Aerating your turf or lawn is a great way to prep it ready for the summer months.  Aeration lets air and water into the soil to encourage better root growth and allows the roots to absorb more nutrients from the soil. It is an important job to do in early spring (March is ideal) after the harsh winter months and when the grass is starting to grow again.

When soil becomes compacted, even slightly, it can inhibit the flow of air, water and nutrients that support thicker, healthier turf growth. Even a thin layer of compacted soil (just 1/4 – 1/2  inche) can affect the health and beauty of your lawn.

If you think your turf is compacted, maybe it looks stressed? Or is hard to the touch? Or do you have rain puddles in your lawn? do the screwdriver test. Simply use a regular screwdriver, insert it into your lawn by hand. If it doesn’t slide in fairly easily and it meets some resistance, your soil is likely to be compacted.

Why you should aerate your lawn?

1.         Aeration improves soil water uptake
2.         It helps the roots obtain more oxygen
3.         It helps fertilizer to penetrate into the turf
4.         It reduces water runoff and puddling on your lawn
5.         Aeration promotes stronger turf grass roots
6.         It helps to reduce soil compaction
7.         Aeration helps improve heat and drought stress tolerance
8.         It helps breakdown thatch

How to aerate your lawn.

Aerating is best done when your soil is damp, from either irrigation or rainfall the day before. Overly dry soil can be really tough however, don’t aerate an overly wet lawn either.

There are three main type of equipment that can be used, from small manual pieces to larger tractor-like machines

Spike aerators. These simply poke a hole down into the soil with a solid spike. The easiest ones to use are aerator “sandals” which you strap to your shoe, and simply walk across your lawn. These are great for homeowners and small areas.

Slicing aerators. These have rotating blades that cut or slice through grass and thatch and down into soil. Like spike aerators, slicing aerators leave soil in the ground, but they create pathways for air, water and nutrients without causing more compaction.

Core or plug aerators. These are typically preferred by lawn professionals. They use rows of hollow spikes that remove plugs of soil from the turf and deposit them on top, where they break down. The size of the plugs and the holes they create vary in width and depth, depending on the machine used. 

Many local gardening services can do the job for you, or you can rent equipment from your local hire shop. A lot like mowing, you work back and forth across your lawn, concentrating on problem areas, like pet runs.

We supply quality turf all year round. If you would like any further advice on winter lawn care or would like to talk to us about your order, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

Winter is one of the quietest times for your lawn, you can now breathe a sigh of relief after all the hard work maintaining it throughout the summer and autumn months. You will be pleased to know you only need to carry out a few tasks before hunkering down and hibernating enjoying all things warm and cosy indoors.

What’s left to do for your lawn in winter?

It’s all about stopping after all, so try not to walk on wet grass as your footprints in soft soil will leave a bumpy surface. But it’s not a big deal if you do.

But before you stop completely remove any final fallen leaves which can rot down and smother healthy grass. Look out for any last remaining areas of maintenance. Do you have any puddles forming?  This may mean you have poor drainage or compaction and will need to look at aeration in the spring, but if you want to get out and put air back into the soil it’s perfectly fine to do it during the winter months.

Don’t despair if your lawn does become water-logged during the winter, you may need to over-seed in the spring. A relatively simple and easy step.

You might want to move any garden furniture to stop it from winter damage and also give the lawn a chance to recover from it’s weight.

Mowing will have almost certainly have come to a halt for some, however, venturing out once a month is a good idea, but avoid mowing if the lawn is too wet.

All applications of fertilisers and weed killers will have to wait until the spring when the grass is growing.

If frost or snow is likely

The great news is that frost and snow don’t really do any damage to your lawn. Damage can occur when there is movement across it, so it is advisable to try and stay off your lawn to reduce footprints in your grass when it is frosty, frozen or after a heavy snowfall. But thankfully there won’t be any long-term damage, grass is surprisingly resilient and any scorch marks will grow out by spring. So don’t be put off building that snowman when the snow comes!

Laying new turf

It may come as a surprise to know that is perfectly fine to lay turf during the winter months, it really is very resilient. Frost and snow will not do any damage. Winter is actually quite a good time to lay turf as it gives the turf time to settle in and take a firm root. It might be worth noting that turf maybe more difficult to locate in garden centres, during the run up to Christmas, but it will be available to order from us by phone any time. (Click here for more information on laying turf in winter.)

