Lawn care blog
I've often heard it said that lawns don't really grow after July, and that as far as your lawn goes summer is over at this point. This couldn't be further from the truth, with weather being as unpredictable as it is, rain continues to fall, and grass continues to grow, granted the sun can leave your lawn scorched (if you don't keep it properly watered that is!) but there's no reason at all why it won't recover if you look after it, and of course that means getting the mower out.
So don't go putting the mower away for the winter just yet, there's still plenty of work to do, and it won't stop until the frosty peak of the winter months.
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If like many home owners at this time of year you're in the market for a new lawn mower, it can be daunting knowing which is for you, and given that it's likely to be a sizable investment either way you'll want to make sure you make the right choice.
Aside from the obvious variations in cost, you should also consider what other 'costs' are involved, whether in time or addtional expense after the intial purchase cost. For instance, if you choose a gas/petrol mower you have a more intensive maintenance schedule to consider both in your time and the cost of spares. In the case of the petrol mower you shouldn't base your decision purely on the fact that you're prepared for such extra costs, you should also consider other implications, for example are you fit and healthy enough? The pull cord on a gas mower can be quite challenging to pull for the weak and elderly, and if you fall into these categories you might benefit from a cordless battery model instead. Consider also the cost of owning something noisy. If you live miles from your nearest neighbour then perhaps this won't be a consideration at all, but owning a noisy petrol mower in a closely knit suburban area will limit you to mowing a sociable areas, so it's worth bearing this in mind. You also need to consider what you can afford to store. If you buy a lawn mower that is so large that it won't fit in your garage or requires something else to be removed to make way for it, then you'll need to decide whether this is a price worth paying. It's the middle of summer, so this isn't a job for now but it's certainly worth keeping in mind for when spring roles around next year, so make a note in your diary!
One reason why I'm being premature about this discussion is that it should give you plenty of time to prepare, this is necessary because timing your lawn treatments correctly is essential to success. So once winter has passed and the temperature begins to rise, it becomes the time to strike! Depending on which fertiliser you use, you'll need to apply it to a moist lawn, if so continue to water thoroughly in the run up to spring to keep everything prepped nicely. Which fertiliser you choose to use will depend largely on how acidic your soil is, so it's worth buying a home pH testing kit to determine your lawn's acidity. Whatever the outcome you should look to buy a fertiliser that either raises or lowers the acidity of the lawn, ideally so that your lawn is closer to pH neutral. Click here for further information on the types of fertiliser available. Most importantly of all follow the instructions! The manufacturer of the fertiliser you choose will know better than anyone how to apply their product, and how much to use. Stick to what they say, or else you might end up with disappointing results later in spring and early summer. Depending on your lawn and the product you use, you might want to use a spreader. This is a really useful tool, although you will only use it perhaps once or twice a year so head to your local hire shop to get one, unless of course you will be carrying out this task professionally, in which case good luck to you! |
AuthorHi I'm a lawn and gardening enthusiast, here to share my experience and advice. Archives
May 2017
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