If you want a fantastic-looking lawn, you need to put in the hard work

With spells of warmer weather and the ground starting to dry up, here at Harlow Carr Garden we are preparing to carry out our spring turf maintenance of aeration, scarifying and top dressing.

One of the biggest problems we have at Harlow Carr is compaction, with over 400,000 visitors last year, work needs to be done to relieve the effects of all those feet on the lawns! The process is fairly straight forward if the conditions are right and the ground is not too hard. Firstly the area of turf you are wanting to improve needs to be cut with a rotary mower with the collection box on at a height of about 30mm to 35mm which will allow the grass to recover quicker after aeration.

Once the area you are improving has been cut the next job is to aerate. This can be done in several ways, but is dependent on the size of the area you are improving. If you have a large lawn you can hire or purchase a motorised aerator with solid or hollow ‘tines’ or if you have a small lawn, a garden fork or hollow-tine fork will be sufficient. Soil compaction normally takes place between a depth of 75mm and 150mm. To aerate the lawn work across the turf with the aerator going to a minimum depth of 75mm and a maximum of 150mm at an equal distance between holes 100mm.

After spending time aerating the turf area and collecting up the hollow cores, you need to fill in the holes. This can be done with either silica sand or top soil. Spread the sand evenly across the turf and then brush in with a stiff brush until all the holes are filled. You may need to re-apply more sand a few days later as the sand can settle and be washed in after a shower of rain.

Late spring maintenance is important if you want a green, weed-free lawn. Scarifying your lawn at this time of year will remove thatch, creeping weeds and will improve the vigour of the grass. Applying a liquid or granular fertiliser with a high nitrogen content will improve the turf’s vigour and colour and applying a selective herbicide will kill off any broad leaf turf weeds.

An ideal weed free luxury lawn should be made up of Agrostis and Festuca (Bents and Fescues) at a ratio of 8 parts fescues and 2 parts bent. There are several weeds you don’t want to get into your turf such as Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), Ranunculus repens (creeping buttercup) and Bellis perennis (Daisies). These can all be eradicated by hand weeding them out or by using a broad leaf weed killer.

If you want a fantastic looking lawn throughout the summer months it’s worth putting in the work doing your spring turf maintenance. It is a labour of love, but with ongoing seasonal maintenance you will get the end result you are after, but give it 3 to 4 years of consistent maintenance to get the best results.

Top tips for your lawn:

* Collecting up the hollow cores and composting them will make a good autumn top dressing for the following year.

* Apply liquid iron feed to green up your lawn and kill of any moss which will make it easier to scarify

* Apply an early spring fertiliser to kick start your lawn.

With thanks to James Moulstone, Horticulturist at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

DIARY DATES

RHS Advisory Service Get face-to-face gardening advice from an RHS advisor from 11am – 3pm on the first Saturday of the month and every Monday from 1pm – 3pm. Come to our desk in the entrance conservatory with your questions. Normal garden admission applies.

25 – 26 March: Mother’s Day Weekend

Join us on Saturday and make mum a scented lavender bag or bring her for a walk in the garden on Sunday to enjoy a free hand massage from 1pm – 4pm and learn about aromatherapy. Take in the spectacular spring bulb displays – from daffodils and hyacinths to scillas and trilliums – and perhaps a coffee and cake at Bettys Café Tea Rooms next door. Normal garden admission applies

1 – 23 April: Easter Holiday Fun & the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt

Hop down to the garden and join in the hunt for the Lindt Gold Bunnies, stories with the madcapped garden detectives, Easter crafts and birds-of-prey demonstrations. Over the Easter weekend the Easter Bunny will be hopping by – joined by some real bunnies, ducklings, lambs and goats. A daily Easter Trail starts on 1 April. Visit rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr/whatson for full details. Normal garden admission applies.