LAWN MAINTENANCE

If fallen leaves are a problem, remove them from the lawn as regularly as possible. If you wait until all the leaves have dropped, your grass will be fighting for survival. Aim for weekly removal throughout autumn and winter to avoid disease. Use a garden rake to collect the leaves for your compost heap.

If you’ve left the grass box off the mower during summer, you’ll notice a layer of thatch on the soil surface. This layer is a big no-no for your lawn, as it prevents rainwater from getting through and grass plants from spreading. It also encourages a host of diseases. So best you get to work and rake that pesky layer away.

Compact soil is no good for healthy grass growth, as rainwater can’t penetrate it. Aeration in autumn will improve the soil’s drainage capability, and help strengthen the grass. A hollow-tine fork is ideal for the job as it removes plugs of earth to a depth of about 10 cm. The wide air channel not only relieves the packed-down effect created by walking on the lawn, but also aerates the soil. March is the best time to practice deep spiking, and again in early spring.

If a lawn is weak, weeds will take advantage of this and spread to fill every gap in sight. Broadleaf weeds can be easily controlled with the help of a selective herbicide (Pest control health and safety guide):

• Apply Efekto Hormoban APM or Efekto Turfweeder to get rid of unwanted weeds. You can do a spot spray or apply to the entire lawn if necessary. Remember not to exceed the recommended dosage rate. Five litres of diluted product will cover 100 m².
• In broad-leafed grass lawns, use Efekto Banweed MCPA – a safer option for sensitive grasses. See safety instructions on the product.
• Efekto also has a ready-to-use broadleaf herbicide: Efekto No Weed Lawn RTU. This ready-to-use RTU is the liquid equivalent of Efekto Hormoban APM. See safety instructions on the product.

All the mowing in summer should be followed up by a good feed before winter sets in. Choose Wonder Plant Booster All Purpose, a fertiliser containing balanced nutrients and slow-release nitrogen. Apply the fertiliser according to the directions and you will be rewarded with a greener lawn that is sturdy and refreshed!

Drought, wear and tear, and animal abuse are all causes of dead patches. As is the scalping of the surface by a mower that is set too low. Whatever the cause, re-seeding the area during autumn may be the best remedy. The procedure is simple:

• Prick the surface of the patch with a garden fork to a depth of 3 cm and then rake the soil to form a fine seedbed.
• Scatter the selected grass seed evenly over the area and cover it with a thin layer of moist compost or sifted garden soil.
• Roll or trample down the area and water regularly. There are various mixtures of Mayford grass seed available for different areas in the gardens.

Northern harvester termites feed on grass lawns in winter, often making small circles of cut grass around forage holes. Treat with ready-to-use Efekto Kamikaze (Pest control health and safety guide):

• Put on gloves and apply 1 g bait per m² evenly over the whole area where activity occurs (10 kg is enough for one hectare). See safety instructions on the product.
• For best results, apply when termites start foraging for dry grass, usually in April or after the first winter frost.
• Apply while the termites are active, from mid-morning onwards.
• If most of the bait is not harvested within five days, re-apply by scattering around foraging holes and nests.

Alternatively, you can use Efekto Plant Protector to treat the nests. Simply dissolve 50 ml in five litres of water, and pour 500 ml of the mixture down each hole. As always, follow the safety instructions provided on the product.