All great summer lawns require care and attention

NOTHING rewards the work of a diligent gardener quite like a lawn does. A little work now will be handsomely repaid in the months ahead once green grass starts to look its pristine best. But now is the time for preparation.

Most of those soft and soggy areas of the lawn should be dry by now which makes working easier. You should never trod over a soggy lawn as this compresses the surface preventing necessary aeration.

The first thing to do after a stodgy winter and spring is to give the lawn a good rake to fluff up the sod and remove debris. Use a spindly rake and give it a good going over. Uneven lawns cause trouble as water lodges for longer in depressions of the lawn. This alters growth and is a problem. You might want to consider rolling the lawn but this is a job for late summer when lawn conditions are more favourable.

After you have given the lawn its first mow of the season give it a general feed as it’ll appreciate it after a long winter. Your garden centre will advise you on the best fertilizer to use and when to use it.

Once growth has started to increase, apply a general feedand-weed mix. It’s better to wait until those pesky weeds have grown a bit before applying it as this is a more effective way to kill them.

Once the lawn is in full bloom be sure to do some further aeration work. This is very beneficial if your lawn is compact as it ensures it gets to breathe properly, therefore minimising and discouraging the onset of moss growth. All great summer lawns require care and attention.