•After a rather mild and dry November, the colder
and wetter weather is only now making an appearance. Whilst we might not like
the rain, if you were to go down to a certain depth in the soil profile, you
would find that it is still quite dry; as a result, any rain is welcome.
• If you can aerate the lawn, please do, it will help move the water though the soil profile to where it’s needed.
• With regard to frost, those with fine lawns should wait until the frost has lifted before going onto the surface, as you can bruise the grass, leaving unsightly black footprints which can turn brown as the grass leaf dies. To improve the amount of light getting to the lawn, please ensure that you rake up all the leaves, otherwise they will block out the light leaving bare patches that are an invitation to either weeds or moss
• The leaf litter will also encourage worms to the surface to feed on the dead leaves. Whilst this can aid the biological health of the lawn, it will lead to large amounts of worm casts on the surface which are not only unsightly but can provide nice little seed beds for weeds in the spring.
• If you haven’t fed your lawn with an Autumn/Winter fertiliser, I would do so soon. These fertilisers are usually low in Nitrogen but have a higher amount of Phosphate and Potash than summer feeds. These two last nutrients help with root development and strengthen the plants cell walls, therefore allowing the turf to go through winter with stronger and healthier plants.
N.B a slow release fertiliser would be better, as this will trickle nutrients into the ground over the 3 months or so of its life rather than a sudden flush of nutrients and growth could encourage lawn diseases such as Fusarium.
• Fertilisers with high iron content can also be used to harden the grass and help prevent moss. N.B Please ensure when using these types of fertilisers that any granules left on the stone or light paving should be brushed off as soon as possible as the iron can stain, leaving it covered with pink/orange dots.
• Also, finish pruning back any herbaceous plants that are overhanging the lawn or may do so once the growing season starts again in the New year. These obscure the light to the lawn creating unsightly bald patches and can encourage moss or weeds.
• At this time of year, the mower has usually been put back in the shed and forgotten about – please don’t. At the very least wash it down and grease or oil the working parts. If it’s a petrol mower, please remove any remaining petrol, as this can go stale and could prevent the mower from starting when you next come to use it. Though organising the machine to be serviced by a reputable mechanic is far preferable.
• Finally, I’d like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year
• If you can aerate the lawn, please do, it will help move the water though the soil profile to where it’s needed.
• With regard to frost, those with fine lawns should wait until the frost has lifted before going onto the surface, as you can bruise the grass, leaving unsightly black footprints which can turn brown as the grass leaf dies. To improve the amount of light getting to the lawn, please ensure that you rake up all the leaves, otherwise they will block out the light leaving bare patches that are an invitation to either weeds or moss
• The leaf litter will also encourage worms to the surface to feed on the dead leaves. Whilst this can aid the biological health of the lawn, it will lead to large amounts of worm casts on the surface which are not only unsightly but can provide nice little seed beds for weeds in the spring.
• If you haven’t fed your lawn with an Autumn/Winter fertiliser, I would do so soon. These fertilisers are usually low in Nitrogen but have a higher amount of Phosphate and Potash than summer feeds. These two last nutrients help with root development and strengthen the plants cell walls, therefore allowing the turf to go through winter with stronger and healthier plants.
N.B a slow release fertiliser would be better, as this will trickle nutrients into the ground over the 3 months or so of its life rather than a sudden flush of nutrients and growth could encourage lawn diseases such as Fusarium.
• Fertilisers with high iron content can also be used to harden the grass and help prevent moss. N.B Please ensure when using these types of fertilisers that any granules left on the stone or light paving should be brushed off as soon as possible as the iron can stain, leaving it covered with pink/orange dots.
• Also, finish pruning back any herbaceous plants that are overhanging the lawn or may do so once the growing season starts again in the New year. These obscure the light to the lawn creating unsightly bald patches and can encourage moss or weeds.
• At this time of year, the mower has usually been put back in the shed and forgotten about – please don’t. At the very least wash it down and grease or oil the working parts. If it’s a petrol mower, please remove any remaining petrol, as this can go stale and could prevent the mower from starting when you next come to use it. Though organising the machine to be serviced by a reputable mechanic is far preferable.
• Finally, I’d like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year
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