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.

Spring Lawn Care:

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

Mowing:

The most important lawn care job is correct and regular mowing. Grass will need cutting whenever it is growing, which is likely to be weekly or even more frequently as the weather warms up in the spring.
The correct mowing height is important – for most lawns this should be about 2.5-4cm (1-1.5in) high. For lawns that take a lot of wear and tear the height is better raised to 5cm (2in). For very shaded areas, mow at a height of 7.5cm (3in). Mowing too short is the quickest and easiest way of allowing weeds and moss to become established due to weakening the grass.
Cut lawn edges with a half-moon edging iron to ensure they look neat and well shaped.

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.

Spring lawn feed:

It is important to use the right lawn food at the correct time. A good feed with lawn fertiliser will make the grass grow thicker and greener as well as increase its strength, vigour and health so it is more robust and better equipped to compete with weeds, moss and weather- related stresses. In spring the best results are achieved by using a granular feed that supplies a regular amount of nutrients over several weeks. To feed and control weeds and moss in the lawn during spring, use a lawn product such as EverGreen Complete 4 in 1. If the lawn is weed and moss free use EverGreen Extreme Green. When using a granular lawn feed it is important to apply it evenly over the whole lawn at the recommended rate. The easy way to do this is to use a lawn spreader.
Feed the lawn again in six weeks time and it will remain strong and healthy all summer.

Dealing with bare patches:

After the ravages of winter many lawns have bare batches that look unsightly and are the perfect place for weeds and moss to take hold. A lawn patch repair product can be used for this such as Miracle-Gro Patch Magic. Where dogs have caused bare areas Patch Magic Dog Spot Repair has a special blend of salt tolerant grass seeds and a neutraliser to make ground suitable for grass to grow in again.

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.