The grass is always greener

A luscious green lawn is the cornerstone of a beautiful garden – follow these guidelines in order to keep it as such.

Watering

Water in the morning as evening watering can lead to diseases and frost damage.
Most lawns need at least one decent soaking per week.
Make sure water gets down to the roots during the growth seasons.
Lawns in sandy soil may need to be watered every second day.
Surface watering in the morning keeps frost at bay in winter and cools grass down in summer.

Mowing

During the growth season a lawn should be mowed at least once a week.
Never cut grass to root level, and do not remove more that 30 – 40% of the plant tissue.
Alternate the direction of cutting between sessions.
Never cut wet grass.
Rather mow towards evening to prevent sun damage.
If your lawn starts feeling thick and spongy it is time for “scarifying” – the removal of thatch and moss from the base of the plant by a professional.
Leaving a covering of grass clippings on your lawn can lower your dependence on fertilizers.

Feeding

Fertilize your lawn once a month during summer.
Granular general purpose fertilizers such as 2.3.2 or 3.2.1 SR (slow release) are best.
Strong-growing lawns may be fed with straight nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate or LAN from middle to late summer.
Water well after fertilizing.

Weeds, pests and diseases

Using garden contractors may increase the chances of infestations.
The majority of lawn weeds can be removed by hand, or killed using weed killers.
Most insects can be killed by pesticides however the treatment of mole crickets and termites should be performed by a professional.

The information contained in this article is of a general nature and intended for information purposes only.