Achieving a healthy-looking lawn can take time, care, and attention to detail. If your lawn is looking rather lackluster or pathy, and you want to revive it, there are many things you can do, from pulling up existing lawns and replacing them with top soil and brand-new turf to encourage better growth or to carrying out spot repairs and upkeep in the hopes it regenerates and brings your lawn back to life.
But how do you maintain your lawn once you have gotten to that point where it is lush and thriving?
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Weeds
Weeds are the bane of any gardener’s life, along with insects, and weeds can cause damage to your lawn and might make it look unsightly. Regular lawn mowing can help you keep on top of weeds poking through as you can remove them by hand. Make sure you remove the root, not just the head, to stop them from coming back and further regrowth. Alternatively, you can use a lawn-safe weed killer that works on the weed and doesn’t kill your lawn.
Thatch
Over time, your lawn will accumulate a layer of dead matter and debris, and this will affect how healthy your lawn looks and feels. Thatching your lawn means raking it over to remove all of this and refresh it, which is best done via scarifying. All you need to do is to rake through the lawn and pull up anything that might be trapped. It is best to thatch roughly in autumn and then again gently in the spring for best results.
Aerate
Aerating your lawn allows for better moisture and air penetration into the soil for better results and a healthier-looking lawn. Aerating isn’t something you need to do too frequently; while it is perfect for more compacted areas, you should aim to aerate every few years after scarifying more regularly if your soil is really hard.
Mowing
Mowing is instrumental in maintaining a healthy lawn, but there is more to it than simply running your mower over the grass. You need to be mowing regularly and in a higher setting. Lower settings can scalp the grass-leading patches, and it encourages moss growth which you want to avoid. Always ensure your blades are sharp and never mow damp or wet grass or when the ground has been frozen and during a drought. Always check weather conditions before mowing.
Edging
Edging means trimming the edge of your lawn to keep it looking neat and tidy. Edging is essential to avoid any overgrown areas and your lawn looking unkempt. You should aim to use an edging half-moon iron or a sharp shape to give you more crisp lines. Again avoid over-trimming so you don’t end up with bald patches, and encourage moss and weed growth here.
Maintaining your lawn might seem like a lot of work, but the payoff can be extremely satisfying. Pay attention to how and when you trim your lawn, the condition it’s in, and the products you are using to help you ensure you aren’t doing anything that will undo all of your hard work and stop you from getting that lush green lawn you need.
