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New lawns
There is nothing
finer than a well maintained lawn to compliment the borders
and trees in a garden. A top quality lawn will be composed
of grasses called bents and fescues and will need close and
regular mowing to keep weeds out. A harder wearing lawn
suitable for family use is composed of fewer bents and
fescues but has extra meadow grasses and ryegrass, which are
coarser and harder wearing.
Lawns can be laid as
turf, which will give an instant lawn, or by seed, which is
cheaper but entails waiting up to one year for a lawn that
can be used by the family.
Seeding or turfing is
best done in Spring or early Autumn. For methods of
preparing the site and laying turf or sowing seed, look in
your gardening book, or pick up a leaflet from your nearest
B & Q DIY store
Whether turfing or
seeding the lawn, you will need to thoroughly prepare the
site by first levelling the ground. Make sure the land
drains freely and add further topsoil if the condition of
the earth is poor. Finally a sprinkling of Growmore
fertilizer will aid the rooting process if you are laying
turf.
For turf, measure the intended
lawn area, adding an extra metre or so, to cover awkward
shapes or errors. *Examine turfs for freshness before
they are off-loaded, and lay as soon as possible according
to the method in your gardening book. Or get a reputable
landscape gardener to do the job for you.
*If the turf arrives yellowed and
dry, refuse delivery, as it will not take root
For seed,
ensure the seedbed is level, firm and raked over, and any
large stones removed. Choose a dry, mild, windless day for
sowing, and lightly rake the seed after sowing. If no rain
has fallen within 24 hours the area should be watered
thoroughly but gently. If you are troubled by birds eating
the seed, set some canes - with tin foil strips attached
that flap in the wind - into the soil.
Immediate aftercare
for both turfed and seeded lawns entails ensuring that the
area doesn`t dry out and keeping weeds at bay.
Lawn
maintenance
Lawns form a restful
and complimentary contrast to your borders and a well
maintained lawn is a delight to see. A regular regime of
maintenance as follows is needed to keep your grass looking
good all year round:
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In Spring and
Autumn apply feed containing nitrogen, phosphorus and
potash to replenish minerals lost by continual cutting
and clearing grass away.
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In Spring remove
moss and thatch, preferably with an electric lawn rake.
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Mow lawns
regularly with at least a weekly cut in summer.
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Control weeds with
a spot weeder that will eliminate unsightly weeds.
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Keep neat edges
that will set off the lawn and give a professional
finish.
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If you have a
female dog, train her to use a gravelled part of the
garden for a toilet, as her urine would burn brown
patches into the lawn. It is also more hygienic confined
to just one part of the garden.
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Keep the lawn
moist in drought conditions, but don`t worry if you
can`t, it will recover when the rain starts.
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Repair any bumps,
hollows and bald patches as they appear. (Refer to your
gardening book for instructions.)
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Worms may make
unsightly worm casts in winter, but they are the
gardener`s best friends. In the Spring just brush the
casts away with a rake or stiff brush.
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Mole infestation
requires patience and the help of a mole trap or other
device. Get advice from your local council if you have a
real problem.
Safety in the
garden is something we often neglect, but according to
reports, a large percentage of accidents happen in the
garden in the summer, with items such as lawn mowers and
hedge trimmers causing the most injuries. So I have compiled
a check list of items to check out before the gardening
season fully arrives..
Electrical
equipment
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Electrical
equipment, including the cables and extension leads
should be checked and inspected before each use.
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Don`t attempt
repairs yourself, unless you are a qualified
electrician.
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An RCD (Residual
Current Detector) device should be fitted for outside
appliances to be plugged into. These sense electrical
leakage or failure and shut down the power to avoid
electrical shocks.
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Keep all
electrical equipment away from wet areas, children and
pets.
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Take care that you
know where or if there are any buried electric cables,
when digging.
Garden
tools
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Garden tools
can be dangerous if left lying around so take care
to tidy up after yourself.
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Make sure that
hand tools are kept in good condition and replace any
that aren`t.
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Never leave a
petrol mower running unattended and make sure you wear
appropriate safety items such as goggles or ear
defenders if advised.
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Wear sensible
footwear at all times in the garden.
Chemicals
and petrol
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Chemicals and
petrol should be kept under lock and key in a cool, dry
place.
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Make sure that
children and animals cannot inadvertently get access to
them.
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Make sure that substances are within the
use by date and dispose of them according to the label.
Check out the
DEFRA
helpline for guidelines that were introduced in 2003
The garden
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The garden should
be free of sharp objects, slippery paths that are
covered in moss, and uneven or unstable surfaces.
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Make sure that all
the structures and boundaries in the garden are in good
repair.
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Keep a first aid
kit in the house in case of injury.
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Wear gloves when
gardening to protect hands from cuts and disease.
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Protect yourself
from the sun.
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If you have
children or animals in the garden be aware that some
plants may be poisonous.
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Make sure gates
and boundaries are secured to keep children and animals
confined.
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Ensure that garden
toys are safe and in good repair.
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Always cover ponds
or water butts with a
substantial cover if there are children or pets
around.
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Lift heavy objects
in the correct manner. Your first aid book will tell you
how to do this.
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