Garden care suggestions – the 12 greatest methods to take care of your grass
Our lawns expertise all of it: torrential rain within the winter, dry summer season days, and the whole lot in between. Fortunately, studying a number of garden care suggestions will go a protracted method to retaining your grass in tip-top situation all 12 months spherical.
Most garden concepts require upkeep to remain in form, so maintaining with a garden care calendar is a should. We all know that sounds daunting, although, and it can be onerous to know precisely what your garden wants.
That is why we have checked in with garden and backyard consultants to compile a listing of the very best garden care suggestions you may must preserve your grass in test. Masking the whole lot from mowing to enhancing drainage, you may discover the whole lot you want on this complete information.
(Picture credit score: Future PLC/Claire Lloyd-Davies)
The perfect garden care suggestions
‘Having a ravishing, vibrant garden is an effective way so as to add worth and sweetness to your property and create a ravishing and relaxed setting,’ says Josh Novell, backyard vegetation knowledgeable and director of Polhill Backyard Centre. ‘To realize a wholesome garden, there are a number of steps you possibly can take.’
So to nurture a garden that’s wholesome, comfortable and thriving, we have pulled collectively 12 of the very best garden care suggestions. Packed filled with knowledgeable recommendation, our information will inform you the whole lot you have to know to attain the right garden, a lot to the envy of your neighbours.
Reviving your garden
1. Fertilise the grass
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Studying the right way to revive your garden after winter can rework your grass from dry and broken to well-nourished and wholesome, however it’s also possible to take steps to replenish your grass after summer season, simply earlier than the colder climate units in. Making use of a fertiliser is the best manner to do that.
‘On the subject of feeding lawns, it is necessary to take a balanced, holistic method,’ says Steve Taylor, technical knowledgeable at GreenThumb, a number one UK garden care model.
‘Often in September, we’re on the finish of our excessive diet feeding program, however in case you haven’t stored on high of your garden care over the summer season months, I would advise making use of a extremely nutritious fertiliser to maintain the grass robust and wholesome by way of the early a part of autumn.’
Ensure you have mowed, aerated, and eliminated any weeds or leaves out of your garden earlier than fertilising. Then, spray a liquid fertiliser onto your garden. Comply with up with a light-weight sprinkling of water to assist it take in into the soil.
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Garden Meals
Miracle-Gro Evergreen Autumn Garden Care
Envii Greenkeeper’s Secret
2. Do away with leaves, weeds and thatch
(Picture credit score: Future PLC/David Giles)
Eradicating particles, moss and useless ‘thatch’ out of your garden (i.e. scarifying your garden) is crucial when reviving your garden after winter.
‘In case your garden is susceptible to waterlogging or turns into too mushy to stroll on later within the season, scarifying in October is advisable,’ says Steve. ‘To arrange your garden, be sure you minimize the garden a bit shorter earlier than scarifying. This enables the machine to get into the thatch and produce it as much as the floor to be cleared off, permitting the garden to breathe.’
In the event you’re working with small backyard concepts, use a spring-tined rake and a little bit of bodily effort. For bigger areas, think about hiring or shopping for a scarifier with a motor, like this VonHaus Garden Scarifier from Amazon, which is able to pull all of the moss and useless natural matter out of the garden, permitting mild and air in. The particles will nonetheless need to be raked up and eliminated.
Clear leaves with a rake as quickly as they fall in order that they don’t rot and harm grass. For clearing agricultural pests, there are a number of methods you possibly can study the right way to kill weeds, both by hand, utilizing a standard daisy grubber, or a chemical remedy. Chemical compounds are much less effort however be sure to observe the directions to the letter to keep away from over-treating and pointless harm.
Mowing your garden
3. Preserve a mowing schedule
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Mowing the garden is probably not essentially the most beloved chore for many people, nevertheless it’s necessary to not skip it, particularly in case you’re implementing different garden care suggestions.
‘I typically advocate doing this as soon as each two weeks or so relying on the expansion price of your specific kind of turfgrass,’ says Muhammed Haq, founding father of Norfolk Backyard Sheds. ‘When mowing, all the time use sharp blades as uninteresting blades will tear relatively than minimize by way of the grass which may trigger harm to your garden over time in addition to result in brown patches all through your backyard.’
Studying the right way to sharpen garden mower blades will show you how to see the very best outcomes after mowing.
4. Alter the slicing peak with care
As temperatures fall within the autumn, it’s best to regularly lower the slicing peak in your lawnmower to succeed in your required grass size till it is time to cease slicing grass for winter.
‘Grass will nonetheless develop when the mercury is above 8C to 10C,’ says Chris McIlroy, garden knowledgeable at The Grass Folks. ‘Keep watch over temperatures and rainfall and schedule in your final mow of the 12 months earlier than it is too late.’
