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While September draws out and October gets near, the days begin to get colder and almost certainly wetter.
Meaning most people hang up their gloves and wait until the following Spring before tending to their lawn again.
However, RelentlessGardener.co.uk will tell you that this is when most lawn care professionals start being pro-active about caring for their grass, so that the Winter doesn’t ruin every bit of greenery.
Here are a few simple activities you can do to ensure the Winter is kind to your lawn.
Rake out the moss
One of the first things to do is to rake out any moss that might be stopping the grass from growing. You could also apply some iron sulphate, which will blacken the moss first and make it easier to remove any undergrowth.
By clearing the moss you are making way for the grass to access more of the nutrients in the soil.
Hand-remove weeds
Weeds are likely to die off during the Winter. But for any that are left, it’s a good idea to remove them by hand. Removing them by hand means that you can move onto the next steps much quicker.
That’s because if you apply any form of weed killer, including a granular weed and feed product, then you’ll need to wait up to 6-8 weeks before you can sow any type of grass seed.
Sow grass seed at a reduced rate
Once you’ve taken out the stuff that’s not lawn (or family friendly) you can overseed the area with a grass seed of your choice.
There are different types of seed mixes that you can buy.
For example, if your garden is in the shade, then you will want a mix that thrives in shade. If you have pets or children, then you can buy a mix that is extra hard wearing so it withstands the running and games you might want to play.
On the other hand, if you’re more of a perfectionist and your garden gets lots of sunlight, you could choose a 100% fine fescue mix to give your garden that extra WOW factor – and amazing stripes.
Buy yours from a company who name their grass seed and lawn feed mixes with the above needs in mind, making it easy for you to choose the appropriate mix for you and your family.
Remember, you don’t need to sow at the same amount as if you were sowing from scratch. So, be sure to check out the guidelines on the packet or purchase the right amount for your area.
Finally, after you’ve sowed your seed, keep the area watered every day o that the soil stays moist throughout the germination period.
Another thing to consider with grass seed is whether you live in a cold season climate or warm season climate, as you will want to choose a type that thrives in either of these areas.
Apply a thin compost layer
Now you have your seed down, it’s time to give it the best chances of germinating.
By applying a layer of compost over the seed, you can achieve 2 things
- Level out any bumps that might have creeped into the lawn over time
- Give the best chance of seed to soil contact, which is the number one thing needed for best germination success
Compost is a family friendly material and you should apply it at a minimum rate of 2KG per m2.
That way you can be sure to spread enough around the lawn to reach most of gaps and touch the seed where it’s needed most (i.e. where the moss has been removed)
Apply an Autumn/Fall lawn feed or starter lawn feed
One of the most important things for grass to grow is having the right nutrients in the soil at the right time of year.
These nutrients come in the form of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. As well as a few other micro nutrients.
In Fall, the soil needs more phosphate so that the roots can grow stronger and withstand the downpours or frost that comes during these cooler, wetter days and nights.
So, if you want to feed the whole lawn, you should wait around 4-6 weeks for the grass to grow, then apply a Fall Lawn Feed which contains the right amount of phosphate.
Alternatively (don’t do both), you may wish to apply a starter lawn feed which will help the new grass seed germinate quicker. It really depends on how patchy the lawn was when you did your overseed.
Continue to mow while the new seed comes to fruition.
Now it’s a bit of a waiting game to watch your grass become thick, lush and green even during the Winter months.
So, remember to keep your lawn fed and the grass seed sowed. That way you’ll be on your way to a luscious lawn all year round.
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