LAWN CARE

Wondering how to achieve the perfect lawn, Conrad McCormick has you covered.

- Conrad McCormick

MOW REGULARLY

Cut your grass regularly, but go no lower than 2.5cm high. During summer, if we're having a dry spell, it's a good idea to raise the lawn mower blades to 4 or 5cm high. By keeping the grass longer, its drought resistance will be increased.

FEEDING

In spring, after the risk of frost has passed, apply an organic, high-nitrogen feed to the lawn when rain is forecast, that way it gets washed straight down to the roots. If you've a large lawn it's a good idea to invest in a wheeled lawn feeder, that'll ensure even distribution. If rain doesn't materialise, water the fertiliser in to prevent it from burning the leaf blades. The grass should have greened up within a week. In autumn choose a feed high in potassium, that helps prepare it for the winter ahead. Many lawn feeds contain weed killer, but I prefer to just dig out the odd dandelion than liberally dose the garden with herbicides.

WATERING

Don't! The only grass that needs irrigated is a newly seeded lawn whose germination coincides with a dry spell or freshly rolled out turf that should be kept moist for a few weeks, if no rain arrives. If we get a period of extended drought, thankfully rare in this part of the world, an established lawn may turn brown, either all over or in patches but will always green up again quickly when the rains return. Conserving water and using it wisely during drought is more important than a lush green sward.