Gardening guru Monty Don has shared his top tip for people looking to fix their lawns after a summer of damage. Maintaining your garden's luscious shade of green into September is no easy task. This summer was hot and sticky and the lack of rain turned many a Brits' pride and joy into a muddy mess.
Monty, who is famous for his gardening blog and hit BBC show Gardeners' World, said September is the perfect time of year to renovate your lawn and to get it ready for the looming frosty months. Even if your grass has come out of August unscathed, he still suggests it's worth pampering for a vibrant comeback next Spring. "September sun is often the most benign of the year, the mornings and evenings chilly enough to need a jersey but the days bright and shirt-sleeve warm," he said in a recent blog .
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This is an ideal time of year to either sow or turf new grass or to repair patches and worn areas on your lawn." In the event your lawn starts sporting balding spots, you should rake away "the hatch", which is a mixture of dead and living material at the grass base. Too much of it can act as a barrier, preventing water from reaching the soil below, Online Turf claims.
By raking it away, it prevents further damage to your lawn. Moss and weed are also culprits, according to Monty Don. By clearing the area of them, you can scatter some grass seed and add some water.
Blades should soon start to grow. Grass seeds take just eight to 10 days to start the growing process. Eight weeks after sowing, you should be able to see thick areas of luscious grass.
You should give it at least a month before mowing it again. Another tip to bolster your lawn's health is to aerate it at least one, regardless of its condition. Monty Don recommends taking a fork and puncturing the soil at 12-inch intervals.
For larger grassy areas, you could consider hiring a slitter. He added: "Finally give the grass a thorough scratch with a wire rake, to remove all the thatch and moss and whilst it will look a little threadbare this Autumn, next Spring your lawn will be rejuvenated for this autumnal working over.".
