Lawns play a big part in most gardens, and after the harsh winter weather the UK has seen this year, they’ll need some TLC. It is normal for lawns to look jaded after the wet and cold winter weather. There may be yellow and brown patches, and the grass will have grown to different lengths.
But don’t despair as there are some simple ways to repair your lawn after the winter and give it a head start for the spring. To achieve a thriving green space for the warmer months, Wickes expert and senior category manager of garden maintenance, Clair Albone, has shared some answers to the most commonly asked questions when prepping a garden after winter.
One of the first things gardeners want to know about when reviving their lawns is how to make the grass “fuller”. Clair has an easy remedy for this, and that’s to use lawn seed and noted that two particulate types stand out to her.
She said: “For those wanting to add extra thickness without laying a whole new lawn, opt for the Miracle-Gro Patch Magic Seed & Feed which retails for £18 at Wickes as it will produce 50 per cent thicker grass with half the water.”
Customer reviews were very positive about this product as one person claimed it worked “fantastically” and that they saw results “more green and healthier results” in “less than seven days”.
This lawn seed can also be picked up on Amazon for £21.68 and from eBay for £19.35.
Clair added: “Alternatively, the Gro-Sure Fast Acting Lawn Seed that retails for £17.50 from Wickes will give lawns a new lease of life within just 10 days and is ideal for over-seeding worn grass areas and bare patches the colder months create.”
Similarly, this product has received great reviews too. One user said: “The box that the seeds come in has holes so that scattering the seeds is easy. Grass shoots appeared within a few days!”
Another commented: “Impressed despite the cold weather and rain it sprouted within a week and after 10 days it looked green and healthy.”
This variety of lawn seed retails for £20.95 on Amazon and for £13.99 from Quality Discounts for a slightly smaller quantity.
Another dilemma gardeners have at this time of the year is knowing when to start mowing their lawn, and it’s sooner than you may think.
Clair said: “When the temperature is above five degrees outside, grass can begin to grow so it’s important to consider this when thinking about when to embark on the first lawn cut of the season.
“The first cut of the year is the most important so take the time to prepare lawns now as it will pay dividends throughout summer and the rest of the year.”
When cutting your lawn, how often it’s done should be carefully thought out. The expert advised: “For a healthy lawn, consider mowing once or twice monthly at the highest setting from March onwards.”
Clair urged gardeners to always try to maintain a length of 1.5 inches to “avoid bare patches” spoiling lawns.
