Moss and dead grass can make a lawn appear neglected and untidy in an instant. Gardeners throughout the UK are busily tending to their outdoor spaces as the warmer months arrive.
You may notice that moss is spreading quickly at this time of year. Fortunately, gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has a straightforward method to refresh lawns and tackle the problem. “The simplest way to get that moss and any dead grass out is to use a wire tooth rake,” Alan said.
In his YouTube video, Alan demonstrated the technique by dragging the rake through the moss and dead grass as it lifted from the lawn into a heap. While the approach is straightforward, Alan admitted it requires considerable effort.
For those who’d rather not tackle the moss and dead grass by hand, Alan recommended a powered scarifier, which removes moss and dead grass automatically.
The machine works much like a lawn mower, being used back and forth across the garden. Moss, dead grass and weeds are collected within the machine, which can then be emptied into a garden bin or compost heap.
Alan said in his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh video: “The reason we end up with so much moss after winter, is that in winter moss grows faster than grass, which needs it to be a bit warmer to grow.”
Once the moss and dead grass have been removed using either the wire tooth rake or powered scarifier, the next step is to mow your lawn.
Alan has also revealed how gardeners can achieve a lusher, greener lawn. He recommends against cutting grass too short, advising homeowners to set their mower blade to an inch during summer, rising to an inch and a half in particularly scorching conditions.
He added: “The longer the grass blades, the greener the lawn will stay. Once it gets really hot and dry and rain isn’t forthcoming, the lawn will start to go brown. Never water your lawn. It will recover very quickly in a shower of rain.”
Alan suggests mowing lawns at least once a fortnight, though for a “really good thick lawn”, he recommends doing so on a weekly basis.
However, this should only be done during mild conditions with plenty of sunshine and rainfall to keep the grass in good health.
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