It’s finally spring. The weather’s getting warmer, the days are getting longer and it’ll soon be time to enjoy the garden. Make sure your lawn is in tip top condition with All Green Lawn Treatments’ year round lawn care calendar.
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that our calendar starts with March and it’s almost April already. Unfortunately the ‘Beast from the East’, that cold snap that hit most of the UK earlier in March, has meant that most gardeners haven’t been able to get outside. But it’s never too late to get going, so don your wellies and let’s get started.
March 
As winter ends it’s time to really get to work on your lawn. For most of us in the UK it will be the time to give your grass its first cut. This isn’t the time for close cutting but rather to just ‘top’ the grass. For best results set your mower to its highest setting and wait until later in the day when the ground will be drier.
If you live in an area with very heavy clay soil you may also want to consider aerating the lawn to reduce soil compaction. This can be done with a garden fork or with an aerator hired from a tool hire company. A lawn care professional however will use a more heavy duty machine that will be more effective; helping nutrients and water get to grass roots.
April
Although the weather will be warming up you can still get the occasional frost at this stage of the year, so although you will be mowing your lawn more frequently it’s still advisable to keep the mower setting relatively high.
Now is also a good time to scarify your lawn in order to remove moss and thatch. At the same time you can sow seed on any bare patches and apply fertiliser.
May
As you mow your lawn more regularly you can start to lower the height of your mower’s blades. A final height of around 2.5cm is about right for a utility lawn.
If you notice isolated weeds then either remove by hand or consider applying a herbicide. All Green can apply selective herbicides that will kill the weeds without harming the grass, and as we are professionals we can apply products that are stronger and more effective than those you buy over the counter. More info here.
June 
You may be mowing your lawn twice a week by now as the weather warms up even more and the rate that your grass grows increases. Don’t be tempted to cut it too short to reduce the amount of mowing it needs; this will damage your lawn.
Early summer lawn treatments include low scorch fertilisers that will reduce the risk of your lawn being damaged if moisture is starting to be lost. June is also the time to treat harder to kill weeds such as celandine and speedwell.
July
If we’ve been lucky enough to have a warm, dry summer so far you may be thinking about starting to water the grass. However be aware that advice from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) suggests that you may be able to avoid this as lawns tend to recover without intervention.
While the normal advice is to remove grass clippings from the lawn as soon as you mow, if the weather is particularly dry and hot you can leave them on the lawn. This helps maintain ground moisture. Now is also a good time for a bit of midsummer mower maintenance such as sharpening the mowers’ blades.
August
As we get toward the end of the summer if there has been a severe drought you may now need to take more action than you did last month. The RHS has produced a great guide to caring for your lawn during a drought with guidance on how long to leave your sprinkler on. Remember though that you will have to abide by any hosepipe restrictions that may be in place.
Now is the time that you may become aware of lawn pest and diseases. From chafer grubs to red thread you can read more about the range of problem that can affect your lawn here. If you do spot problems it’s vital that you correctly identify what the issue is in order to treat it successfully.
September 
Time to start raising the blades of your mower again, as the weather starts to cool and your grass will benefit from being kept a little longer. You should also make sure that you regularly remove any leaves that start to fall from nearby trees.
You can still treat for chafer grubs in September but act quickly as larvae will start to mature, increasing the problem. Finally think about carrying out lawn repairs on thin patches of grass.
October
As we get into the middle of autumn it’s time to consider how you can prepare your lawn for the coming winter to ensure that it’s at its best next year. Choose a fertiliser that is focussed on strengthening the grass’s roots to help maintain a healthy lawn.
If you are planning to top-dress your lawn, now’s the time to do it. This is the process of applying organic matter, sand and loam to the lawn. Top-dressing helps to smooth the surface of the lawn and can help to reduce the formation of thatch, thus reducing the need for scarification.
November
Keep removing fallen leaves from the lawn and brush away any worm casts with a stiff broom.
The lawn year is starting to slow down now as the weather continues to cool. However you may still need to mow the lawn so make sure you avoid doing so when the grass is very wet.
You’ll also want to remove any toys or furniture from the lawn to protect both them, and your grass.
December 
There’s very little to do in December so sit back and put your feet up. Avoid walking on the grass at all if possible, particularly if the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
If you haven’t put your mower away for the winter do it now. Before you do remember to clean and oil your machine so that it will be at its best come the spring.
January
Another quiet month in the garden so take some time to think about what you want to achieve with your lawn in the year ahead. Consider whether you want to add a shed or a path and start making plans and ordering materials.
January is great time to talk to a lawn care professional about setting up a year round treatment programme. If you contact them early when they aren’t so busy they’re much more likely to be able to fit you in to their schedule.
February
Nearly spring again so take the time to check any mowing or lawn care equipment. Hopefully the care you took at the end of the previous year will reap rewards and there will be nothing for you to do now.
If the ground isn’t frozen can you lay new turf as early as February, and it’s also a good time to order any grass seed or feed you intend to apply yourself. Otherwise just get ready to start your lawn care cycle all over again.