The Path to a Perfect Lawn
Expert Gardening Insights from Greg Dowsett
Every day I encounter both good and bad lawns though sadly, the latter is far more common. It’s often accompanied by frustrated homeowners asking why their neighbours’ lawns thrive while their own, despite spending thousands on fertilisers and lawn dressings in an attempt to recreate the ‘18th green at the Country Club,’ end up as nothing more than a “green desert.”
Nothing beats looking at a neatly mown lawn. In saying that, who out there has thought, ‘Let me drop the mower blades a few notches and get that bowling green look to last a few days longer‘? That’s where one of the biggest mistakes is made by many. We all have the tendency to shave our grass to within an inch of its life. This is one of the worst things you can do to your lawn and here’s why: lawn grass, just like trees, shrubs and perennials in your garden, relies on its leaves to photosynthesize, build structure and self-regulate. Without that, plants become weak and unhealthy, especially if the practice of removing these essential “body parts” is repeated on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Besides the effect that this has on the physiology of the plants themselves, the lack of leaves and structure exposes soil, and exposed soil allows weeds to grow. Here begins a vicious cycle where the weeds outcompete the lawn for sunlight and ultimately become dominant, sometimes to the point where no lawn remains at all.
When only a small portion of the leaf is removed during mowing, the clippings break down and form a natural mulch, nourishing the lawn and protecting the soil. This simple change in mowing behaviour doesn’t cost anything, yet has the potential to transform your lawn from the ‘green desert’ of weeds to the envy of your neighbours. And here’s where I hear you say, “If I don’t cut it low enough, I will never achieve that bowling green look.” During growing season, that should equalise within 2-3 weeks and your bowling green look will come from the new higher cut level. The only difference being that it’s a few centimeters higher than in the past.
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How do we achieve this?
The number one culprit that destroys lawns is the deployment of the brush cutter! This is simply because it has no mechanical height regulation. In the wrong hands, these ‘monsters’ become the murder weapons of our beloved lawns. Where possible, always us a lawn mower and set a high cutting height, leaving 30mm-40mm of leaf blade on the grass. If you employ a garden service, ask them to use a lawn mower and to do the same adjustments to the cutting height. In shady areas, stay closer to the 40mm mark; in sunny areas, 30mm is fine.
Once your lawn has established a ‘cushion’, you will find that your lawn will self-regulate; weeds will battle to grow through it, it should not require supplementary watering, nor will it require as much feeding as in the past. Regular mowing is still an essential part of ongoing lawn care and this task must remain.
Once a year in spring, one should cut the grass as low as possible, scarify out any thatch (old grass clippings) that has built up below the leaves of the grass, apply topsoil (a quality sifted topsoil – NOT lawn dressing) and feed with a lawn fertiliser. Organic lawn fertilisers, like Bio Ganic Lawn, are safer and kinder to the environment. They do, however, take a little longer to take effect. Chemical fertilisers, such as 2:3:2 have a far faster effect on the growth of the conditioned lawn. But take care, as there can be a high risk of damage to your lawn from overfeeding.
These 3 steps should be done in combination as an annual lawn treatment. Carrying out any of these 3 tasks in isolation will be detrimental. Always ensure that you are able to apply enough water to dissolve the fertiliser that you have applied. Relying on a little misty drizzle forecast for that afternoon is not enough and you could end up with a burnt lawn.
Greg has a passion for turning green spaces into living canvases, creating gardens into breathtaking outdoor art whilst working towards a sustainable future. With an artist’s eye and a gardener’s touch, Greg will create a bespoke garden for you, endorsed by an extensive portfolio and award winning designs.
Email: gregdowsettlandscaping@gmail.com
Tel: 0724182738
www.gregdowsett.co.za
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