April - 2002
New lawns and
lawn maintenance
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
as I wrote in my January column, 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:
In Spring and Autumn apply feed containing
nitrogen, phosphorus and potash to replenish minerals lost by continual cutting and
clearing grass away.
In Spring remove moss and thatch, preferably with
an electric lawn rake.
Mow lawns regularly with at least a weekly cut in
summer.
Control weeds with a spot weeder that will
eliminate unsightly weeds.
Keep neat edges that will set off the lawn and
give a professional finish.
If you have a girl dog like I have, 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.
Keep the lawn moist in drought conditions, but
don`t worry if you can`t, it will recover when the rain starts.
Repair any bumps, hollows and bald patches as they
appear. (Refer to your gardening book for instructions.)
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.
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
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
Electrical equipment, including the cables and
extension leads should be checked and inspected before each use.
Don`t attempt repairs yourself, unless you are a
qualified electrician.
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.
Keep all electrical equipment away from wet areas,
children and pets.
Take care that you know where or if there are any
buried electric cables, when digging.
Garden tools
Garden tools can be dangerous if left lying
around so take care to tidy up after yourself.
Make sure that hand tools are kept in good
condition and replace any that aren`t.
Never leave a petrol mower running unattended and
make sure you wear appropriate safety items such as goggles or ear defenders if
advised.
Wear sensible footwear at all times in the garden.
Chemicals and petrol
Chemicals and petrol should be kept under lock and
key in a cool, dry place.
Make sure that children and animals cannot
inadvertently get access to them.
Make sure that substances are within the use by
date and dispose of them according to the label.
The garden
The garden should be free of sharp objects,
slippery paths covered in moss, and uneven or unstable surfaces.
Make sure that all the structures and boundaries
in the garden are in good repair.
Keep a first aid kit in the house in case of
injury.
Wear gloves when gardening to protect hands from
cuts and disease.
Protect yourself from the sun.
If you have children or animals in the garden be
aware that some plants may be poisonous.
Make sure gates and boundaries are secured to keep
children and animals confined.
Ensure that garden toys are safe and in good
repair.
Always cover ponds or water butts with substantial
netting if there are children or pets around.
Lift heavy objects in the correct manner. Your
first aid book will tell you how to do this.
Next month I will be spotlighting Ponds
and bedding plants.
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