8 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 JULY 2019Get a healthy summer lawn
A
LTHOUGH lawn growth
slows down in summer, it still
needs cutting and maintaining.
You need not take off more
than a third in length with each mowing,
but trimming does keep it healthy and
looking presentable.
Because the grass
doesn’t grow as fast, it needs
mowing less regularly – and
in very hot, dry conditions, it
shouldn’t be cut at all. Leaving
it to grow a little longer than
usual also helps trap moisture
by reducing evaporation from
the ground.
This also encourages the
development of deeper root systems,
which improve drought tolerance.
Whether or not to feed the lawn
depends very much on weather
conditions. Feeding in spring usuallyprovides enough goodness to see
the grass through to autumn, but if
conditions are cool and wet – as they
have been this year – you may need a
supplementary feed to combat a loss
in soluble nutrients.
Never feed your lawn in drought
conditions as it may scorch.
There won’t have been
much need for additional
watering this year, and if
waterlogging has been a
problem, let the moisture drain,
then aerate with a garden fork.
If a period of drought is
forecast, your grass will survive better
if watered well beforehand, in the early
morning or evening, rather than during
a water shortage.
The most common lawn pests (chafer
grubs and leatherjackets) can cause
significant damage by eating grass roots,Ruth shows you how to keep your lawn alive all season
Never feed your lawn in drought
conditions as it may scorch.much need for additional
watering this year, and if
waterlogging has been a
problem, let the moisture drain,
then aerate with a garden fork.
If a period of drought is
forecast, your grass will survive betterLeave some
wildfl owers for
pollinatorsEdging the
lawn is a quick
and easy way
of tidying up
the garden.
Removing
the long grass
around the fringes
of borders not only
makes the edges more defined, it
also removes the overhanging mess
that can harbour slugs, snails and
other pests.
However, chopping border edges
that are concealed under low-lying
tree branches or densely packed
perennials can be something of
a challenge.
Leading garden
brand Gardena
has come
up with an
ingenious
solution. Its
lightweight Long
Handled Grass
Shears are ideal for
the job, letting you
access hard-to-reach places without
needing to kneel down and stretch
at awkward angles.
The shears cost £49.99 from
Homebase and independent garden
centres. See next week’s news
pages for a full review.Sharp edges for
a neater garden
around the fringes
of borders not onlya neater garden
Leading gardenShears are ideal for
the job, letting youDealing with weeds by manual and chemical means
2
Perennial weeds can leave
holes in the lawn, so fill them
with soil and re-seed. I used Johnson’s
Lawn Thickener Lawn Seed, which is
excellent for patching. Water well after.1
Robust perennials weeds such
as dandelions can be dug out or
lifted using a tool like those from the
Fiskars weed-puller range; these will
also help to clear the roots.3
Alternatively, consider spraying
or watering on a specific chemical
such as Weedol Extra Lawn Weedkiller.
Never use a generic weedkiller, as it
will kill the grass as well.leading to patches of poorly growing,
yellowing grass. Their presence is
often signalled by birds churning up the
lawn looking for them; the grubs can
be swiftly dispatched with nematodes.Starlings will eat
leatherjacketsIn cool, damp summers give your
lawn an extra feed to replace
nutrients leached away by rainThe long handles
give easy access
to tricky areasThe blades turn for
angled cuttingTry not to be too zealous
when mowing. A patch
of longer grass and
wildflowers looks
attractive and is great
for wildlife.