With your feet firmly up, and with that log fire burning, it’s the ideal time to draw up a spring time maintenance plan and get your garden tools in working order (maybe even ask Father Christmas for some new ones) and don’t forget to include any mower repairs, so that by the time spring is on the horizon you will be lawn ready.

If you would like any further advice on winter lawn care or would like to talk to us about your order, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

Autumn Lawn Care

As summer dissolves into autumn and the evenings draw in, our gardens appear quieter, with diminished child’s play as children return back to school and BBQs are packed away. However, September is actually a great time for you to continue to enjoy your garden, and to roll up your sleeves and prepare your lawn for next year before the winter months set in.

The extra maintenance and nurturing now, will help restore your lawn back to full health, so that come next spring it will bounce back with vigour and strength.

We’ve prepared a few pointers to help you on your way. 

Clearing

Remove fallen leaves and debris from your lawn so that light can still reach the grass evenly and doesn’t leave patches whilst still allowing the grass to breathe.

Weeding & Moss Removal

Early autumn is a good time to get to grips with the weeds and removal of any seeds that have germinated. It’s also a preferred time for lawn treatments to prevent weeds from over wintering, or simply remove the weeds by hand if you only have a few problem areas (remember to get the roots though).

Cooler, wetter conditions can increase moss growth. It may be worth considering a moss treatment. Ideally, mow the lawn first, rake out the moss and then apply a moss killer to the remaining moss.  If you apply a moss killer wait a couple of weeks before raking out moss.

Raking and scarifying

Rake off (scarify) dead moss, old grass stems and any debris (thatch) vigorously to enable fertilisers to penetrate and for water to access the root system. If you need to apply chemical weed control do it at least a month or two before scarifying. Don’t apply any weed killer afterwards but wait until the following spring. 

Aeration

Aerating your lawn will allow for better movement of air in the soil and root system, therefore good preparation now gives it a better chance of recovery in extreme conditions. You can hire a aerator or spike manually depending on the size of your lawn.

Remember to fertilise the lawn after aerating to produce deeper rooting.

Feed

It’s also a perfect time to add fertiliser to your lawn in September and October. Autumn fertilisers are high in potash and phosphates, enabling recovery from the summer’s heat and protection from disease and the harsh winter conditions ahead. It also ensures your lawn remains a beautiful healthy green.

Warmth, moisture and fertiliser allows the grass to recover, so September really is the optimal time for maintenance. For treatments to take effect it’s good to start before temperatures dip and growth stops.

Over- seeding

The soil is still warm in September so this is a perfect time to sow new seed and perk up a tired or damaged lawn. Wetter months are ideal conditions for seeds to germinate. But do be prepared to water them if the weather turns dry and keep off the area until they have established. Ideally, prepare the area first by mowing and raking to give the seeds a better chance of taking root.

It’s important to fertilise and over-seed your lawn after raking or scarifying. If you don’t you’ll risk a slow recovery and patchy lawn with lots of weeds. So it really does pay to invest in your lawn in the autumn.

Mowing

Mowing can continue weekly as the levels of moisture continue to keep grass at it’s best. When the temperature cools and the growth rate decreases raise your mowing height on your mower a couple of settings at least until spring time. The last cut will probably be between October and November.

And finally, to Turf

This is the optimal time of year to lay turf. It has the best chance to establish quicker as the soil is still warm enough to stimulate root growth, and the summer heat has gone so the autumn rains don’t have chance to evaporate, providing much needed hydration.  From October onwards the speed of growth will slow down, but don’t let that discourage you: lawns can be ready for use within 4 weeks, that’s the beauty of autumn.  As the winter sets in you will be reassured that your new lawn is nicely established and it can go to sleep whilst nature takes its course, ready to be woken anew in the spring.

Click here to find out more about laying turf 

We supply quality turf all year round.  If you would like further advice on lawn care this autumn or would like to talk to us about your order, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

Are you looking to sell your home? Did you know having the perfect lawn can help?

According to the National Association of Estate Agents a well-maintained garden can boost the value of a house by up to 10 percent. After all the garden is an extension of your living space, so investing time in making your garden look its best is a wise move for any home owner.

The front garden and exterior of the house will form the vital first impression for viewers. Within minutes of arriving at your home, they will have made some sort of opinion and decision. An unkempt, patchy and tired looking lawn can instantly leave a negative impression.

Simon Cooper, partner at Stags, the region’s leading estate agent says, “Present the property as best you can: first impressions are so important. The outside space is crucial to this. If you get it right potential buyers will leave with good, lasting impressions.”

