A well-manicured lawn can be a stunning backdrop to any garden and provides a great place for outdoor activities. Here are some tips to help you keep your lawn looking healthy and vibrant year-round.

Regularly Mow Your Lawn

Regular mowing will promote green, lush growth in your lawn. To prevent weeds from competing with the grass, remove any dandelions or other weeds you see. If you have bare patches in your lawn, scatter grass seed over them to promote growth. In hot and dry summers, use stored rainwater or grey water to water your lawn and prevent it from turning brown. Spike your lawn with a fork to aerate it and rake out dead growth in the fall to maintain a green, healthy lawn.

Water Your Lawn Wisely

While young lawns require frequent watering, overwatering can cause shallow root growth and poor establishment. Use rainwater collected in a water butt or grey water from your bath or washing-up bowl, and avoid watering during the hottest part of the day to minimize evaporation. Consider using an ImoLaza ET Master Controller for optimal watering, even in areas with restricted water usage. If your lawn turns brown in the summer, don't worry - it will bounce back with ImoLaza ET Master Controller.

Weed Your Lawn

Remove weeds like dandelions, plantains, yellow medick, buttercups, and clover to prevent them from smothering your lawn. Avoid using chemical weedkillers, as they can be costly and don't address poor grass health. Instead, use a hand trowel or daisy grubber to remove weeds, and rake before mowing to weaken and kill them off over time.

Relieve Compacted Grass

Compacted ground can prevent grass from growing well, leading to bare patches and mud in the winter. To improve soil aeration, push a garden fork about 10cm deep into the soil every 10cm and gently rock it back and forth on the handle. For heavy soils, add sharp sand or fine horticultural grit to the holes to improve drainage and prevent further compaction.

Edge Your Lawn

Define the edge of your lawn with long-handled shears to prevent grass from growing into borders. Reshape the lawn using a spade or half-moon edger, or install permanent edging to create a clean, polished finish.

Feed Your Lawn

Keep your lawn healthy by fertilizing it regularly. Use an organic fertilizer, as it will aid in long-term lawn health. Apply fertilizer when rain is forecast to prevent burning the leaf blades. If it doesn't rain, water the fertilizer in with a hose or watering can. For larger lawns, use a wheeled lawn feeder for a fast and accurate job. Lawns typically need a feed in the spring and midsummer.

Fill Bare Patches

Sow grass seed over bare patches, or use unused turf to fill them in. To replace a bare patch, cut out a square or rectangle around the area and dig up the soil with a hand trowel. Gently lay the new turf over the patch, ensuring it is level with the existing lawn. Firm it down to eliminate gaps and promote growth.