The Year-Round Lawn: What to Do and When
A healthy lawn does not happen by accident, but it does not require obsessive attention either. The secret is doing the right things at the right times of year. Most lawn problems — bare patches, moss, yellowing, weeds — trace back to doing too much of one thing or neglecting another at a critical moment in the growing cycle.
Spring is when the lawn wakes up. As soil temperatures rise above about six degrees Celsius, grass starts growing again and this is the time for the first cut — set the mower high, removing no more than a third of the blade length. Scalping a lawn in early spring stresses the grass and gives weeds an advantage. This is also the ideal window for overseeding bare patches: scatter seed, rake it in lightly, and keep the area damp for two to three weeks. A spring feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser gives the grass the energy it needs for the growing season ahead. By late spring, the lawn should be thick enough to crowd out most weeds naturally.
Summer, Autumn, and the Often-Forgotten Winter
Summer brings its own challenges. During dry spells, resist the urge to water daily — this encourages shallow roots. Instead, water deeply once a week or simply let the lawn go dormant. Brown grass in a British summer almost always recovers once the rain returns. Raise the mower height in hot weather to shade the soil and reduce moisture loss. Autumn is arguably the most important season for lawn care. Scarifying — raking out the layer of dead grass (thatch) that builds up at soil level — allows air and water to reach the roots. Aerating with a garden fork or hollow-tine aerator relieves compaction from summer use. An autumn feed high in potassium strengthens the grass for winter. In winter, the best thing you can do for your lawn is stay off it when it is frozen or waterlogged. Walking on frozen grass snaps the blades, leaving brown footprints that persist until spring growth fills them in.
