Drew Smith’s Lawn Tips

Caring for your new lawn is an important part of moving into your beautiful new home. At Drew Smith we have put together some top tips on how to ensure that your lawn stays beautiful long after your move in day.

Walking on your new lawn

It is important not to walk on your newly laid turf, even for the purpose of watering. We recommend at least two weeks during April to October and four weeks from October to March, as this should give the grass a sufficient time to root.
Soil on new developments will settle in time, however this may take several months. If there is a need to walk on your lawn within the first month, we strongly recommend the usage of boards (e.g. scaffolding boards) to spread your weight and minimise indentations, especially when watering.

Watering

Correct watering of your new turf is the single most important step to growing a successful lawn. Incorrect watering (both over and under watering) can cause long term damage. Gaps that appear between individual turfs (rolls of grass) is a sure sign that there has been insufficient watering whilst turf is “bedding in”.

The Drew Smith team would always recommend an even distribution of water by using a sprinkler and to carefully lift the corner of the turf to ensure that the roots were getting wet as well as the blades of grass. In the hot weather try and water in the morning and evening rather than during the day to get the best from your efforts.

Mowing

Regular mowing is a key part of the necessary maintenance procedure with any new lawn and must be carried out before the grass get too long. One your newly laid turf has rooted you can start to mow your lawn; this is typically around four weeks after the turf is laid. Start by setting your mower to the highest setting and lower this each time you mow. Make sure that you have a good quality mower with sharp blades.

Mowing your lawn will stimulate growth so try and mow your lawn in several different directions to start with and as frequently as time permits. Always remember to collect the trimmings as if they are left, they will smother the growth of the new shoots and could cause disease.
Peak periods of grass growth are between spring and autumn and we recommend a weekly mow during this period when the turf is dry.

Feeding

Nutrients are lost through the soil, and lawns benefit from a slow release fertiliser and weeding each spring and autumn. Feed between March and October applying evenly and according to manufacturers instructions. Apply the feed before light rain is expected and never during a dry spell. If there is no rainfall within 48 hours, ensure the lawn is well watered.

Top Dressing

Top dressing is a mixture of horticultural sand with silt, clay and grass seed to repair any wear and tear that may have occurred during the year. The most favourable time for top dressing and rolling lawns is April to June or August to September.

Weeding

If your lawn contains lots of weeds, then applying either a selective lawn weedkiller targeting just the broadleaved weeds such as clover. A triple action weedkiller will remove a large area of weeds when applied to the whole lawn and feed the lawn and kill the moss.
Follow these tips and your garden will be the perfect place for your summer picnic this year!