The final Cut – Of the Season! Preparing your lawn for winter.
Temperatures are getting colder and you will have noticed the grass growth is slowing down now every week. The grass cutting season is coming to an end so anytime now give it one last cut then pack the lawn mower away for the year.
Giving your lawn a bit of a Autumn maintenance will revitalise it and prepare it for the winter ahead. Here are some of our tips on what to do.
- Removing Moss
By removing the build up of moss and dead grass it will help to improve drainage and prevent any disease forming helping to promote healthy grass growth. Before removing moss treat it by spreading mosskiller over the grass then waiting a couple of weeks before removing. To remove moss use a good spring-tined lawn-rake or if you have a large area to maintain try out the agri-fab Tine De-Thatcher which can be attached to your ride on lawnmower.
- Aerate the lawn
The perfect lawn takes more than simply cutting, lawns that get alot of traffic from children or pets often become compacted which can cause problems with drainage, weeds and moss. Improve the drainage by inserting a garden fork into the ground as far as you can go, then wiggle it backwards and forwards to make air channels.There is also a range of attachments available which can be towed behind your ride on lawnmower to aerate your lawn if you have a large area to maintain. The Agri Fab Core Aerator is available on our website, or Husqvarna have a range of attachments available which can be ordered in.
After aerating lightly spread sand over the lawn to fill in the holes but still allowing air and water into the lawn.
- Mow your Lawn
At this time of year in Ireland, you should have your lawnmower cutting height set between 2½ and 3½ inches. This will ensure that you do not scalp the lawn and weaken the grass. If this happens you will tend to get a build up of moss on the bare patches.
If you have a rotary mower there is no harm running it over the grass on a dry day to collect any dead leaves and save them suffocating the lawn over the winter period. Ensure this is done when the ground is dry.
- Feed your lawn
Autumn is a great time to fertilise your lawn. This is the time of year that the grass plant slows its growth and begins to store nutrients for the cold winter ahead. By fertilising now this will help your grass remain healthy in Spring. It will also help the grass’s resistance to any damaging diseases which may attack.
Follow the above steps now coming into winter to give your lawn a good tidy up before the cold weather comes and it will help to protect it from any damage or disease in the coming months.
If you would like any advise or information on any of the machinery mentioned then please let us know and we will be glad to assist you.