A tidy, low-maintenance garden with enough space, will have the widest appeal to potential buyers. Even just mowing the grass will have great visual impact on the overall appearance. It’s important to think of your garden as another room of the house with the lawn as the carpet.

We have a few simple tips to ensure your lawn looks in tip-top condition when potential buyers come to view your property:

Condition

To establish lawn health, spring is one of the optimal times to feed your lawn. To help prevent weeds and moss forming, feed with an all-in one feed, weed and moss killer up to 6 times a year (but especially in the spring and autumn). If you are an organic gardener a daisy grubber can lift out the weeds and feed the lawn with a mixture of blood, bone and fishmeal.

Aesthetics

To give the illusion of space: extend the lawn by grassing over any unwanted flower beds; narrow the borders and trim back any over-flowing plants to open up the space.  It also enables the garden to be easier to care for and has the potential to be more adaptable to the new buyer’s needs.

Maintenance

Mowing

Keep the lawn in shape by regular mowing. It doesn’t just cosmetically alter the appearance of your garden but it keeps it healthy and removes any pests and potential diseases.

In the spring and summer months, it’s a good idea to mow your lawn just before the viewers arrive. It will help draw attention to it and the smell of fresh cut grass might just woo them over.

So, where possible, between April and September, mow the lawn every seven days or so.

And if you really want to go the extra mile, to get those quintessential lawn stripes you’ll need a rear roller on the back of your mower.

Raking

Clear any fallen leaves from the lawn in the autumn and winter. Raking allows lawns to breathe, prevents grass damage, pests and disease. Autumn is also the ideal time of year to attack any moss growing in your lawn before it takes hold in the winter months.

Investing time in your lawn will not only make it easier to maintain and be cost-effective in the long run it will be more aesthetically pleasing for you and any potential buyers.  What bigger return could there be? An eye-catching, lush, healthy green attractive lawn will pay dividends.

Summary

• When selling your home, think of your lawn as an extension of the internal space, ensure it looks neat and tidy.
• Low maintenance lawns offer the widest appeal – keep it simple!
• Feed and water your lawn to keep it in the best condition during the spring and summer
• Mow your lawn just before potential buyers come to view your property

If you would like more advice about selling your property please visit Stags.

If you are considering investing in turf for your garden to sell your property please contact us for further advice on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

To turf or not to turf (and seed instead?)

One of the dilemma gardeners face is whether to lay turf or to sow grass seed to create that lush green lawn. Of course you’d think we are likely to say turf is the best option, but we’ve looked at both sides of the coin. One option may be better for you than the other….

At a glance, Turf v’s Seed…

Laying new turf will give you that instant wow factor, it is both convenient and practical. And if you have an event or a date in mind that you want to achieve that ‘instant lawn’ look by, then turf is the very grass for the job. It’s not a martyr to the seasons and can be laid at any time, unlike seed.

Of course the expense and hard labour may not work in it’s favour but it depends entirely on your budget, muscle and whether you are in a hurry.

Naturally, turf will give you a much faster, completed and useable lawn just 2-4 weeks after laying. Whereas, the length of time it takes for seed to get established is dictated to by temperatures and hours of daylight, so it could take 2-4 months to achieve similar grass coverage. And it’s also worth considering the amount of time it takes to prepare the area for both options, but seed beds will require more labour prior to sowing.

Turf has the added convenience of being able to be laid at any time of year, as long as the ground is not frozen. Seed has a much smaller window of opportunity, with ideal sowing times March – May or September and October.

If budget is the driving factor and time is not an issue, then seeding is the cheaper way to go, especially if you are intending on doing all the work yourself. (Do consider any labour costs if you are paying someone else to do it for you).

It’s also worth considering risk factors when looking at the two options. There are more potential problems with sowing seeds, than there are laying turf (as the turf is already established) whereas the seeds have to go through many stages of development and have to contend with extreme weather conditions (torrential rain can wash away the seed and lack of sun can mean the seeds just won’t establish). 

However, it’s possible to use a mixture of turf and seed successfully, especially if the area has more diverse location or soil issues. 

In broad terms, you might turf:

• The areas to be used soon and heavily
• Areas which would be harder to grow seed on such as shady, steep and poorer soil quality

And seed:

• Areas not being used as much and further from the house, especially if not visible from windows and seating areas
• At the best time of year to get the fastest growth (spring and early autumn) – turf is fine to install all year round for instant lawn

There are many factors to consider and each garden project is unique. If you have further questions on whether to choose turf or seed for your garden, we would be more than happy to advise.  Please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com