Lawn Care Calendar

Wait for spring

January is a quiet month in the lawn care calendar. There is relatively little you can do, because the weather conditions do not benefit productive lawn care – so put your feet up.

February is probably a good month to start thinking about your lawn, and what needs to be done. Have a quick check of your lawn mower and other garden equipment, to ensure that it’s in good working condition. Start up any mechanical tools to make sure that they still work and haven’t been affected by the winter cold.

Sharpen your lawn mower blades

Check that your lawnmower blade is sharp, and that you have enough trimming line for your grass trimmer. If not, genuine spares and accessories can be purchased online at the Official Flymo Webshop.

As the ground warms up and your grass starts growing again, spring is the ideal time to sow new seed, scarify your lawn and gradually recover the perfect lawn you had last summer.

Make the first cut of the new year

Make sure the grass is dry and that you make the first cut of the grass on the highest cutting height. Never cut more than a third of the grass blade off in one go to avoid over stressing the grass. Cutting the grass before scarifying will also help loosen any thick patches of thatch, making it easier to remove thatch when you scarify the lawn.

Gradually reduce the cutting height

Gradually reduce the cutting height throughout the month and the beginning of the next, until you reach your preferred grass height.

Lay any weed or moss killer on your lawn where needed to make removal easier later on. Consider adding a spring fertiliser to the lawn to help rejuvenate it and promote fresh growth.

Remember: never remove moss without killing it first. If it’s scarified before its dead, you will spread moss that can regrow across your lawn.

Scarify your lawn

As the weather gets a little warmer and moisture is still present in the soil, the grass will start growing again. This is the ideal time of year to scarify your lawn, removing any excess thatch and moss. A Flymo Lawnrake is the perfect garden tool for this task.

Sow new seed

Sow some additional grass seed to any bare patches of the lawn. If you are planning on growing grass in areas of the garden that have lots of shade, consider using a seed specifically designed for this purpose. This is readily available in most good retailers and garden centres.

Mow in lawn stripes

Now that your lawn is the right height, this is the perfect time to add stripes to your lawn if you want them. Use a lawn mower with a rear roller to do this such as any lawn mower in the Flymo Chevron Range.

Through the warm summer months, it is important that your lawn stays hydrated. As the heat increases, allow the grass to grow a little longer to protect the soil from drying out.

The grass is growing at its fastest rate, meaning that you may have to mow your lawn once or twice a week.

Water the lawn in hot weather

In warm, dry weather ensure that you water deeply and occasionally. This will encourage the grass to root deeply, giving it a healthier appearance. It is also a more efficient way to water the lawn than watering a little daily as less water is lost via evaporation.

Lawn care

Continue to care for your lawn as you did in June. If you are going away, make arrangements for someone to look after your lawn, flowers and other areas of your garden while you are away.

Often the hottest month in the UK - you may need to water the lawn more frequently than before. Extreme heat may scorch the lawn and turn it brown.

Allow the grass to grow slightly longer

If it is hot for long periods, allow the grass to grow slightly longer to protect the soil from the heat. The heat will remove the moisture from the soil preventing grass growth.

As the weather starts to cool and the rain sets in, you can reduce the amount of water you use on the lawn and start to prepare for winter. Allow the lawn to grow a little more, scarify one last time and aerate the lawn for better drainage and growth.

Reduce the frequency of cutting

As the weather starts to cool, you can cut your grass less frequently as the growth slows down. When mowing the lawn raise the cutting height to allow it to grow thicker helping protect it from moss and disease.

Scarify before winter

This is the perfect time to scarify your lawn one last time before the end of the year because your lawn is still growing. Use a rake or for even faster results, use a Flymo Lawnrake Compact 3400.

Aerate the lawn

Use a garden fork or an aerator to reduce the compaction of the soil and improve the drainage. This will encourage healthy grass growth.

Raise the cutting height on your lawn mower

Allow your grass to grow a little taller over the winter months to ensure it remains healthy. This will also prevent any moss growing in bare patches.

Sow new seed

The weather conditions are ideal for sowing new grass seed in any worn or damaged areas. Areas of high activity such as around children’s play equipment or pathways are prone to damage.

Remove any fallen leaves from the lawn to allow sunlight to reach the grass to prevent suffocation. You can use these leaves in lots of beneficial ways around the garden or put them in your green bin.

Use a fertiliser

Adding a good autumn/winter fertiliser to your lawn will help the lawn survive the winter and harsher conditions. Autumn fertilisers differ from summer fertilisers as they release their nutrients more slowly.

In wetter seasons, spike your lawn with a garden fork to relieve any compaction of the soil and prevent water from pooling on top. Aeration will also help oxygen reach the roots, which is essential for healthy grass growth. Soil compaction is a big problem around areas of the garden that are frequently used like pathways and children’s play equipment.

Now that the weather is cold and dreary, there’s not much you can do for your lawn now but let it rest.

Christmas is nearly here but so are the winter frosts. Avoid stepping on the lawn when it is frozen to avoid breaking and damaging the grass.