The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Green investing

Get your grass looking luscious for summer. Hannah Stephenson reveals her top five tips

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The ground may be hard at the moment but once the weather warms up a bit and you can get your fork into it, it’ll be time to get the lawn shipshape for summer. Large lawns may have become less prevalent in recent years, given the relatively high amount of upkeep they require and the lack of space so many of us have, but grass does make fantastic foil for planting and is cool and restful to the eye. So, where do you start? Here are some basic steps you can take to help your lawn recover from the depths of winter, and hopefully ensure you have a carpet of green velvet to enjoy during the warmer months... 1. Scarify

The best way to get rid of the rubbish is to scarify the lawn with a springtime rake to remove moss, thatch (dead grass below the living shoots), and any other debris smothering the grass. This will let in much-needed light and oxygen, promoting better growth. 2. Aerate the lawn Getting oxygen down into the soil, improving drainage so your lawn doesn’t become waterlogge­d, and reducing compaction can all be achieved by aerating your lawn. To do this, you can either drive a garden fork into patches of your lawn which have particular­ly poor drainage, working it backwards and forwards to enlarge the holes, which should be at about 15cm intervals. Alternativ­ely, you can use spiked shoes which are made especially for lawn drainage, although I’ve always found them awkward and cumbersome so I’d recommend the fork option. Once you’ve made your holes, brush in sharp sand, which will improve drainage. 3. Feed the grass

Feed the grass with lawn fertiliser available at most garden centres, which can be done by hand, and follow the instructio­ns to make sure you’ve added the right quantities before watering it in. Some lawn dressings incorporat­e a slow-release fertiliser but if this isn’t the case, add a little amount of general lawn fertiliser (not containing weed or moss killer) before applying it. Brush it evenly over the area, or it will become patchy when the fertiliser kicks in. A few weeks later, if your lawn is still patchy, oversow it lightly with a quality lawn seed. 4. Know when to mow

Mowing should certainly not be done when the grass is wet or frozen. Wait until the grass is actively growing, when the weather has warmed up. When the grass is about 8cm high, you can cut it for the first time. But make sure the mower blades are sharp and set them high – and don’t leave your clippings on the lawn in spring. 5. Repair lawn edges

If you have a damaged lawn edge, first cut out a rectangle of turf incorporat­ing the affected grass with a half moon edger, using a straight edge such as a plank of wood as a guide. Then turn the turf around so that the damaged edge is nearer the middle of the lawn. The gap created by the jagged edge, which is now further into the lawn, should be filled with garden soil, sifted to a fine tilth. Then you need to firm and level it to make sure it is flush with the surroundin­g grass.

Sow grass seed on top, water well, and cover the hole with clear plastic sheeting until the seeds have germinated, to help retain moisture and keep birds at bay. Reseeding worn areas and bare patches should be done towards the end of March or in April if the weather is extremely cold and the ground soggy.

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