ANNE’S MASTERCLASS
Dealing with a compacted lawn and general lawn care
QLawn care seemed like hard work, so we decided to leave nature to itself and enjoy a mown but ‘flowery mead’. Unfortunately, this has resulted in bare patches with weeds and moss taking over from grasses here and there. Can you tell me how to keep a firm greenish surface with minimum care?
Sally Abbott, Truro, Cornwall
AFashions change, and whereas most gardeners used to crave a top-quality lawn free of weeds and moss, many now prefer to use fewer products and live with patches of clover and self-heal. Free of chemicals and species-rich, lawns turn into a kinder habitat for worms, insects and the creatures that feed on them. While this works perfectly well on larger lawns like mine, where wear is spread and the underlying soil rich and moist, troubles start where finer lawns on thinner soils don’t produce a thick enough sward to stand up to weeds and compaction.
Allowing lawns to ‘go native’ will work if the situation is carefully monitored, problems are observed and action taken. Easy fixes such as regular mowing or collecting clippings may solve the problem. The first step is to understand what caused the patches, so here are a few suggestions. ■ Irregular mowing – the weekly mow helps maintain a thick sward, while leaving it for three weeks and struggling
to make a cut weakens the grass. ■ Regular pathways – repeated compaction in the same areas, especially when soil is wet, will case bare patches. If this is likely to continue, consider installing a solid pathway.
■ Thatch – a dense layer of grass clippings, dead weeds and moss forms a barrier stopping air and water from reaching grass roots. Grasses are prevented from spreading. Opt to collect grass clippings in future.
■ Shade – under trees especially, shade usually results in weak, patchy grass. Seed mixes of shade-tolerant grasses are available or redesign the area so there is a bed of woodland plants instead of lawn.
■ Weak grasses – several grass species are used in seed mixes, and while some are tough (meadow, ryegrass and Timothy), others are finer but weaker (bents and fescues). You might be expecting a fine lawn to take more wear than it can.
■ Overwhelmed grasses – fine grasses, compaction, poor soil or shade can all result in weak grass unable to stand its ground against weeds and moss. The latter prevail, but don’t knit together as successfully as grass.