28 Oct SUMMER READY LAWN
Summer means days by the pool, braai’s and friends… all pictured in your head beside a beautiful lush-green lawn, right? However, maintaining a healthy lawn is not always easy – though it can be when you know what to look out for, what to avoid and when to water, cut and fertilize.
Follow our tips and get your lawn looking pool-party-ready this summer (and beyond).
Before summer
1: Inspect
Take some time to inspect your lawn and note all spots that need extra attention. Brown patches mean disease, so to identify it and treat it quickly is crucial to avoid the disease spreading.
If the winter weather has flattened your entire lawn, call an aeration service, alternatively, you can do it yourself with a garden fork. The little holes will loosen up the soil enough to allow better water and nutrient absorption.
2: Rake
Rake any dead spots you may have and reseed using a variety of seed the same as your existing lawn. If you have larger areas that may have been damaged over winter, you can remove entire sections and replace with sods for immediate results.
3: Fertilize
To ensure your grass is fed for weeks, apply a slow-release fertilizer. Fertilize on a day when it’s not windy, and there is no rain or immediate forecast of rain predicted.
During summer
4: Water
The important thing is to water deeply, not daily. This will encourage a healthy root system. Set a watering schedule, whether you have to drag the hose out or have an automatic sprinkler. Your lawn needs about 3cm to 3.5cm of water a week.
5: Lawnmower maintenance
The sharper the blades, the better for clean cuts. The pattern should change each time you mow to ensure grass blades will remain standing up straight. Remember to allow grass clippings to fall where they may, and remain there, this returns nutrients to the soil, allowing them to fertilize the lawn, this is called “grass-cycling.”
After summer
6: Rake and weed
When the leaves begin to fall in autumn, don’t wait for large amounts to pile up. Remove the leaves often to prevent them from going wet and sticky. Blankets of wet leaves can create a fungal problem that will plague your lawn long after the winter months. Add these leaves to your compost pile and show your garden some love.
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