It is also necessary to know when to start out slicing grass after winter; wait till the frost has fully gone, or the grass won’t have the ability to develop again correctly.
‘Guarantee your mower is on a setting that may minimize round 25% of progress, and leaves round three centimetres of grass size,’ says Jamie Shipley, gardening knowledgeable at Hedges Direct. ‘In case your garden is minimize too brief, there’s much less leaf space to absorb oxygen and daylight, slowing root improvement, and the blade may additionally harm the crowns of the grass vegetation.’
Because the temperature begins to extend, you possibly can then begin to minimize extra grass once you mow the garden. ‘Minimize grass with the garden mower blades set excessive for the primary few instances, then use a great garden feed to assist your garden look its greatest,’ says Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies.
Bosch 32cm Corded Rotary Lawnmower
Flymo EasiMow Corded Rotary Lawnmower & Trimmer Equipment
Bettering garden drainage
5. Aerate your garden
There are numerous methods to enhance garden drainage. The place lawns have turn into very compacted and are usually not draining properly, use a garden aerator.
It is a quite simple software that has hole prongs that you simply push into the garden like a fork, eradicating small plugs of soil. Studying the right way to aerate your garden will finally assist it drain sooner.
This may also be carried out utilizing a backyard fork pushed into the garden and wiggled round to interrupt the soil and scale back the compaction. In case you have a moist, soggy garden, plunge a fork into the bottom throughout your patch. Go as deep as doable each 30cm or so, as this may support drainage and encourage grass root progress for typically more healthy grass.
‘This easy course of can rescue your garden if it’s been affected by compacted soil, because it improves drainage and the stream of vitamins, air, and water,’ Jamie explains.
KCT Backyard Spike Curler Garden Aerator
A curler garden aerator like this can be a good thought for bigger lawns, and even smaller areas if you wish to take a number of the work away.
This helpful software makes aerating straightforward – merely use the foot pedal to make 15 holes in your garden without delay.
1500W Electrical Garden Scarifier & Rake
If you wish to spend money on a 3-in-1 software that rakes, scarifies and aerates, this Vonhaus Electrical Garden Scarifier & Rake is Amazon’s Selection.
6. Set up a French drain
(Picture credit score: Future PLC/Claire Lloyd Davies)
Though they’re not a standard addition to gardens, French drains have gotten more and more in style within the UK, particularly in waterlogged gardens.
Matt Kent, panorama supervisor at Toolstation, says, ‘If flooding is a daily problem, it’s possible you’ll wish to think about putting in a French drain. This can be a gravel-filled ditch with a perforated underground pipe to empty away the water.’
Putting in a French drain requires digging in your backyard, however it will probably make an enormous distinction to your garden if in case you have a sloping backyard, as it would take the water away from these boggy areas and to a extra appropriate drainage space.
Though you possibly can set up a French drain your self, it’s best to think about hiring knowledgeable for this job.
7. Degree your garden
A backyard that is filled with bumps, dips, and holes is rarely going to have good drainage. The water will pool within the decrease areas and fall away from the heavier areas, resulting in a really patchy garden. Levelling a garden may help that.
Steve Chilton, backyard knowledgeable at LeisureBench, explains, ‘Having an uneven garden could cause many various issues, similar to swamp-like circumstances, issue when inserting outside furnishings, issue laying paving and decking, hazard for kids and, in fact, an unattractive look.’
Nonetheless, it’s important to just remember to’re levelling your garden appropriately, so we’d recommend following our information on the right way to degree a garden.
Spear & Jackson Conventional Soil Rake
Westland Multi-Objective Prime Soil 30L Bag
Neo® Galvanised Wheelbarrow With Pneumatic Tyre
Steve is a passionate and educated backyard knowledgeable with a number of years of expertise throughout the discipline and has developed robust experience for all issues nature and vegetation. Steve is a eager educator and likes to share this data with others. He strives to simplify advanced backyard practices and encourage eco-friendly gardening.
Basic upkeep to your garden
8. Spruce up your garden edges
(Picture credit score: Beginner Gardening)
‘Generally a mower can’t attain the perimeters of your backyard, particularly if in case you have a garden that’s towards a wall or fence’, Josh says. ‘You might must dedicate a while and use some gardening shears to trim down the perimeters.’
Use a half-moon edger a few instances a 12 months to maintain your backyard edging concepts neat. These instruments are available and sometimes very reasonably priced and can outline the road between flower beds and your garden, making your entire backyard look tidier immediately.
‘Edging your garden is an effective way to immediately enhance your garden’s normal look’, says Steve. ‘It helps preserve your backyard wanting neat and tidy, and is especially good for shaping small gardens.’
