A quick lawn mow can transform a messy-looking garden, but those who strive for perfect grass will know that lawns require much more maintenance to keep them pristine. There’s a lot of focus on feeding, fertilising, and overseeding lacklustre lawns in spring, but a gardening expert at Greensleeves Lawncare has highlighted another important task that gives stellar results.
Managing Director Cheryl Harper advocates that a fresh mow is always a “great idea” to keep your grass in good condition, but she warns against cutting it too short. “Grass that’s left a little longer is better at retaining moisture and shading the soil underneath, which means it’s more resilient in hot or dry conditions.” After mowing, she suggests turning your attention to the far corners and edges of the lawn.
The lawn expert told Express.co.uk: “It’s easy to overlook the edges of your lawn, but giving them a quick tidy with a half-moon tool or edging shears can make a big difference to the overall appearance.”
Unlike many lawncare tasks, maintaining the edges can be done at any time of year. And its benefits go beyond just looking neat.
This prevents grass and weeds from encroaching into flower beds and vegetable patches. It also reduces the need for constant weeding and helps maintain the distinct separation between different garden areas.
Of course, you first need to remove any visible weeds from your lawn to stop them from spreading.
Cheryl noted: “They can spring up quickly in summer and take hold fast if left unchecked.
“Pull out any visible ones and consider applying a selective weed treatment in advance to keep them at bay.”
Redefining the edges of your lawn is easy to do in a few simple steps.
The Royal Horticultural Society notes that “broad, sweeping curves on lawn edges are easier to maintain than intricate curves or complex shapes”.
A well-defined lawn edge with a decent drop down to the adjacent border is also useful for keeping mulching material in place.
How to create a lawn edge
Use a half-moon gardening tool and work your way around the lawn, inserting the blade downwards to cut away slivers of grass.
A drop of about 7.5cm (three inches) from lawn to border helps keep plants off the grass, and grass out of the border.
The RHS suggests removing excess soil with a spade or drawing soil away from the lawn edge with a hoe.
After mowing, use edging shears held upright to trim the grass on the lawn edge. You could do this as often as once a week when the grass is in full growth.
Take small sideways steps to ensure the cuts slightly overlap. This will create a neat, crisp edge. Rake up any grass trimmings and add to your compost heap.
Cheryl notes that a well-pruned lawn will be even more “healthy and green” if you apply a summer feed. She said: “A well-fed lawn is a strong lawn – and if you’re going on holiday for a while, giving it a feed beforehand is a smart move.
The nutrients from a feed can help grass recover from any stress and cope better with dry spells or heat waves.