Tips on Lawn care.

Article courtesy of Amateur Gardening - Britains leading weekly Gardening magazine available each Tuesday.

Autumn is coming so it’s time to pamper our lawns.

Scarify
We scarify to remove thatch, which is plant debris and grass. Scarifying improves drainage, removes moss and can reduce fungal infections in the grass.

Aerating
Aerating is the task of making small holes in the lawn to the approximate depth of 4-6 inches (10-15 cm). This allows air to reach the roots of the grass, and water to the root zone. It also relieves compaction, and a lawn that has been aerated well will be able to cope with water logging and drought. There are three different types of ‘tiners’ that can be used but in a small area a garden fork will work just as well.

Top dressing
In the autumn top dressing a lawn, which is the application of loam, sharp sand and organic matter, will fill in small gaps and improve the structure of the soil underneath. Work in well using the back of the rake is best. Apply 4.4-6.6lb per sq ft (2-3kg per sq m].

Article courtesy of Amateur Gardening - Britains leading weekly Gardening magazine available each Tuesday.