| Have you ever wandered outside to take a look at | | | | mow them regularly but you should ensure that you |
| your lawn and found that to be honest, it could look | | | | also catch or collect the clippings because if you don't |
| better? I know I have. But there are things you can do | | | | then the build up of dead grass clippings on the lawn |
| to improve the look of your lawn. If you're like me then | | | | will encourage the formation of moss. |
| the fact that it is green and neat and tidy simply isn't | | | | Another problem that you may have with keeping your |
| enough. I want my lawn to consist of mostly grass, not | | | | lawn looking healthy is related to the insect World. |
| weeds and moss. From a distance your lawn may | | | | Some insects cause serious damage to lawns and |
| look ok, but too many broad leaved weeds and moss | | | | they are more common than you might imagine. |
| simply doesn't stand up to closer scrutiny. | | | | However, normally nature tends to find a way to |
| One of the main things you need to do to combat | | | | balance the good and the bad and so if possible it is |
| moss is improve drainage and irrigation of your lawn. | | | | desirable to let her get on with it rather than interfering |
| Check out your local garden supply store and get | | | | with insecticides etc as you may end up killing |
| some 'feed and weed wit moss killer' product. Apply | | | | beneficial insects as well as the more destructive ones. |
| this to your lawn as per the instructions and after a | | | | However, if the problem is getting out of hand you |
| couple of days you will find that your lawn has | | | | may have to resort to this course of action. If you do, |
| developed unsightly patches of black and brown. This | | | | then my preference would be to use low toxicity |
| is a good thing because it means that you have | | | | products that aren't going to cause problems for |
| managed to kill the moss. The bad thing is that you | | | | animals that may wander across your lawn or worse |
| now have some work to do, because to improve the | | | | still children who want to play on it. |
| chances of grass becoming dominant in your lawn you | | | | Finally, the one thing as well as sunshine that a lawn |
| need to remove the dead moss. Use a rake of some | | | | needs to grow is water. Even if it rains periodically |
| description to remove it. This will give more chance for | | | | where you live you still may not be getting enough |
| your grass to develop. This process of removing moss | | | | water on your lawn and so you may have to invest |
| and other debris from the lawn is known as scarifying. | | | | in a hosepipe and sprinkler to get the job done. Make |
| It is worth also occasionally aerating your lawn. The | | | | sure though that you tackle the moss, weed and |
| process of aeration involves making lots of holes all | | | | aeration problem first as otherwise the water you add |
| over the lawn to improve drainage. If the underlying soil | | | | may simply run off the surface rather than soak down |
| of your lawn doesn't drain that well then it may be | | | | to the roots where it is needed. Occasionally adding |
| beneficial to brush over a mixture of sand and soil to | | | | some lawn feed to the water will also be beneficial |
| cover the hole. This will help prevent them getting | | | | and will substantially improve the colour of your lawn. |
| clogged up later, putting you back to square one with | | | | Don't overdo it though as too much of a good thing |
| regard to drainage. | | | | can also cause problems as with any plant. |
| On top of weeding, aerating and scarifying, there are | | | | Whatever products you decide to use on the lawn, |
| other things you should be doing on a regular basis. All | | | | always make sure you read and follow the instructions |
| of us who take pride in the appearance of our lawns | | | | on the package. |