After the wet, cold and gloomy week last week that brought the month of March to an end, we finally have a spell of good weather. The country has been basking in beautiful sunshine over the Easter week and there were lots of activities outdoors with the promise of good weather to continue for another few days. It is a perfect opportunity to get out and walking around the neighbourhood and admires the trees and hedgerows that run along our roadside. Everything is starting to come to life, buds are swelling and are bursting open, the sweet smell of spring flowering trees will be filling the air very soon.
The constant rain last week hampered efforts to get jobs done in the garden but on the other hand it gave the soil a good soaking. This week we have the optimal temperatures for growth. Soil temperatures will be warming up, longer hours of daylight and the warmth of prolonged sunshine will cause a big spurt in growth in our trees, shrubs and especially our lawns.
The constant rain last week hampered efforts to get jobs done in the garden but on the other hand it gave the soil a good soaking. This week we have the optimal temperatures for growth. Soil temperatures will be warming up, longer hours of daylight and the warmth of prolonged sunshine will cause a big spurt in growth in our trees, shrubs and especially our lawns.
The month of April is the time to get our garden lawns in shape, to have them looking presentable and to set the scene for the rest of the garden and for all the family to enjoy.
The 3 key elements to tackle when you want a green healthy lawn is killing the weeds and moss and fertilising the lawn. For convenience I would recommend using a granular feed/weed and moss killer all in one, available at all good garden centres. Always remember to follow instructions! The trick to having a green healthy lawn is to apply the right amounts, at the right time, to the right areas. The grass should be dry, the soil should be moist and ideally rain should be forecast in the next 3-5 days. If there is no rain watering with a hose or sprinkler system is best to avoid scorching. The heavy morning dew may help but might not be sufficient.
Over dosing does not make the product work better or quicker, it will cause scorching and possibly kill off the grass so use a lawn spreader to get even distribution.
The 3 key elements to tackle when you want a green healthy lawn is killing the weeds and moss and fertilising the lawn. For convenience I would recommend using a granular feed/weed and moss killer all in one, available at all good garden centres. Always remember to follow instructions! The trick to having a green healthy lawn is to apply the right amounts, at the right time, to the right areas. The grass should be dry, the soil should be moist and ideally rain should be forecast in the next 3-5 days. If there is no rain watering with a hose or sprinkler system is best to avoid scorching. The heavy morning dew may help but might not be sufficient.
Over dosing does not make the product work better or quicker, it will cause scorching and possibly kill off the grass so use a lawn spreader to get even distribution.
In a week or two the grass will be greening up and at the same time the moss will be blackening and weeds will be dying back. If there are excessive amounts of moss it is a good idea to rake it out using a wire rake. If it is a large area, hire a scarifying machine from your local hire shop and go over the lawn a couple of times, each time collecting the moss. Aerate using a folk every foot or two and top-dress with lawn sand. These are signs of bad drainage and compaction in the soil so further works may need to be carried out on a yearly basis depending on the severity of the problem. Seed any bare patches and water well. Within a few weeks you will have a weed free, moss free, velvety green healthy lawn you can be very proud of.
Mowing can take place a couple of days after treatment and always after it rains. Remove all debris and leaves first. I always strim and edge the lawn before mowing, it gives the lawn an better finish and this gives me an opportunity to get a good look at the quality of the lawn and to see what future work if any needs to be done. For the first few cuts in spring raise the blades on your lawn mower. As I said before, it’s so tempting to cut it really short to get it nice and tidy but it’s the worst action you can take. Blades can be lowered as the season goes on while regular cutting is taking place. During hot or dry periods when growth slows down raise the blades higher again as it keeps the grass looking greener and reduces stress on the lawn.
All the landscape maintenance teams at Doyle landscapes are currently working on garden lawn care treatments. We can offer your tailored made garden and lawn care solutions to improve the structure, health and vitality of your lawn.
If you require a lawn care consultation give us a call for a friendly chat or call out, we can offer you a range of services that will suit your garden and lawn care requirements.
If you require a lawn care consultation give us a call for a friendly chat or call out, we can offer you a range of services that will suit your garden and lawn care requirements.
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