I’m a gardening pro & my £1 hack will get your lawn looking luscious – plus the mistake that could be ruining your grass
IF you want to ensure that your lawn looks luscious in no time at all, then fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
Particularly with summer just around the corner, if you want your grass to impress your guests, then you’ll need to pay attention.
It turns out that there’s a very simple £1 hack that will turn unsightly bare patches of your lawn green, with barely any faff at all.
According to a garden pro, ‘overseeding’, is the answer.
Timothy Green from iCANLAWN.com explained: “Family fun, pets, and treating weeds can all cause some areas of your lawn to be a little thin on the ground.
“Overseeding is the process which revives these zones – replacing patchiness, dead grass and weeds with a fuller, luscious lawn.
“The clue is in the name for what overseeding is, and it is a simple process but there are a few checks you should do beforehand.”
For grass seeds to thrive, gardeners need the weather to stay above 10 degrees consistently for about two weeks.
But you must avoid overseeding in extreme heat, as the grass seeds will struggle to germinate in this environment.
The expert advised: “To give your lawn the best chance, it’s best to start with a clean slate, so that means getting rid of any moss, dead grass or weeds before laying any seed down.
“Then you should mow the lawn as you won’t be able to while the new grass is growing. And if you have any areas that are uneven, or have low-quality soil, use some topsoil to even these out.
“Then it’s time to ‘overseed’ the worn zones. Aim for a rate of 35g of seeds per square metre. Scatter the seeds efficiently and use a rake to make sure they have space to grow.”
Whilst it may be difficult to know whether you are overseeding your grass properly, Timothy has shared a £1 coin method that makes things much easier.
He added: “Three-pound coins stacked is the right depth for your seeds to access water, heat and sunlight.”
When new grass reaches around five centimetres, it can then be mowed for the first time on the highest setting.
Family fun, pets, and treating weeds can all cause some areas of your lawn to be a little thin on the ground
Timothy Green
Timothy shared the ‘penguin shuffle’ method, as he continued: “We call this the penguin shuffle as you need to keep your feet close together to ensure you don’t miss anywhere.
“Then you just need to water your seedlings every day for around six weeks. Of course, we’re lucky to have lots of rain so you don’t need to water on those days.
“When you’ve finished the overseeding process, you’ll have a fuller-looking lawn. Maintain this by feeding it seasonally and keeping moss and weeds at bay.”
Gardening tips and hacks
How to transform your garden on a cheap budget
How to preserve your favourite flowers at home – 5 easy tips explained
Which plants should I be wary about my dog being around?
When is the best time to prune roses?
When should I start planting daffodil bulbs?
How high can a garden fence be and can it be taller than my neighbours?
What colour of fence paint makes a garden look bigger?
Will my garden plants still grow if my backyard doesn’t receive any sun?
Not only this, but it turns out that there’s a common mistake that many people make, which may be the reason why your grass is looking a bit worse for wear.
It’s a common error, usually made in the summer, that could lead to “burning” the lawn you’ve worked so hard to design and maintain.
According to pros at Spring Green, over-fertilising or applying fertiliser at inappropriate times is a common mistake many homeowners make with their summer lawns.
The experts explained that excessive fertiliser can “burn” grass blades and encourage disease.
Royal gardener Jack Stook's top tips for green lawns
JACK, who has worked at King Charles' Highgrove House for 20 years, shares his top tips..
- Scarify the lawn with a rake to remove any old leaves and moss
- Add nitrogen fertiliser into the soil
- Alternatively, put granular feed over the lawn, or a ‘plant soup’ from plant material over the lawn
As a result, gardening enthusiasts should opt for slow-release fertilisers that require less frequent replenishment.
Similarly, achieving the right balance in watering your lawn is crucial to maintaining a healthy-looking green.
Excessive watering can wash away essential nutrients and create conditions favourable for fungal growth, increasing the lawn’s susceptibility to disease.
As a general guideline, most grass types thrive with one to two inches of water per week.
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.