Having the right gloves for the job is really handy – especially as we approach growing season. Our gardens are currently bursting with life, with lawns growing up to 4mm in a single day. With so much going on, let’s look at how to keep a handle on long-living, lush and deluxe lawns to host all manner of garden goings-on.
LAWNS A-NEW
Laying a new lawn can be a great way to get a really manicured looked. Like a clean slate, you can decide which variety of grass you want to work with and get on top of weed prevention nice and early. Turfing is a quick way for good results. You will need to prepare the ground well before rolling out your newly bought turf and the aim is to make it as easy for the new grass to root as possible. Start by digging out the old growth and then rake over the soil, flattening and removing large stones as you go. Tread over the area until the ground is firm and add in all-purpose fertiliser to nourish the new roots.
Seeding is less expensive than turfing, with more options available on seed mixtures too. Seed packs are best when they contain perennial ryegrass. Tall fescue and browntop are good general-purpose growers and creeping red fescue will do well in shady locations.
It’s best to take this task on in either mid-spring or autumn when the soil is warm and still moist but follow the manufacturers recommendations for sowing. Germination takes roughly a week or two and you’ll need to be wearing a light, breathable and tactile glove for sowing fine grass seed, so look to the SHOWA 341 from Globus Group for accurate application when scattering.
REVAMP AND RESTORE
If you’re sticking with the turf you’ve got, then perhaps just a spruce will do the trick. Remove debris and rotting green growth, like fallen leaves, first using a spring-time rake and take this opportunity to aerate the area to avoid compaction and promote water permeating all the way to the grass root.
Now that the area has had some TLC, you can look to remove weeds before getting stuck into mowing as weed seeds are easily spread this way.
Hands on removal can be effective and will mean you avoid the use of chemicals, but adequate hand protection is a must.
For this, where you’ll be hands on with dirt and vegetation, pop on some of Globus Group’s SHOWA 370 ‘Floreo’ which are also available in children’s sizes. Their ‘second skin’ fit and robust design are enough to provide full protection whilst remaining breathable. Alternatively, chemical weed controls can be quick acting once you know the weed you’re dealing with. Tap root dandelions are deeply fixed in the soil, while some clover cultivars are resistant to some weed surprising chemicals. If in doubt, ask at your local garden centre.
Now it’s time to mow like a pro! Try to keep up a routine of trimming the grass back to one inch high once or twice a week, during spring and into peak summer. This will promote healthy new growth. And finally, go around borders and hard to reach areas of the lawn with edging sheers afterwards for a neat and tidy finish. Don’t forget to remove any grass from your borders after mowing, to prevent new shoots popping up amongst your beloved blooms and competing for space as well as nutrients.
READY, STEADY AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY
You might find as the season warms up, that you need to spend a little bit of time revamping your lawn to get it ready for summer frivolities with the family. Such endeavours are well worth the effort. Bare patches can crop up if grass has been left covered, and died off, or if treated with weed killer. You can reseed these areas fairly easily and a dense, rich lawn will prevent weeds from rooting in the future. It’s also an idea to consider leaving a patch of your plot untouched. Moss and weeds left to grow in certain parts of the garden with little-to-no footfall will aid in the absorption of carbon so, as long as they don’t spread into unwanted areas, they’re not doing any harm to your land and contribute to bringing in beneficial wildlife and insects in as well.
Get going with glamming up your grass now and you can enjoy the green space in which kids can run, play and enjoy to their heart’s content. Or perhaps host a beautifully elegant barbeque—complete with lawn chairs. Just sit back whilst sipping a cup of tea as you stare up to the heavens above.
However you choose to enjoy your garden this summer, gloves will keep you grass-free while you work towards perfection and help get you on the right track to tip-top, tremendous turf in no time.