Spring lawn maintenance
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After the cold, damp winter months your lawn will most likely be ready for some kind of spring
lawn maintenance program. However before acting, wait until the soil temperatures rise enough to
encourage some growth. The correct spring maintenance program will help to encourage a vigorous,
healthy lawn during the summer when you want your lawn to look it's best.
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Moss killing & removal
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An all to common sight in spring time. A lawn that
has become weak and moss has been allowed to invade. |
Many lawns will suffer from an invasion of moss in the spring time. If the infestation is
not to severe using a spring tine rake may be enough to remove it. However if it has become a
severe problem it will need treating with a product called lawn sand or similar. Follow the
manufacturers guideline's for the application of this product.
Lawn sand usually kills the moss in about 10 - 14 days, when it can be removed by hand with a
spring tine rake. For larger areas a powered lawn rake or scarifier can be used. It is important
that there is sufficient growth before any raking or scarifying, this ensures the lawn makes a
speedy recovery. For more information on moss problems you can visit our Moss page
Once the moss has been killed and removed any bare or thin areas may need seeding to establish a
tight sward to prevent any weeds encroaching.
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Aeration
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If you are going to over seed after any moss killing program, aerate before overseeding, aerate
the lawn with a garden fork or powered aerator depending on the size of the lawn. This will help
root development, dry up any wet patches, relieve compaction and if followed by top dressing
improve the soil structure. Try to aerate to a depth of 100mm or 4" in a uniform pattern.
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Overseeding
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| If you have had a bad moss problem and there are large bare areas you may need to overseed. It
should be pointed out that spring time is not the ideal time for overseeding. Late summer - early
autumn is preferable because the soil temperatures are higher resulting in better success. Follow the
manufactures sowing rates. For best results rake the surface to create a seed bed to help with
germination, however if overseeding is done soon after raking out the moss this may suffice. |
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Top dressing
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If you have had to do a lot of work on you lawn during the spring it would be beneficial to give
it a top dressing after moss removal, aeration & overseeding. This will help to level the lawn,
improve the soil structure & protect the seed during germination. For more information on this
operation please visit our Top Dressing page.
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Mowing
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If the lawn has become a little long and overgrown over winter it is important not to cut it
down to short immediately. You should not take too much grass off initially, the rule of thumb is
don't remove more than a 1/3rd of the grass with each cut. Again wait until you have consistent
growth and the lawn has fully recovered before lowering the height of cut on the mower.
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Feeding
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Your lawn will need feeding in the spring time to help with recovery and produce a healthy
sward. If you used lawn sand as a moss killer you will get some growth with this product. However
the effects of lawn sand will be short lived and a conventional spring and summer fertiliser will
need to be applied. This product can be applied as soon as there are signs of warmer weather that
bring more consistent growing conditions.
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