Design Your Own
Design Your Own: Lawns
We Brits are supposed to love our lawns. But you'd never believe it, judging by the sad expanses of clapped-out turf languishing in so many of the nation's gardens. Does your lawn need some serious TLC - or even a total rethink? Follow our tips and we'll set you on the right path to top class grass.
Top Tips
- Don't try to flatten bumps with a heavy roller. Instead, slice off the turf. Lower the surface by removing some soil and then replace the turf.
- Has constant traffic worn a path over your lawn? Bow to the inevitable and create stepping stones or a proper path to protect the grass.
Fit For Purpose
First things first. What do you want to use your lawn for? If you're the kind of gardener that likes to gaze upon a perfect green sward, you'll have to spend a lot of time and money achieving that look. So, there's no point in aspiring to a putting-green lawn if your family's idea of a good time is tearing round after a football. Fine-leaved grasses like Bent and Fescue produce top-quality, high-maintenance lawns. But most families are better off with broad-leaved Meadow Grass or Ryegrass.For more garden design pointers, see A Cunning Plan.
Rescuing a Lawn
Spring is the best time to renovate a lawn. If the area is overgrown, use a strimmer to cut it back to around 5cm. Then mow regularly to a length of 5cm. This way weeds will gradually become shaded out. In autumn, begin a proper maintenance plan (see below). If there are more moss patches, weeds and bare earth than true grass, you're better off starting from scratch. See the next section for more information.For more renovation tips, see Getting a Luscious Lawn.
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