A grass expert has issued some advice
Make sure you clear up fallen fruit(Image: Peter Cade via Getty Images)
A garden expert has revealed why you should never leave fallen fruit on your lawn and shared the essential job to help your lawn ‘breathe’ this autumn. During autumn, lawns can become cluttered with falling leaves, fruit and thatch that can build up.
This blocks the nutrients, water and air that grass needs to survive and creates the ideal setting for diseases to thrive. Thankfully, there’s one job that clears lawns and it should be on every gardener’s checklist this season.
Jonathan Davis, grass expert at Lawnsmith, said: “Lawns need to be able to breathe and get nutrients and water easily. It’s important to clear any debris from your lawn to maintain its strength and health. Falling leaves can create a bulky layer that grass struggles to survive underneath.
“Fallen fruit can also pose a risk. Left on the ground, these fruits begin to rot and become ideal breeding grounds for various types of bacteria. This not only spreads disease across your lawn and potentially to nearby plants, but can attract unwanted pests and insects.
“If organic matter such as dead grass and moss is left on your lawn, it can attach itself to your turf and become tricky to remove. It creates a layer that is spongy underfoot, also known as thatch and can stump grass growth.”
Remove ‘as soon as possible’
To prevent thatch building, remove debris as soon as possible before it becomes embedded in your turf or starts to cause damage.
“A garden rake is extremely useful at this time of year when lawns become cluttered with leaves, twigs, moss and the odd fallen apple. It’s essentially like sweeping your grass, it clears the surface,” Jonathan added.
“If thatch has started to form on your lawn, you might need to scarify to remove deeper blockages. Scarifying refers to using an automated scarifier or a spring tine rake to break up the foundation of your lawn to remove thatch and other organic matter that has attached itself to your grass.”
Scarifying can cause temporary damage to lawns and if done at a time when grass is vulnerable, such as when temperatures are too cold for grass to grow, the harm can be lasting.
Jonathan said: “Regular raking should prevent the need for a whole lawn scarification, but if you do get some hard-to-remove thatch, make sure you check the forecast and ensure your grass isn’t dormant.”
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