Lawn Care

The well manicured lawn, lush, green and dandelion-free is nowadays a British tradition.

It takes some people many years to achieve this glorious look, but thankfully help is at hand for those of us that only have a few hours to spare at the weekend.

We have lawns well covered at Poplar Nurseries, and can offer you the market leaders in lawn care such as Westland Lawn Feed and Weed and Moss Killer and Evergreen Complete 4 in 1. These products will help to green up your lawn in no time and help reduce weeds. Please ask a member of our trained staff if you require further assistance.

Autumn Lawn Care:

Regular mowing stops this month, and the cutting height should be raised to a minimum 2cm (1in) for the last cut or two.

After the long, dry and very hot summer it’s time to start preparing your lawn for the seasons ahead with some much needed autumn lawn care. The treatments required depend greatly on the wear and tear it has undergone in the summer months.

Scarifying:

Scarifying is the process of raking the lawn to reduce the layers of thatch. Thatch is a collection of debris, dead grass and old moss that can prevent water and fertiliser from penetrating the roots of the grass. A lawn scarifier, sometimes referred to as a dethatcher can be used or a simple garden rake is the most popular alternative.

Aeration:

Aeration is a cornerstone to having well maintained lawn. The process of aerating is to allow for more air (and nutrients including water) to get to the grass roots. Aeration will also help your lawn survive through more extreme conditions such as waterlogging or drought and will aid drainage so there will be less moss. This can be done with a spike aerator or a hollow tine aerator.

Top dressing:

Apply a top dressing to improve soil structure and encourage strong root development. After scarifying and spiking spread the dressing evenly over the surface of your lawn at two litres per sq.m. Then brush firmly into the surface using a stiff broom or the back of a rake to ensure even application and then water well. For best results top dress when the lawn is dry.

Autumn lawn feed & moss killer:

Once your lawn is treated it is important to get some lawn feed down to ensure that the roots are still growing strong throughout the winter. Autumn lawn fertiliser is high in potash and phosphates which will better protect the grass from frost and icy conditions. High nitrogen spring/summer feeds will encourage top growth which is soft and easily damaged by frosts which is not ideal for autumn lawn feeding. EverGreen® Autumn Lawn Care toughens up the grass to help it withstand harsh winter weather. The added seaweed (sourced from sustainable resources) aids in root establishment and gives you a healthy lawn, whilst the iron sulphate works to control autumn moss. Results are quick – within a week the moss starts to die and after two weeks the dead moss should be raked out thoroughly. Apply between early September and mid November when weather is fair, the soil moist and the grass dry and frost free. These products are best applied using a lawn spreader to ensure even application over your lawn.

Aftercare:

When the weather is dry rake fallen leaves and remove as they would provide habitable shelter for garden pests as well as suffocate the lawn which weakens the grass. Add the leaves to your compost heap where they can rot down to help make a good natural conditioner for your flower beds next year. Avoid walking on the lawn when possible during autumn and winter.

Please ask a member of our trained staff if you require further assistance.

Click here to read the full Scotts Lawn Care Guide for everything you need to know to create the perfect lawn.

For a quick and easy guide on how to sow a new lawn, please see the Johnsons video below:

Neudorff Nematodes – biological plant protection

Nematodes are very small roundworms that can be found in almost every ecosystem on earth. Some species of these tiny creatures are predatory and can be utilised in horticulture for the control of many soil bourne pests. Nematodes kill larval pests, thereby stopping the damage they cause to plants and lawns. They first enter the pest larvae and inject it with bacteria, causing death. Nematodes will then eat the dead body, multiply and immediately start searching for a new host. Once their source of food is exhausted the nematodes will themselves die, leaving behind no evidence of them ever being there.

How to identify which product I need:

Damage to the lawn – it can look like malnutrition or in need of over seeding with small white grubs with pincers in the soil – Chafer Grub.
Damage to the lawn – it can look like malnutrition or in need of over seeding with brown/black grubs without pincers in the soil – Leatherjacket.