A perfect green lawn - makes many men feel good. But to keep it like that requires quite a bit of management. Maybe it is best to go green and accept some imperfection.....
There are two routes to go down with lawns - organic and inorganic.
Traditionally the lawn has been the pride and joy of many an englishman - but there is a changing tide - towards a more tolerant - greener way. Perfection comes at a cost - for our pocket and the environment.
There are now many good organic treatments - with more being added all the time. The perfect lawn becomes less important - and perhaps we can live with some weeds and moss in favour of wildflowers and wildlife.
Renovation
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There are 2 good times to renovate a lawn - Spring and Autumn. Both times make use of natural rainfall. Any good lawn programme will use both times.
Autumn is a time for repair. Moss can be removed - and new seed added, giving greater rainfall to establish seed. Also an Autumn lawn treatment can be added to promote root growth and strengthen the grass for a good lush start to the following spring.
Spring is a great time to assess how your lawn has come through winter. Choose one aspect to work on at a time. Does it need a combined treatment - or more specifically weeds - or moss.
Organic
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Organic measures can include - chicken manure based products, which give a boost less harmful to wildlife. Blood, Fish and Bone, recommended by Alan Titchmarsh - so it must be good!
Nature
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Overall lawns will try hard to revert to their natural state, based on aspect and location. One often of weediness and mossiness, or both, depending on the situation. The underlying problem can be pacified with Aeration or Scarifying, but problems will return.
Cut Longer
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Accepted wisdom is for a lawn to be cut very short - like a golf course. Grass stores its energy in the blade of grass, so by removing all of the growth this leaves little left for dry weather and does not allow the lawn some natural strength. By cutting longer the grass remains greener in dry spells and overall in better health. Requiring less lawn treatments to keep it in fine fettle.
Over-seeding
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For a sparse lawn - over-seeding the whole area once a year - in Spring or Autumn is beneficial, adding some new life to lawns which can often get a lot of wear.
The route to a perfect lawn is one that I consider regularly while I garden. It is a matter of individual preference. And often reflects the character of the person. Perhaps the green movement offers us a more relaxed balanced view of gardening - accepting our lawns imperfections, its moss and weeds as part of life.
Till next time - happy gardening,
Sage.
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Whichever course you take with your lawn - Kingdom Plants - can work with you to maximise the potential of your plot. I use a range of measures to keep a lawn looking good season long. So that you can sit back, relax and enjoy.
