A Simple Lawn Care Calendar for a Healthier Lawn

Start mowing when the grass begins to grow, on a high setting. Rake out dead material and moss if they have built up. Feed with a spring fertiliser once growth is underway.

Raise the mower height in hot, dry weather — longer grass shades its own roots and holds moisture. If you water, water deeply once a week rather than a little every day. A brown lawn in a drought usually recovers when rain returns.

This is the best time to repair a lawn. Aerate compacted areas with a garden fork or aerator, scarify to remove thatch, and overseed thin or bare patches. Use an autumn feed, which is lower in nitrogen.

Keep off the lawn when it is frozen or waterlogged to avoid damage. Clear fallen leaves so they do not smother the grass. Service the mower and sharpen the blade before spring.

Never remove more than a third of the grass blade in one cut. Cutting too short stresses the grass and lets weeds and moss move in. More frequent, lighter cuts produce a denser lawn.