PAYNE'S TURF LAWN CARE GUIDE

Lawn Care through the Seasons

Spring

Remove any debris ( i.e. Leaves twigs etc),a light roll may be necessary if your lawn has lifted from winter frosts.  

The first cut should be made on a higher setting, then gradually reduce down the height of cut to between 25 and 30mm, never remove more than one third of the grass length at one time.

Frequency of mowing is very important, in peak growing conditions, it is often necessary to mow twice a week.

Apply a spring fertilizer; it is important to apply it evenly to avoid a patchy appearance.

There should not be any broad leaf weeds in your lawn, if any weeds develop treat them appropriately.

Summer

Continue Mowing on a regular basis, correct mowing is the single most important job.

Regular watering in hot and dry conditions is important, not watering may result in your lawn drying out and going brown. (Please note grass is very resilient and usually recovers from drought)

Apply a summer fertilizer, this should only be applied if your lawn is lacking in vigour (i.e. looks pale in colour or patchy in growth).

It is very important that you don’t apply a summer fertilizer if your lawn is under stress in hot or dry conditions. This can result in scorching your lawn.

Autumn

Continue Mowing on a regular basis. Apply a high potassium autumn fertilizer.
Scarify and spike your lawn where necessary. Top dress and over seed any bare patches. Re turf any new or damaged areas.

At the first sign of any fungal attack, (i.e. red thread, Fusarium) treat appropriately.

Winter

If the weather is mild and conditions allow, make a final cut on a higher setting.
Clear any debris from your lawn (i.e. leaves twigs).
Avoid walking on your lawn in wet or frosty conditions.
Book mower in for winter service.

Pests and Diseases

Fusarium

Naturally occurring in the Autumn and Winter in mild and damp weather. White mould spores appear particularly in shady or sheltered areas. Although this can be a bit unsightly, frosty weather usually eliminates it. The grass usually recovers the following Spring.  

Toadstools

Common in warm and damp conditions on newly laid turf and established lawns.
Do not eat them as they could well be poisonous. The best way of removing them is to mow them off ideally with a mower that has a box to collect them.
Although unsightly they will not harm the grass.

Red Thread

A fungal disease that naturally occurs when the grass is under stress. To combat red thread make sure the soil under your lawn is well structured and free draining, also applying a high nitrogen fertilizer can help the grass to recover.

Leather Jackets

Leather Jacket grubs are the larvae of daddy long legs/crane flies. Female adults lay eggs in late summer which quickly hatch into leather jackets. They then live under ground over winter and spring, before hatching and flying away as new crane flies.

The Leather Jackets feed mainly on the roots of the turf, and so causing the grass to have stunted growth and  brown patches. Most damage occurs in spring.

The best way to control them is with an insecticide made by Bayer called Provado lawn grub killer. This can be purchased from most garden centres.

 

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