start mowing by going around the edge of your entire lawn, this will create a border to mow within and ensure a neat and tidy finish,” he continued.
“You will want to mow the rest of your lawn in straight lines back and forth, this creates the neat striped lawn design.
“The majority of lawns are uneven so to complete this effectively start by mowing a line as close to the middle of the lawn as possible.
“Then mow in straight lines on either side of the central line until you have reached the edge.
“Every time you mow your lawn make sure to alternate the direction to cut any stray areas of grass and provide a more even finish over time.
“This will also prevent the creation of wheel ruts within your grass, caused by repetitive mowing in the same areas.”
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
*If you click on a link in this article, we may earn affiliate revenue.
- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
FIX FLOODING
Clifford said aeration can help waterlogged lawns but if repeatedly flooded a drainage system may need to be installed.
“Usually when a lawn is waterlogged it is due to compacted or clay soil that has poor drainage,” he said.
“For extremely waterlogged lawns I recommend investing in a specialized aeration tool for the best results.
“Alternatively, you can use a garden fork to aerate your lawn just bear in mind that it may be more time-consuming and physically challenging.
“For severely waterlogged lawns you may wish to invest in a drainage system within your garden.
“French drains are small trenches filled with rubble and a perforated pipe, these drains divert the surface water from waterlogged areas to improve drainage.
“However, French drains don’t make the most attractive garden feature so if you’re looking for a more discreet drainage system a soakaway may be appropriate.
“A soakaway consists of a hole in the ground filled with rubble, this slows drainage by holding the water for a longer period of time.
“Modern soakaways can also be used, these consist of a plastic crate underground that holds the water and disperses it slowly at a rate that the ground can handle.”
