I’m a gardening expert – two common mowing mistakes can stunt your grass growth and lead to bald patches
A GARDENING expert has revealed the common lawn care mistakes that can leave grass damaged and ugly.
She revealed hacks for a flourishing lawn and how to recover bare patches.
Fiona Jenkins is a gardening expert at UK trades matching company MyJobQuote.co.uk.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, she shared lawn maintenance tips to keep the greenery thriving in every season.
MOWING MAYHEM
Jenkins revealed bad grass is often preventable as the wrong mowing practices cause it.
“Don’t mow your lawn too often or too short, otherwise you’ll end up with shallow roots, poor growth, and even bare patches of ground,” she said.
“Once every two weeks is fine in spring and fall.
“And if there’s a lot of dry weather during the summer, it’s best to stick to once a fortnight rather than mowing once a week.
“Keeping your grass at a height of 7cm to 10cm will help protect it during hot weather, so you’re less likely to suffer from brown grass.
“As a general rule of thumb, don’t cut lower than one-third of your grass height.
“Raking out the moss and thatch and then aerating your lawn by making holes, will improve drainage and air circulation and help nutrients get into the soil.
“Pull out weeds as soon as you see them to stop them from taking nutrients and space away from your grass.”
Jenkins said temperatures should be regularly higher than 8 degrees for the first cut of the year, which is usually between March and the middle of April.
“Always get your lawn mower serviced before you start your first cut of the year,” she added.
“Blunt blades will damage the grass, exposing it to disease.”
MARVELLOUS MOWING
Jenkins revealed the correct way to mow lawns for even growth is slightly different in each season.
“Start mowing in spring with the blades on their highest setting,” she said.
“That way your mower shouldn’t get clogged with cuttings.
“Run your mower in straight lines up and down your lawn, overlapping each run slightly.
“This ensures that sections aren’t missed and that you get an even cut.
“Then the next time you mow, do your runs from left to right instead to prevent furrows forming.
“If you’re pushing a mower, walk at a steady pace as going too quickly will leave you will an uneven cut and risk scalping sections of your lawn.”
Make sure that your lawn is draining properly and watered well during the summer as this can hinder growth.
Fiona Jenkins
“In hot weather, it’s worth keeping your grass slightly longer to increase its drought resilience,” she continued.
“You’ll also need to water your lawn regularly.
“Doing this in the morning will ensure the water soaks into the ground rather than evaporates.
“It’s a good idea to install a water butt, so you can collect rainwater to use during hot spells.
“That way you can still keep your lawn and garden watered during hosepipe bans and for those on water meters, you can avoid running up huge bills.”
WATER WORKS
“If your lawn is waterlogged, you’ll need to improve the drainage,” Jenkins said.
“First, you’ll need to rake out the moss and dead material that’s sitting between the soil and your grass.
“Once you’ve done this, take a fork or aerating tool and make lots of little holes in your lawn, making sure you’re piecing the ground below.
“Finally, add a fine layer of topdressing. This is a mix of loamy topsoil and clean sand.
“The grains in the sand will loosen up compacted soil, helping water to drain away properly.
“You can buy ready mixed topdressing, saving you the effort of making your own.”
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GREAT GROWTH
Jenkins said it’s necessary to work out why certain patches of grass won’t grow before trying different solutions.
“That way if you transplant turf or overseed these patches, you can be sure your grass will grow and survive,” she said.
“This may take a bit of investigating if the problem isn’t obvious.
“Make sure that your lawn is draining properly and watered well during the summer as this can hinder growth.
“You should also make sure you’re not mowing your lawn too excessively.
“It’s also worth asking yourself whether these patches are heavily shaded or have a lot of traffic as this could also be the cause.
“If this is the case, then it’s worth sowing grass seeds that are shade tolerant or a tougher variety.”
