Spike your lawn

During the winter, especially after rain, it’s easy to spot lawn areas that are compacted and slow to drain. This may be caused by years of mowing or where the grass is regularly walked on. Compaction leads to waterlogging and prevents active root growth, so grass cover will be weaker and sparse. A simple way to reduce compaction on lawns is to spike with a garden fork. Simply push the tines down into the soil around 10-15cm (4-6in) and 10cm (4in) apart to allow air and water down to the roots.