Keen gardeners put a lot of effort into planning how they want their gardens to look and many strive to create the ideal lawn. But weather can prove a spoiler.
As recent hot temperatures have been widespread across the country, an expert has revealed the lawn mistake that many gardeners have made despite their best efforts to keep the grass healthy. One of the most difficult things to maintain in hot weather is a green lawn, which can really suffer in the sunshine, reports The Express.
Ben Ashton from Rocky Mountain Turf has explained the problems to Livingetc magazine which has shared common gardening mistakes, including the type of lawn some people choose to have. Introducing a high-maintenance lawn can be trouble.
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In hot weather, sprawling lawns are harder to keep green and healthy. They need a lot of moisture and, when it is hot, it can be harder to keep the grass a rich green, with gardeners most likely using far more water than normal in their efforts too do so.
The turf company’s expert says that the main mistake people make when it comes to caring for their lawns is designing one that is too high-maintenance. “Especially in hot, dry climates, a traditional lawn can often be more trouble than it’s worth,” he said.
“You’ll have a hard time keeping it well watered during watering restrictions and you’ll be faced with a choice between sky-high water bills and a brown lawn.” He claims hardscaping, native planting and artificial turf can be better choices.
But of course many people want the real deal and Livingetc recommends taking a “messy” approach to the lawn and letting native plants grow instead of having a perfectly-maintained grassy lawn. This can have many benefits, such as allowing pollinators to thrive in the garden, which in turn helps flowers to grow better.
Other mistakes listed by the gardening experts include creating accidental heat traps. Gardeners might create these without knowing it, and it can have negative effects on their plants. Ben said: “Big, open patios are great spaces for entertaining, but they can also become way too sunny to be comfortable during the summer months.”