As the seasons change, you might be wondering how to keep your garden and lawn looking as best as it can during the colder and wetter months.
If you’re searching for easy ways to help your lawn stay healthy and avoid going patchy, look no further.
There are two jobs you can do to help your lawn breathe and avoid disease, shares an expert at The Grass People.
Chris McIlroy said: “Lawns need to be able to breathe and get nutrients and water easily.
“It’s important to clear any debris from your lawn to maintain its strength and health. Falling leaves can create a bulky layer that grass struggles to survive underneath and it’s important to clear any fruit that has dropped from trees as these can breed bacteria when they begin to rot.
“Thatch is a layer of organic matter on your lawn that feels spongy underfoot and can stump grass growth.”
How to help your lawn breathe and avoid disease this autumn
If you’ve noticed leaves and fruit have fallen onto your lawn from trees, you can easily rake your lawn to clear the debris but if you’re trying to remove thatch and much deeper blockages, scarification might be needed.
“Scarifying refers to using an automated scarifier or a spring tine rake to remove dead grass, leaves and moss from your lawn surface,” Mr McIlroy said.
The expert at The Grass People added: “You ideally need the lawn to be warm enough for your lawn to recover.
“However, it can cause temporary damage to the lawn, leaving it bare and patchy before it recovers.
“If overdone, or done when the grass is dormant, it can weaken the lawn and leave it more vulnerable to weeds, disease and sparse growth.
“So, only scarify in dry conditions and don’t be too heavy-handed. Scarifying soaking wet grass means the grass roots are looser and you end up pulling up more than just thatch.”
Simple ways to create a wildlife-friendly garden
Chris said that when it’s done correctly, lawns will have some bare and thin patches but overseeding will fix this problem easily.
Recommended reading:
- Garden expert shares how tin foil can help your lawn grow thicker and healthier
- When should you stop mowing your lawn? Expert tips on winter preparation
- 8 ways you can keep slugs off your plants without harming them
If you have no matted thatch, a rake should be enough to clear moss and other debris from your lawn.
The main difference between a rake and scarifier is the type of tines and how deep they work on the lawn.
Chris explains: “A rake uses wire tines to remove loose debris, like fallen leaves and to lightly rake a lawn. Raking is a gentle process that's not usually used to remove thatch because the tines don't penetrate deep enough.
“Lawn scarifiers have rotating blades to cut into the lawn and remove thick layers of thatch and weeds.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel