Spring & Summer Lawn Care
Spring is finally here after what felt like a never-ending dry winter. No more hiding under blankets and behind thick scarves. It’s time to bask in the sun, get your hands dirty, and enjoy the buzzing of pollinators in your garden.
August and September are the perfect months to get your garden and lawn ready for the season, especially your lawn, as it wakes up from winter dormancy. While everyone has their own method, I want to share with you the approach that has worked wonders for so many of my customers over the years.
Kikuyu Lawn Care
If you’ve got Kikuyu in those sunny spots of your garden, here’s how to give it the care it deserves:
Scarify the Lawn
First things first, let’s give your lawn a fresh start by scarifying it. This means cutting it as short as possible without hurting the roots. It’s like giving your lawn a good, clean shave to get rid of any thatch build-up.
Aerate the Lawn
Next up, grab your garden fork and poke some holes in the lawn. This might sound odd, but trust me, it’s going to do wonders. These little holes will help water, nutrients, and fertilizer reach the roots much more effectively.
Apply Lawn Dressing
Now, here’s where the magic happens. We’re going to cover the lawn with a special lawn dressing I swear by. It’s a mix of topsoil, dried chicken manure, and river sand. Each part of this blend plays a role:
- Topsoil: This levels out your lawn, so you’ll want to add a bit more in the bumpy spots.
- Dried Chicken Manure: This stuff is packed with nitrogen, making your grass green up and recover from winter like a champ. Plus, it’s a great soil conditioner for the year ahead.
- River Sand: While it might not do much for the lawn itself, it helps the whole mixture spread evenly and keeps the soil underneath well-drained.
Spread the lawn dressing about 1-2 cm thick over the even parts of your lawn, and a little thicker (2-3 cm) where the lawn is uneven. You’ll see the difference in no time.
Water the Lawn
Give your lawn a good soak once or twice a week to help the dressing settle. Within 2-4 weeks, you’ll be amazed at how much greener and healthier it looks.
Fertilize the Lawn
After about 4 weeks, it’s time to give your lawn a little boost with fertilizer. Depending on how it responded to the lawn dressing, you’ve got a few options:
- LAN/KAN: This is a high-nitrogen fertilizer that’ll give your lawn a deep green colour.
- 8:1:5: If you’re looking for a more balanced growth, this nitrogen-based option will boost both the foliage and roots without that intense green shock.
- Slow-Release 5:1:5: For a more gradual approach, this balanced fertilizer releases nutrients over time, keeping your lawn in tip-top shape.
And don’t forget to water thoroughly after fertilizing to prevent any burns. A little extra care goes a long way here. You can fertilize again after 6-8 weeks to keep your lawn looking lush until autumn rolls around.
Mow the Lawn
Mow your lawn weekly to keep it neat and tidy. It’s best to mow right after you’ve fertilized so you don’t pick up any granules. Just make sure your mowing and watering schedules don’t clash.
LM Lawn Care
LM grass can be a bit more finicky, especially since it’s often planted in shaded areas. But don’t worry—I’ve got you covered:
Clear Debris
Let’s start by giving your lawn a good clean-up. Rake away any leaves, twigs, and dead grass that piled up over the winter. It’s like clearing the stage for new growth.
Aerate the Lawn
Just like with Kikuyu, we’ll aerate the LM lawn by poking small holes in the soil with a garden fork. This helps relieve soil compaction and ensures that water and nutrients can reach the roots.
Apply a Balanced Slow-Release Fertilizer
LM grass doesn’t love strong fertilizers, so we’ll use a gentle, slow-release option like 5:1:5 or 3:1:5. These fertilizers release nutrients over time, giving your lawn the steady support it needs without overwhelming it. You can also spread a very thin layer of lawn dressing, but be careful not to smother the grass. Fertilize every 8 weeks until winter.
Water Properly
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially after fertilizing. I recommend watering deeply but not too often—this encourages deep root growth and helps the lawn establish itself strong and healthy.
Mow the Lawn
In spring and early summer, mow every 7-10 days. Start with your mower set high to avoid stressing the new growth. As the season heats up, you can stretch out the mowing to every 10-14 days, but be sure not to cut too short—that can stress the lawn in the summer heat.
There you have it! With just a bit of effort and regular care, your Kikuyu or LM lawn will thrive through spring and summer. Regularly scarifying, aerating, fertilizing, watering, and mowing will keep your lawn in top shape until it’s time for it to rest again in autumn.
I’d love to hear from you! What are your go-to lawn care tips? Have you tried any of these methods? Share your experiences in the comments below or feel free to ask any questions. And if you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with fellow garden enthusiasts!
Happy gardening!
Yours truly
Strawberry Pot