So you want that perfect lawn?

 A lot of hard work is going to have to go into your garden, especially if you want to get your lawn just right. Firstly remove all the perennial weeds from your garden. If you can't seem to keep the weeds at bay you should look into a glyphosate weed killer. Apply it to the ground and leave for a few weeks. For your lawn to be well drained you will require about six inches of top soil. You will appreciate it later for all the hard work you put into your lawn at this stage. Once your top soil has been applied, level it out with your normal garden. Remove any stones etc. You can firm the soil by stamping on it by walking or by using the back of your spade. You shouldn’t use a roller for this as it will make the soil to compact. Once you have stamped the soil down a bit, lightly rake over the soil. A good piece of lawn advice is to not use any fertiliser at this stage.  

What month should I sow my lawn seed?

 Choosing when to sow your seeds is also very important to the survival of your lawn. A good month is September. The ground will still be warm, but not to hot. This makes a perfect time to grow your lawn. Remember to add sufficient water.  

How much seed must I sow for my Lawn?

 The normal recommendation is 50 grams of seed per square metre. If you are laying turf, lay the turf onto the prepared ground and use the back of your spade to get it firmly in place. Don’t start hacking away at the edges quite yet. Leave until lawn has established itself as the edges might crumble. Water the lawn after two days. 

When should I first mow my lawn?

 Wait until your lawn has grown a good two inches before you get the mower out. Even then set your mower to the highest point. Don’t use a rake to pick up the clippings, but you must collect them. Then you should be able to see if your lawn is level. If not fix the lawn by using sharp soil on little hollows and top soil in deeper hollows. At this stage do not remove the weeds if any have come through. You will need to wait until your lawn is properly established, which could take a full year. Never mow the lawn to close to the ground as you could encourage moss. Occasionally you can leave the clippings on the lawn as it will create humus for the soil. 

When should I scarify?

 Scarifying can be done in July and again in September just before it final cut. Use a spring tined rake or a scarifier. Remove all the dead grass and any moss that might of grown.  

When should I feed my lawn?

 As a general rule lawn feeding is not done in the first year. It’s always best to wait until it is established. When you do you should give it a high nitrogen and potash mix to green up the lawn and encourage stronger growth. Do not feed the lawn to much nitrogen as you will be able to watch the lawn grow. In September you can use a feed which is high in phosphorus to toughen the lawn up for winter. Always give your lawn a watering while feeding or before to avoid grass burn.  

How can I keep weeds at bay?

 The good old method of getting rid of weeds is to pull them out by the root. When pulling out try not to break the root in the ground, as the weed will just keep growing back. Another method is to use a selective weed killer. Selective weed killers will kill broad leaf plants but not the grass. You can also get selective weed killer that will kill any moss.  

How can I control moss on my lawn?