Looking after your lawn is usually pretty simple, but I know many of us are guilty of neglect and poor lawn care practices from time to time. We need to stop neglecting our lawns and provide the grass with the love and nurture it deserves!

Here’s what not to do!

Water your grass at night

Watering at night can cause fungal issues in your lawn. The best time to water is in the morning or the afternoon/early evening. Try to also avoid watering during the heat of the day as this will be less effective.

Overwatering, watering too often and not for long enough

Whilst watering your lawn is important, getting it right is the main thing. You need to water for longer, less frequently. During the warmer months it is much better to water your lawn 2-3 times for an hour each time, than it is to water 6 times for only 15 minutes. You want to train your lawn to be more drought tolerant, and frequent and short watering will only cause your lawn to become thirstier and less drought tolerant. Regular watering will only be required during the warmer months and when establishing a new lawn.

Scalping and mowing too short

When mowing, you don’t want to mow too short as this can put your lawn under extreme stress which can leave bare and brown patches on your lawn, and if cut too short often, will seriously deplete the lawn’s energy reserves. This is an open invitation for weeds to invade and seed.

Not mowing regularly

Avoid long periods between mows as regular mowing is best. Keep in mind that your mowing routine will most likely change with the seasons.

Mowing with blunt blades

It is important to check your mower blades are nice and sharp so you cut your grass rather than tear it. Blunt mower blades will damage the grass leaving it poor in appearance, and cause discolouration and susceptibility to disease.

Not allowing your lawn time to recover

Regular foot traffic or driving your car on your lawn, will cause significant soil compaction. Soil compaction limits the amount of nutrients and water to penetrate the roots of your lawn. The simplest way to nurture your lawn back to full health is to give it time to recover. If the lawn is flattened from excessive traffic, try raking the grass lightly to encourage the blades to stand up again.

Aerating your lawn will help the roots to grow deeply and produce a stronger and better looking lawn.

Not pruning trees back

Managing shade can also be a priority and may require routine pruning of trees, bushes and other foliage to allow as much sunlight as possible onto your lawn. Once again, avoid over-watering in shaded areas, as shade prevents the quick evaporation of dew or surface water and continued dampness encourages diseases that inhabit growing grass.

Under or Over feeding your lawn

Fertiliser is food to your lawn; too little and it starves, too much and you won’t see it at its peak either. If you’re keen on looking after your lawn, then getting a handle on fertilising is important. Get into a regular routine with fertilising and stick to no more than one application for every 6 weeks.