Keeping your lawn looking lush (and the envy of the neighbours) is much more effective if you can devote a little time to it regularly. No job then becomes a burden and your lawn doesn’t have the chance to start looking untidy! Here is our calendar of little jobs each month with will add up to a magnificent lawn.
January:
Give your lawn mower a basic service or take it to a dealer for maintenance, while it’s not in use.
Clean and sharpen your tools, including edging tools, and spray metal tools with oil to protect them.
February:
Mow lawns once they start back into growth and re-cut the edges with a half-moon edging tool.
March:
If it’s mild enough and not too wet, consider starting any lawn repairs required this month.
Remove moss and weeds in turf with a firm raking, and boost growth with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed.
April:
Lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair damaged patches.
May:
Apply a nitrogen-rich summer lawn feed to encourage leafy growth.
Mow grass pathways through wildflower areas so you can walk in among the flowers.
June:
Water newly laid turf several times a week, for at least the first month.
Feed lawns with a liquid or granular lawn fertiliser (or make your own chemical-free feeds).
July:
Keep mowing lawns regularly but raise the cutting height to leave the grass longer during dry weather.
August:
Tackle problem lawn weeds, digging them out or applying a lawn weedkiller.
Prepare soil for sowing a lawn or laying turf during September and October (Grass seed is best sown from late summer to mid-autumn; there is less competition from weeds, and the soil is warm, and damp from rain. Perfect for seeds to germinate. If you miss the opportunity to sow in autumn, try in mid-spring, but only if you can give the new grass plenty of water.)
September:
Rake thatch from lawns, aerate well-trodden areas by spiking with a garden fork, and re-seed bare patches.
October:
Rake up fallen leaves from lawns (as well as borders, driveways and paths) and store in bin bags to rot down into leaf mould. Leaf coverage can block the light to your grass, weakening it.
Spike compacted lawns and brush grit or sharp sand into the holes to improve drainage.
November:
Continue to mow the lawn in mild spells if the grass is still growing, but raise the height of the blades.
Keep raking up those fallen leaves!
December:
You may still need to mow the lawn in December if the weather has been mild and not too wet. A very light mowing will leave the garden look tidier and stop grass getting too long. New Lawns, sown from seed in the autumn, can also be lightly mown too on a sunny, dry day.
If you notice soggy patches, aerating with a hollow-tine fork (or just a garden fork) will help improve drainage and get air to the roots.
Further reading:
Repairing your lawn
Winter garden maintenance jobs
Using wildflower turf in your garden
Care for ornamental grasses
Gardening for wildlife
