Lawns will be greener and turn thick 'fast' if 3 easy 5-minute tasks are completed
Lush, verdant and thick lawns are the dream of countless homeowners, especially throughout the warmer months. A patchy or thin lawn can prove incredibly irritating.
However, working out how to get thicker grass can often feel like solving a mystery. You might have tried various methods without getting the results you're after.
You're after simple fixes for developing a fuller lawn that you'll be proud to show off, particularly as the recent UK heatwave has likely left your grass looking brown. That's where horticulture specialist and creator of Yardwork, an online plant nursery and landscaping platform, Michael Clarke comes in, reports the Express.
The gardening guru has revealed that the "best way" to thicken lawns and make them "greener and thicker fast" for what's left of summer involves a three-stage method, with each job requiring no more than five minutes to complete.
He explained: "The best way to thicken lawns and make them greener in summer is to aerate, using a mechanical core aeration machine, overseed, and fertilise."
Aeration means making tiny holes in the earth by removing existing soil "plugs". This allows nutrients, oxygen, and water to reach further down into the grass root system, especially in spots with hard, compacted or heavy clay soil types, helping to "stimulate the growth of much thicker and greener grass".
Following aeration, it's "advisable" to scatter grass seed to promote fresh growth amongst current grass blades and cover with a thin layer of topsoil, shielding the seed from being eaten by birds or other wildlife.
Distribute the grass seed evenly either by hand or using a spreader, sowing initially along the length and then across the width of the area. Lightly rake over the seeds to ensure they're touching the soil, which will help accelerate germination.
Employing a quality fertiliser is crucial for introducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into the root zone to "establish healthier, more robust grass blades".
For those eager to go the extra mile and "keep weeds from sprouting", consistent mowing is vital to stop them from competing with the grass blades and gradually weakening your lawn. Nevertheless, when mowing, it is essential to cut at the correct height.
The gardening experts at This Is My Garden cautioned that "one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make with their lawns is to mow them too low".
Cutting your lawn close to the ground can trigger a lengthy list of problems for your grass, beginning with never permitting it to grow full and thick.
Rather, the mowing height should be positioned at three and a half to four inches during the spring, summer and early autumn. At this height, the blades are lengthy enough to shield the soil.
They also permit new, emerging grass to flourish beneath their protection.
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