Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to turn our thoughts to the garden and landscaping – and one area of focus over the coming weeks and months is, of course, your lawn.
There are various strategies you can employ depending on what you want to achieve with your grassy zones, some of which are more high maintenance than others.
For example, if you’re keen to support local biodiversity, wildlife and pollinators, you don’t really have to do much at all!
By not mowing the lawn from early spring onwards, you’ll soon see beautiful wildflowers pop up, which can encourage all sorts of garden visitors – and give you a break at the same time. No Mow May is just around the corner, so a great opportunity to give this a go.
However, if you prefer a more cultivated look to your lawn, here are some top tips to help you achieve that perfect manicured aesthetic you’re after.
1. Start off slowly
As the weather starts to heat up, you’ll notice that your grass starts growing more quickly week by week. With your first cut, set the mower blades as high as they’ll go so that you only take off the top. Wait a few days, then cut once more with the blades lower down.
2. Overseed sparse patches
Take a look around and if you see any patchy areas of grass, now’s the time to get out there with some good-quality lawn seed. You should start to see grass popping up within a couple of weeks.
3. Aerate the soil
Aerating the lawn in spring (or in autumn) can help improve drainage and clear any soil compaction, ensuring that air, water and nutrients can reach the roots and support healthy growth.
It’s easy (and quite relaxing!) to do… all you have to do is use a garden fork or hollow tine aerator to create little holes in the lawn between four and six inches deep. Make sure you don’t aerate when the lawn is too wet, however, as this can damage the soil structure.