Did you know that your grass is a living organism? That's right; it's just as alive as your plants, trees, and pets. Moreover, as a living organism it requires proper feeding and watering if it's to be at its best. It is not enough just to cut your grass every now and again and hope nature does the rest.
The most successful groundskeepers around the UK know what it takes to make a lawn look alive. The key is proper feeding. Making sure your grass gets the right nutrients and the right amount of water will produce a lush, green lawn with fewer weeds and the strength necessary to fight off pests and disease.
Why You Should Feed Your Lawn
It is true that your lawn will survive, in most cases, even if you don't feed it with fertiliser. So why invest the time and money in lawn feeding? Because nature plays a dirty trick on homeowners. It allows both weeds and grass to grow together in the same area. And if the weather is too dry, the weeds will overtake the grass completely.
The point of the feeding is to produce grass that is stronger than weeds. This allows the grass to dominate, thus controlling the spread of weeds without you having to be on your hands and knees pulling them out. Feeding also strengthens your grass against disease.
What to Feed Your Lawn
As long as you are making the effort to feed your lawn regularly, you should also make an effort to know what to feed it. Not all fertilisers are the same. In other words, some fertilisers are seasonal while others are better for specific species of grass. You need to know what fertiliser to use based on your type of grass and the time of year you are applying it.
In the spring, you'll be applying a fertiliser that instantly strengthens your grass and helps it to rebound from winter stress. Some of the spring fertilisers also offer weed control. During the summer and autumn, you'll want fertilisers that specifically fight against weeds and moss. Talk with your lawn care specialist to figure out what type of feed is best for your grass.
How to Spread Lawn Feed
When applying fertiliser it is important to spread it evenly throughout the lawn. Otherwise, you'll have patchy grass that is stronger in some spots the others. The easiest way to do this is to use a liquid fertiliser with an applicator that can be hooked to a garden hose. Then you simply spray your lawn as evenly as possible.
If you are using a solid fertiliser on a very small patch of grass, you could probably get away with spreading it by hand. Just be sure to go slowly, applying only a little at a time. For larger patches of grass, it is a good idea to get a mechanical spreader. Just fill up the trough, release the brake, and off you go. Be sure to mark the spot where you run out of fertiliser, by the way. That way you will know where to pick up after refilling the spreader.
Proper and regular lawn feeding will strengthen your lawn against weeds, pests, and disease. And while it may look like a lot of work, it actually saves you work in the long run. Give it a try in the spring!
