How to care for your lawn

Unfortunately, this is not true. A nice looking lawn takes some work, and here a few things you should consider:

• During the growing season from the end of March and the end of October, cut the grass once, maybe twice a week. Only cut the grass when the weather is dry so that the soil is not compressed, since hard-packed soil will prevent the roots from getting sufficient nutrition, and wet grass may cause your lawnmower to rust.
• Fertilise and apply lime to the grass.
• Remove moss and roll a lawn aerator or verticutter over the grass once a year.
• Rake the leaves together in autumn or use a bio-cutter/multi-cutter trimmer head on the lawn mower.
• Water the lawn during dry periods if you can afford the water bill (grass is hardy and can withstand dry periods, so you don’t really need to water it).
• Neaten your lawn with an edge trimmer.

When is the best time to mow the lawn?

The lawn can be cut at any time during the garden season, from the end of March to September-October, as long as it is not too wet. The last time you mow, you should leave the lawn a little higher than usual, so that the lawn survives the winter as well as possible.

When mowing for the first time, remember not to cut the lawn too short at once. The golden rule is not to mow more than 1/3 of the lawn at a time, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the growth point between the blades of grass.

What kind of fertiliser should you use on your lawn?

A healthy lawn needs to be fertilised at least once a year, but you can fertilise it 3-4 times, or when necessary. Start in the spring when the lawn has dried a bit, but when the soil is still slightly moist. After applying the fertiliser, you should water the lawn, especially if there is no rain forecast for the next few days. You can fertilise again in early or mid-June and, if you have a really nice, green lawn, do so again in early August.
At Biltema we offer a complete fertiliser containing micronutrients.

Browse our range of fertiliser and plant food

Moss in the lawn? When should the lawn be aerated?

Moss grows in lawn when the soil does not get enough nutrients, and it grows particularly well in shady areas.
To make things as easy as possible, remove moss and aerate the lawn in March or April, which is when the grass begins to grow. At this time of year, the moss is loose and easy to remove. You can, of course, easily remove moss throughout the spring with one of our grass maintenance machines, such as a dethatcher/verticutter, or an ordinary rake. A dethatcher can be used once a year and it is a gentle method because the dethatcher has small bristles that do not damage the grass. If you are in the mood for some physical labour and have a smaller garden, an old-fashioned rake with iron teeth will get the job done. You can choose a moss removing method according to your wallet or how much time and energy you have. At Biltema we have several options for fighting moss in your garden – why pay more?

A dethatcher can be used once a year and it is a gentle method because the dethatcher has small bristles that do not damage the grass. If you are in the mood for some physical labour and have a smaller garden, an old-fashioned rake with iron teeth will get the job done. You can choose a moss removing method according to your wallet or how much time and energy you have. At Biltema we have several options for fighting moss in your garden – why pay more?

Uneven lawn and lawn flattening

Another method of preventing moss in the lawn is to use a roller across the length and breadth of the lawn. Using a lawn roller can also help with moss removal and transform your lawn from a rough into a fairway.

Reseed your lawn

Has your lawn become a little thin with lots of brown patches? Then you can thicken it by reseeding with new grass seed. You should only do this when the lawn is dry, otherwise you risk causing the opposite effect: the lawn will turn yellow and dull.
You should reseed your lawn in the spring, more specifically in April or May, and in autumn in August and September. New lawns need water and warm soil and the best possible growing conditions are in spring or in autumn due to the temperature and precipitation.
Before reseeding:

• Mow the grass on the lowest cutting height of your lawn mower.
• Remove moss and aerate the lawn so that the air reaches the bottom of the lawn.
• Spread the new grass seeds using a spreader cart so that they are evenly spread across the lawn.
• Complement with lawn fertiliser to give new and old grass extra growing power.

For how long should I water the lawn?

During the really dry periods in the summer, your lawn may turn yellow. But it is important to remember that yellow grass is not dead, and it will almost always become green again when the rain comes. So you don’t have to water your lawn. You should only water if you want to prevent it from withering, and then you should water it before it turns yellow. Water seldom but liberally – about 20 litres per square metre.

Just remember that when you water the lawn, you will probably be able to see it on your water bill. A good idea is to therefore use a rainwater collector, which gives you free water for your garden. Want more tips on how to be a good garden waterer? Read our tips on garden watering here>>

Read our tips on garden watering here>>

Underground and above ground residents in your garden

Animals that live underground, such as voles and moles, probably do not know that you are trying to create a nice lawn. So you will have to decide if you just want to level the molehills and vole hills that pop up, or if you want to try to scare off the underground residents with a mole/vole scarer.
One garden resident that many hate is the dandelion. You should therefore remove weeds in the lawn in the spring already if you don’t want to look out over a sea of yellow from your patio. Dandelion spreads at lightning speed when its seeds are dispersed by the wind. So do a round of weeding with a weeder.

Is the grass on your side of the hedge green enough?

If the lawn in your garden is a lost cause, it may be a good idea to replace it entirely. You can also let nature take its course and allow insects to live in peace and quiet in the garden with tall grass and brown patches. Your garden, you choice.
No matter how big your garden is and who its residents are, one thing is for sure: plenty of quality time can be spent in your garden. It’s a wonderful place to spend time in and unwind, even if you’re working, and it’s fun to follow its development all year round.

Browse our full range of garden tools and equipment>>