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Each month, receive tips on the top jobs needed in your garden as well as a wealth of information on a range of gardening topics. From sowing seeds to picking fruit, each month get access to information on the care and maintenance of your flowerbeds, vegetable plot and lawn. As with your own gardening diary, the journal is split into separate sections, each covering a different area of garden care.

Wednesday 1 November 2017

The Lawn Care Guide - November

"The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you still have to mow it." Anon


Only mow the grass in November if growth dictates it. The mild October spells have certainly promoted growth but the first frosts have arrived to slow it down and the grass will become subjected to stress during the winter months. Wet, cold and freezing conditions all take their toll but if you have stuck to a proper care programme for the lawn it will repay you come spring and summer next year.

Good drainage is important and you can help with that by slitting areas prone to waterlogging. If you are mowing don’t cut the grass too short, leave it some growth for protection. If it’s frosty don’t walk on it if that can be avoided on your way to the composter or the bird feeder.

You can still give the lawn a feed to help combat stress but only allow Potassium in small doses, low nitrogen and iron. Grass will greedily take up all the Potassium you give it so check the instructions on the pack before applying. Leaves need to be swept off the lawn and they make good leaf compost.

If you have a garden tractor with a sweeper it will make light work of collecting the fallen leaves on lawns and drives. The PTO could also drive a salt spreader and you might even fit a snow plough ready for action. Which brings us to servicing your tractor or mower. Now being a good time to get them booked in, oiled and maintained, and store dry if the mowing is done for the winter.

Lawn edges can be trimmed up and any overhanging shrubs pruned back to help prevent bare patches. Consider the condition of your lawn, looking for any signs of disease. One of the commonest is Fusarium patch – areas of dead grass that is water-soaked and showing a ring of fluffy white or orange/brown mycelium. Avoid Autumn and early Spring fertiliser if you suspect it, and treat it with the correct fungicide. If you have been making a new lawn and laying turves you can do this during November so long as it’s not too wet or the ground frozen.




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