How to keep your grass green in warm weather
Tuesday, 2 August 2011 1:46 PM
The summer is finally here – great news for your tan; not such great news for your lawn. Or so you thought. Fear not, though: Jim Kirkwood, garden tools expert at Worx, has devised a series of tips to ensure that your grass remains healthy and green throughout the warm weather.
Adjusting the height of your mower so you cut the grass slightly longer than normal makes a big difference, says Jim, recommending a length of around 3cm to make the lawn appear thicker and greener.
“The longer blades of grass shade the soil and help to prevent weeds from sprouting which will, in turn, make the lawn feel softer underfoot,” he adds.
It is equally important to tackle tricky spots on the lawn. “Mowing under garden furniture can often be tricky. Look out for grass trimmers with a tilting shaft to get in to those hard to reach areas,” Jim says.
“Models which tilt 90 degrees will allow you to trim directly underneath heavy objects easily without having to move them.”
Making the most of mulch is also important. Jim advises gardeners to opt for a mower with a mulching function that continually cuts in the mower’s drum until they are very fine, creating a mulch which then falls back on to the lawn.
“The organic matter from this enriches the lawn while helping to retain moisture in the soil to make your lawn more drought resistant,” Jim says.
Jim’s final top tip is to water the lawn first thing in the morning because the lower temperature at this time of day means that the water won’t evaporate as quickly, instead soaking into the soil and being fully absorbed by the grass roots.
“During the summer, your grass will grow more rapidly and so it uses up nutrients in the soil more quickly," explains Jim. "Using a lawn food to replace these nutrients will help to give your lawn a boost.”.
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Tags:
- gardening news ,
- lawn care