Flymo Contour Electrical Grass Trimmer and Edger
Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Edging Shears
Jazooli Garden Edging Cutter
9. Restore patchy grass areas
(Picture credit score: Beginner Gardening)
The perfect garden care suggestions contain sowing grass seed to develop in broken areas. Rake up the earth till it’s crumbly, then sow seed in line with packet directions. Water the world properly, and don’t stroll on it for a number of weeks.
‘Sow new lawns or restore naked patches from April if climate permits, on floor that has been pre-prepared, levelled and firmed,’ advises Marcus from Dobbies. ‘If you’re laying new turf, depart it undisturbed for a number of weeks to permit time for brand new roots to ascertain.’
‘You possibly can unfold the grass seeds by hand or there are grass seed-spreading instruments that you should utilize,’ says Josh from Polhill Backyard Centre. ‘All of it will depend on the floor space of your garden and the way meticulous you need it to be.’
It’s additionally very straightforward to overseed your garden, which is able to end in much more vibrant and luscious grass.
10. Prime-dress your turf
Prime-dressing is a mixture of soil, sand and well-rotted compost, however it’s also possible to purchase pre-mixed luggage. For a very well-kept garden, brush some top-dressing over the grass a minimum of twice a 12 months – as soon as in spring, and as soon as in autumn, to correspond with the garden’s pure renovation durations.
Shopping for top-dressing in bulk, like this Rolawn Garden Prime Dressing Bulk Bag from Wickes, means you possibly can preserve it in your shed for years to come back, and dip again into it on the acceptable instances. Apply two heaps, permitting a number of days between every to let the combination settle into any holes and dips. This may also encourage grass to thicken and put down extra roots.
11. Give the grass a feed
(Picture credit score: Beginner Gardening)
‘You must feed your garden in the identical manner that you simply’d feed your vegetation and flowers,’ says Steve from Leisure Bench. ‘The perfect time to feed your garden is simply earlier than it rains. That is in order that when it does rain, the feed will get washed proper right down to the roots.’
Garden feeds encourage grass to ‘inexperienced up’ and look wholesome. When you begin feeding lawns they turn into depending on it, so it’s necessary you don’t cease. Begin in spring and get right into a weekly routine throughout the primary rising season however don’t over-feed as this may trigger scorching.
‘If you wish to promote wildlife in your backyard, keep away from utilizing weed killers on the garden and permit clovers, bugle, and tiny trefoils to populate the garden, all of which give bees one thing to feed on,’ says Craig Roman from Dobbies.
12. Give grass a drink in dry spells
With temperatures in peak summer season hovering lately, grass can typically wind up yellow, parched and thirsty. Ready for the following rainfall is not sufficient if you need your garden to look and keep wholesome throughout dry spells, so the consultants advocate manually watering it as an alternative.
In the event you’re questioning whether or not you possibly can you water grass within the solar, the reply is sure, however you should not do it too incessantly. ‘Over-watering your garden can result in harm because it turns into waterlogged and drowned,’ Steve explains.
‘It’s necessary to water your garden deeply and fewer incessantly to encourage deep roots,’ Jack Sutcliffe, co-founder of Energy Sheds expands. ‘This may make your garden extra drought-tolerant and well-hydrated.’
10 litre Huge Watering Can
Gardena CleverRoll Hose Trolley Set
Hozelock Rectangular Sprinkler
FAQs
What’s one of the best ways to take care of a garden?
In the event you’re new to backyard work, garden care suggestions can really feel a bit overwhelming and it is troublesome to know the place to start out. To begin with, know when and the way typically to chop your grass.
It is necessary to not minimize your grass too brief, because it will not have the ability to take in sufficient daylight and oxygen to develop again correctly. That is particularly necessary for newbie lawns, the place the grass tends to be shorter anyway.
‘A brand new garden wants a bit extra consideration and care than a garden that has been there for a extra prolonged time frame,’ gardening knowledgeable Steve from Leisure Bench explains. ‘It’s because the grass is newer and more energizing, and far much less hardy and thick than grass that has been there for years.’
It is also a good suggestion to offer your garden a serving to hand by including a nourishing fertiliser. ‘Fertilising your garden helps to make sure wholesome progress and a lush, inexperienced look,’ says Jack from Energy Sheds. ‘However use the fitting fertiliser to your grass kind and don’t overdo it – an excessive amount of fertiliser may be dangerous to your garden.’
How do I preserve my garden wholesome?
To maintain a garden wholesome, there are a number of easy guidelines to abide by:
- Keep off your garden till you possibly can stroll throughout it with out leaving footprints/sinking.
- Take away particles from garden.
- Use a garden aerator to assist lawns drain.
- Feed and seed naked patches of grass.
- Keep away from weed killers if you wish to appeal to wildlife to your backyard.
Comply with these garden care suggestions and your grass will thanks!
