Hello Spring!
In the next week or two it’s time to give your lawn a Spring Clean and begin your lawn care journey.
First cut Sunday as its known, usually falls on the 1st Sunday in April. However in 2023 the most popular date for the first cut was 20th March. With Easter not too far away, we are all looking to get our lawns and garden in tip top condition ready for what will be a sun soaked Easter!
When it comes to lawn care there are many factors to take into account…
Decide Your Garden Goals
Before you begin your lawn care for the season you should decide what you want to achieve. Are you wanting to create a space for the kids to play? Have a nice space for regularly entertaining friends and family? Or do you just want a nice green lawn to look nice and tidy? If you are looking for a luscious green healthy lawn this is going to take some time whereas if you just want to keep it tidy for the kids to play you may not want to put as much effort into the care and upkeep.
Know When to Mow
Grass should only be mowed once it has begun to actively grow which is generally once the temperature has reached 10-18°C. As a rule of thumb you should wait until the grass is between 5-7cm before you do the first mow of the season, mow too early and it can damage the grass blades which can prevent it from growing back properly.
Debris Free Lawn and Garden
Prevent grass mould by raking away all those Autumn and Winter leaves and generally clearing away any debris which may have fallen on the lawn.
Give it Some Air
By using a pitchfork or aerator you can poke holes within the lawn which will open up compacted soil. This aeration enables an oxygen-rich environment that promotes healthy root development and allows more water reach the roots. You should also overseed any bare patches of the lawn at this point whilst healthy growth is being promoted.
Sharp Blade
A lawnmower blade should be sharpened or replaced regularly to get the best cut from your mower; something overlooked by many. A dull blade can tear or fray grass rather than cut it causing damage to blades of grass. You should check your blade regularly for damage or wear, lawnmower blades can be sharpened by us here at World of Power by simply popping it into our Buxton showroom or by posting it to our address;
World of Power
Tongue Lane Ind Estate
Buxton
Derbyshire,
SK17 7LF
You should include a note with your name, address, contact telephone number and advising you would like your blade to be sharpened. On receipt we will contact you to advise this has been received and if your blade can be sharpened, at this point if this can be sharpened we will charge the £10 sharpening fee and the return postage (postcode dependent).
Little and Often
When it comes to cutting the lawn, little and often is best. By cutting a little off the top of the lawn often rather than letting it grow until you have no choice but to mow, you mow you promote healthy grass growth. Cutting little and often is also a good way to manage the growth of weeds without the need for chemicals as weeds are unable to grow in the lawn as they normally would with a higher frequency of cuts.
Edging the Lawn
To make the appearance of your lawn fully complete, trimming the edges of your lawn into nice strong neat lines really makes it stand out from the rest. This can be done easily with edging shears for smaller lawns or for larger lawns you can make light work by using an edger or grass trimmer.
Bag, Mulch or Relax?
Are you going to collect your grass clippings and pop them in a compost bin or recycling bin? Or are you going to mulch the clippings which will finely chop the blades of grass before returning them to the lawn which will act as a natural fertilizer to make a thicker, greener lawn.
Dry Stint?
If we are in a long dry period of weather you should adapt your lawn care routine. The cutting height of the mower should be raised to leave the length of the grass a little longer than usual so it can withstand the drought conditions much better as the blades can hold onto more water to help prevent those brown dry patches.
Water Wisely
Grass should be watered deeply but no more than necessary. Over watering can prevent grass from establishing a strong root and can lead to fungus. By watering deeply it water is soaked into the ground meaning roots have to dig a little deeper for the nutrients promoting a healthier lawn. Always check the weather before watering as there may be no need to get out the garden hose!
