The Lawncare Guide - May

Topdressing is the fashion in May

You can still be aerating and scarifying the lawn in May. Choose a dry day and the aeration will relieve the compaction on the lawn and help get air to the roots of the grass. It will also lift moss and thatch which you can scarify away, collecting the debris with the garden tractor, where the brushes will also ‘groom’ the grass, or use a mower.

If you didn’t treat the lawn to a weed and feed in April you can still do so through to September, though in the drier months you may need to water in a dry treatment according to the instructions on the pack. With the garden centres closed (at the time of writing) you may find it difficult to obtain your pack of, say, Evergreen 4 in 1 and looking online the prices are extortionate. See if you can get it at the supermarket when you do a shop and don’t worry, you can treat at any time as we said, through until the end of September.

The 4 in 1 fertiliser and weedkiller will kill weeds and moss while greening up the lawn. Rake out the areas of dead moss when it goes black and apply some patching grass seed if you get bald patches. After treatment, aeration and scarifying, the lawn may benefit from top dressing to fill in hollows and promote new growth. You can make your own mix of sieved soil, fine garden compost and sharp sand in a 3:2:3 ratio or have a ready-mixed bulk dressing delivered.

Mowing now will be frequent and by the end of May for the normal lawn, the cutting height should be 3cm (1.25”) and not lower. If it’s very dry consider mulching rather than collecting the grass so there is some protection from the scorch and nutrients are returned to the soil.