The Lawn Care Guide - September

“My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower and I told him of course he could, so long as he didn't take it out of my garden.” Eric Morecambe

We have probably all known someone at one time or another who pops round and asks if they can borrow this tool or that. Never to return them unless pressed to do so and even then it’s as if they are parting with something that actually belongs to them and not you. Well, there’s a lot to be said for hiring some garden equipment when you need it.

One machine that springs to mind is a good, powerful scarifier because this month and into October is a good time to thoroughly scarify the lawn and lift out all the dead grass and moss that are the culprits in thatch formation. If you have a garden tractor you may well have a self-propelled scarifier you can use. Either way, if the ground is not too wet or still too hard from a dry August, scarifying first, then giving the lawn a good aerating and spiking will help drainage and get air to the roots.

Again, there are aerating machines you can hire if you have a large lawn area (and you don’t want yours to disappear off to a neighbour’s, never to be seen again). Depending on growth (some areas having a lot of rain), start raising the height of the cutting blades on the mower towards your winter cutting height. This is the month to treat for weeds and moss and a good three or four in one lawn treatment such as Evergreen will be beneficial in killing off what you don’t want and promoting the growth of what you do: a good, healthy, green sward.

You can also seed any worn areas with a suitable grass seed. Last month we talked about laying a new lawn from seed and if your bed is prepared, now is the time when the soil is still warm and there’s more moisture to promote quick growth. If you’re laying a new lawn with turf, with the area properly prepared you can start this at the end of September and through October for the best results.