We know many of our customers are looking for information on how to care for their lawn so Adam has created a guide on what to do for the next few months up until November to keep your lawn green.
March
March is now the time of year when you should start implementing your lawn care programme as temperatures start to rise and the chance of prolonged cold has gone. The main problem in March is a build-up of moss within the lawn, caused by damp, cold conditions and a lack of sunlight throughout the winter months. To treat moss, I recommend that your lawn should be sprayed with sulphate of iron applied at a rate of 1kg to 10L of water.
This will strengthen the plant, green the leaf and blacken moss. (Please note that this will stain any curbs, paving, concrete etc if over sprayed always have a hose pipe to hand a dilute with water)
Leave for 7 days then scarify to remove moss, course and laying grass and thatch layer that has built up over the winter. This can be hired at most hire centres throughout Ireland.
After scarifying cut low to collect any debris left from the scarifying process, this is best left to complete on a dry breezy day.
Then over seed with evergreen no 2 rye/fescue mix lawn seed at a rate of 20 grams m2.
Top dress (lightly cover in sand) with an eirgrow certified lawn sand at a rate 2kg m2 and brush into the sward, this will help with moss reduction moving forward, germination of new seed, drainage and the overall health of your lawn.
Follow up with a Eirgrow 12-11-18 quick release fertiliser at a rate of 30 grams m2 which will last up to 8 weeks. Make sure to apply this on a dry day with rain due in the coming days.
The best way to apply this in the most even and uniform way is to use a push spreader available from Eirgrow.
The second option is to use Renovator-pro or landscaper-pro which is a triple action granular moss, feed and weed fertiliser. This is recommended to be used from April.
The third and organic option is to use organic 3-in-1 organic fertiliser derived from natural raw materials. Fertilises the lawn, improves the soil and has an indirect action against moss. With a mycorrhiza fungi for strong roots and improved resistance against drought and frost.
Benefits to this method is that Organic fertiliser is derived from natural ingredients, with soil revitalising microorganisms and no scarifying necessary.
Remember when cutting your lawn, strim around the edges first as the mower will collect any debris left after and make sure the blades on your lawnmower are always sharp, this will improve the quality of the cut and result in less chance of disease like red thread becoming a problem.
End of April early May
After the new seed has germinated and at the second leaf stage you can spray the lawn with a selective herbicide I would recommend Dicophar at a rate of 75ml to 10L of water this will kill any weeds within the lawn and will not harm the lawn in any way. For best results use a knapsack sprayer keeping the nozzle at a height of 50cm walking backwards coving a meter square at a time. This can be repeated in September if needed. Always wear personal protection when using selective herbicide.
May
Feed lawn with 28-3-15 slow release coated granular fertiliser at a rate of 30 grams m2 this will last up to 4 months, this is a coated product with the first 10% being available straight away for instant uptake and the rest breaking down over the coming 4 months. This will ensure a prolonged and uniform constant feed for the plant.
Apply a granular wetting agent as needed in any dry spell or high heat days. This will aid water retention and avoid any stressed areas showing within the lawn. I would recommend a product called aquaflex at a rate of 20 grams per m2.
September
In early September scarify and aerate lawn, overseed and top dress again with certified lawn sand. Follow up with a slow release granular fertiliser I would recommend 15-5-22 3 month product.
October
Treat with sulphate of iron and ammonia mixed at a rate of 1kg to 10L water for iron and 600 grams of ammonia to 10L of water. This will green the leaf, harden the plant ahead of the winter and also feed the plant.
November
Feed lawn with a low nitrogen high P and K fertiliser which should keep the lawn fed until the process starts again in March.