Caring For Your Lawn

Most gardeners will agree that having a beautiful lawn reminiscent of a golf course is something to be proud of, but some of us struggle to find the time to invest in proper lawn care.

What is even more disheartening is when you make the effort to regularly mow and water your grass but it still looks rather lacklustre.

Here we share our advice for effective lawn care and as landscaping around your property can increase its value, we think it’s well worth the effort!

Plus, who doesn’t want a lovely garden to enjoy?

WATERING

• It is actually good for your lawn to water it infrequently. If you water too frequently the roots will get lazy and won’t grow deep down in the soil.
• Know the signs of dehydration. If you are starting to see blue-gray tints in your grass, or if you are leaving footprints then it is time to water!
• Water problem areas by hand. Because sometimes sprinklers don’t always reach the entire lawn.
• Don’t water lightly. The water should get all the way down to the root, so make sure the soil is soaking it up!

MOWING

• Make sure that it is a dry day and that the grass is not wet.
• Check your mower blades to make sure that they are not blunt or bent. Blunt blades can cause grass to get infected. Infected patches of grass will turn brown or yellow- not exactly the look you are hoping for!  WARNING: Make sure to disconnect the power before checking blades.
• Always mow in the opposite direction that you mowed in previously to get the best effect.
• Don’t cut off more than one-third of the grass length. If you cut it too short you may affect its ability to photosynthesize!
• Use a brushcutter or strimmer to cut grass around the base of trees and posts. Use biodegradable strimmer line if you have pets or are worried about injuring wildlife due to the possibility of stray bits of wire being left on the lawn.
• Leave out grass cuttings. Although it looks messy, you can spread grass cuttings out on the lawn if you wish as they contain nutrients that will be released into the soil when they decompose, helping your lawn stay green and fresh.  

TOP TIPS

• Aeration relieves compaction of the soil and allows increased absorption of nutrients so look into hiring  a lawn aerator if your lawn is in a poor condition.
• Don’t be lazy with mowing! Grass that gets too long is at risk of sunburn after being cut.
• There are 3,500 species of grass but the most important thing to decide on when laying down new turf is whether you want cool-season or warm-season grass.