Help Your Lawn Survive a Summer of Sport

With the World Cup about to start, and Wimbledon just around the corner, now’s the time that kids are often inspired to get out on the grass and practice being the next Cristiano Ronaldo or Serena Williams.

This can be a problem for those of us who wonder how we can let the kids play on the lawn without ruining it. While you may never be able to combine letting your kids enjoy the garden with having perfect grass, there are some things you can do to minimise the damage, and make sure your kids get as much pleasure from your lawn as you do.

Move the goalposts

A really simple tip is to get your kids to change where they play on the lawn. Just changing the position of goals or wicket, for example, will reduce wear in just one area.

Know when to stay off the grass

We know how unpredictable the British weather can be. If there have been periods of heavy rain, then the best thing is to stay off the lawn as much as possible until it’s dried out. This applies as much to mowing as playing, so if the grass is even a little damp, save both until the afternoon when it’s had a chance to dry out.

Act fast

If you have areas around goalmouths and the like that are starting to look a little bare, then it’s worth using a fork to aerate them. This will reduce soil compaction in the area, letting water and nutrients get to the grass that remains. Similarly raking heavily used areas will keep dead matter off the grass.

Protect the rest of your garden

Consider using goals with nets. These will stop ball bouncing into surrounding shrubs and borders and damaging plants.

Keep your grass in tip-top condition

Although it may sometimes seem like a waste of energy to spend time caring for grass that is going to be played on, you’ll find that the more you care for your lawn the more resilient it is. Regular scarification and aeration, as well as effective pest control will all contribute toward a healthier lawn, as will signing up for a year-round lawn treatment plan. A healthier lawn will recover significantly more quickly from damage than one that has been neglected.

Think Ahead

Regular rye grass, which tends to be used in domestic lawns, is relatively hard-wearing. However if you want an even tougher lawn consider a deep-rooted, tough leaved species such as RTF (rhizomatous tall fescue). This strain of grass seed is also more tolerant to drought and shade. Re-seeding or over-seeding with this type of seed will set your lawn up for years of family football tournaments or cricket matches.

Start Again

If you haven’t looked after your lawn in the past and you find that the damage done to your grass is just too great to repair, the only answer may be to re-turf your lawn. If you do go down this route then the best time is in mid-autumn. Once you’ve re-turfed contact All Green Lawn Treatments, and we’ll be able to recommend exactly the right programme to help your newly turfed lawn have a long and healthy life.