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Thursday 2 January 2020

The Lawncare Guide - January

The Lawn in Winter


Lawn care in January very much depends of course on whether or not you can even see your lawn. Snow and frost defer working when there’s a blanket of the former and deter walking on it when the latter occurs. However, new turf can be laid and repair to edges done in milder spells and when it’s not too wet.



If you have already had problems with moles it’s likely they will be back to mate and build nests or ‘fortresses’ To cause the least damage to the lawn lift the soil with a spade or shovel and firm the area ready to sow in the spring. To deter moles you can plant Scandinavian bulbs called ‘Sork’ which are easily bought on the Internet. They get mixed reviews but worth a try if you get a lot of mole activity which can devastate a lawn in no time. Sonic mole repellers are another possibility.

Comparing worm casts to molehills is like comparing Mauna Loa to Cuexcomate but they (the worm casts) can be quite annoying. Best just to brush them out when there is the chance of drier weather, otherwise you get muddy splatter. When the snow clears the lawn can be left with patches of grass that turn yellow then brown and die back. There is a chance this could be what’s known as snow mould or Fusarium Patch.

Improve aeration by spiking and when you can by scarifying and hollow or solid tining. It’s good to do this anyway to help prevent waterlogging and standing water. On areas of the lawn where there is constant traffic, such as back and forth to the shed or greenhouse, it’s worth considering laying stepping stones to alleviate any compaction damage and wear. 





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