Very soon we'll be heading into spring, and after the recent cold, snowy weather, we will be welcoming this season with open arms.
Spring is a great season for our lawns. For many, a luscious green lawn is the main feature of our gardens come the warmer months and spring is the best time to achieve this.
Knowing what your lawn needs this spring and knowing how to treat it correctly will bring you a sense of achievement and enjoyment. Here are our spring lawn care tips for a fresh-looking lawn…
Clean up
Your lawn will be shouting out for a mighty clean-up. Whether it’s leaves, twigs, or other types of debris it can block out light, suffocate the grass and encourage lawn disease. It’s best to remove this as soon as possible. Grass clippings should also be collected and removed from the lawn when you mow.
Mowing
Before mowing your lawn, make sure your blades are sharp (Sharpen your lawn mower blades – GreenThumb). Correct mowing is key to a lush lawn. The more often you mow your lawn, the better it will look. For the first cut of the year, raise the height to just cut the top of the grass and gradually lower it later in spring – if you scalp the lawn, you will put too much stress on the grass.
Your lawn should be kept between 25mm (1”) and 50mm (2”) in length. In dry weather or shaded areas increase the height of the cut.
Aeration & Scarification
Aeration and Scarification should be carried out as standard annual practice to achieve a great looking lawn. Removing thatch which has grown over the year and relieving compaction are vital to improving the health and overall appearance of your lawn. Contact your local GreenThumb branch to learn more about the benefits of Machine Work: Find your local GreenThumb branch
Bare patches
After last year’s drought and the harsh winter, your lawn may be suffering from a few bare patches. It’s best to boost the lawn with extra seeds to make your lawn thicker and greener. Carefully rake the patch to create a bed, sow the seeds with a little topsoil and be sure to water regularly. Ground temperature needs to be above 5°C for the seed to germinate slowly. We can also apply our organic Top Dressing and Overseeding to nourish and protect developing grass plants.
Weeds
Soon the weeds will be making an appearance. It can feel like a never-ending battle to keep your lawn weed free. Seeds lie dormant and others are blown in from neighbouring locations, so consistent treatments are essential to keep the weeds at bay. Find out how we treat weeds here.
Check for Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs
Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs are lawn pests that live in the soil. They eat the roots of lawn grasses and as a result, cause yellowing and damage to lawns. Your lawn may be suffering from Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs if it has yellow or brown patches or becomes thin. Other signs include seeing large dark or creamy grubs in the soil, feeding on the roots, and birds pecking at the lawn.
Moss
After a wet winter, moss may be prevalent on your lawn. Moss grows where the grass is thin, patchy, and unhealthy. The best way to reduce moss is to tackle what’s causing it. Machine Work, correct mowing and fertiliser will help the lawn massively.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or would like GreenThumb to help improve your lawn, contact your local branch here: Find your local GreenThumb branch