Get your Lawn Ready for Spring

Eddie Seaward, Head Groundsman at the All England Tennis Club, is an undisputed expert in lawn care. Read on for his tips on how to prepare for a perfect lawn this Summer.

“In relation to the grass plant, spring cannot be defined by a date in the calendar. Mostly it is influenced by weather conditions. Frosts have disappeared and temperatures begin to rise.

Grass, as with many plants, responds to the improving conditions and this influences our minds to think of the garden and lawn care. To obtain a presentable lawn that can be enjoyed during the summer months, care and attention is needed in the spring to achieve those desired results.

Before any operation takes place the lawn should be cleaned of all winter debris, such as leaves and twigs - if these have not been dealt with during the winter. When the lawn is clean, if possible, the lawn will benefit from a light roll. There is no need for a heavy machine that will have the adverse effect of compacting the soil. The aim is to eradicate any frost heave of the soil that may have occurred during the winter.

Mow

Mowing is a critical operation; the machine should have been serviced during the winter. Before use it must always be checked and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The general rule for mowing is little and often, only remove a little of the grass leaf at any time.

It is a mistake to remove all the winter growth in one go. When this is attempted the appearance is one of an unsightly yellow colour. This can be avoided by slowly reducing the height of cut to your desired length over a period of a few weeks.

Scarify

Many grass species have a habit of lateral growth, this results in the leaves becoming intertwined, creating a turf which feels spongy to walk on. If this is the situation then a light scarification to remove lateral growth will be of benefit. You will be surprised by the amount of undesirable material that is removed and must be cleaned from the lawn.

Any bare patches can be sown with new seed, a quick germination should be achieved as the soil is warm and hopefully there will be some natural water.

Fertilize and Remove weeds

Most weeds can be removed with an application of selective weed killer. Any such chemical will give better results if the plants are growing well at the time of application, with this in mind more effective results can be achieved by applying a summer fertilizer two weeks prior to weed killing. The other alternative is to apply a weed and feed combined formular; whichever method you choose it is vital that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Aerate

During this spring period the lawn would benefit from aeration. There are a number of machines on the market that punch holes into the soil so allowing air to pass into the soil. This encourages bacterial activity which has a positive effect on the food chain and therefore the grass plant; it will encourage root development.

Kill Moss