There’s an easy way to keep your lawn looking its best (Image: Nico De Pasquale Photography via Getty Images)
Keeping your lawn looking perfect can be quite demanding for gardeners, especially when trying to achieve that emerald-green appearance. However, with the proper fertiliser, you can guarantee your turf remains in peak condition throughout the seasons.
With September on the horizon, it becomes essential to nourish your lawn with vital nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to promote strong development during the autumn period. Andrew Huber, a grass care specialist from The Lawn Squad, has shared the most effective method to prepare your turf for a “lush, deep green lawn”. And it involves making your own DIY fertiliser.
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He explained: “Fertiliser is not just about making your grass grow it’s about nurturing a landscape that can withstand the tests of nature and time. A robust lawn is your first defence against pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.”
The key to a good lawn fertiliser centres on making sure it incorporates the nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus – all essential elements for sustaining healthy grass.
Andrew explained: “Turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into composted material is both eco-friendly and garden-smart. It’s an excellent way to reduce waste and benefit your lawn.”
Banana skins, packed with potassium and phosphorus, are a great addition to your fertiliser mixture. Fish scraps and vegetable peelings such as potatoes or carrot peels also contain phosphorus and will easily break down on a lawn.
Nitrogen-rich coffee grounds can be sprinkled on the lawn or mixed with water (Image: Getty)
However, one of the best sources of nitrogen for lawns is coffee grounds, as a well-balanced amount of nitrogen will help encourage grass growth.
Andrew noted: “Coffee isn’t just my morning essential, it’s also great for my lawn.
“Nitrogen-rich coffee grounds can be sprinkled on the lawn or mixed with water (about half a pound of coffee grounds to five gallons of water) to create a nutrient-packed lawn tonic.”
There are so many kitchen scraps which can benefit your lawn and you can determine what works best through trial and error.
Lawns will grow greener and thicker when given one ‘essential’ kitchen scrap ingredient (Image: Getty)
Once you have the ingredients, all you need to do is set them aside, combine them together in water and leave them alone to decompose properly then use them to nourish your lawn.
When applying this ingredient, ensure to cut your lawn a few days before fertilising and water the lawn as it will allow it to soak up nutrients better.
Next, examine the weather forecast to make sure there is no torrential rain that day which could wash away the fertiliser after application.
Once you’ve created your own DIY fertiliser, it’s crucial to have the proper equipment to distribute it across your lawn, and Andrew swears by a backpack sprayer for the task.
Give your grass a thorough spray, making sure to walk back and forth for an even coverage, then follow up with a light watering to help the fertiliser penetrate into the soil. Monitor your grass afterwards to prevent excessive application or insufficient coverage of any specific nutrient, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving a more lush, green lawn in no time.
Andrew emphasised: “Monitoring your lawn’s response is crucial for determining the effectiveness of your DIY fertiliser.
“I always keep a close eye on grass growth and colour changes. Additionally, conducting a soil test before starting my fertilisation regime ensures that I’m not overdoing or underdoing certain nutrients.”
