‘Worst mistake’ to never do when mowing your lawn, warns expert - ‘recipe for disaster’
A lush green lawn makes for a stunning sight in the garden as the warm weather arrives, however, there are several mistakes gardeners need to steer clear of to avoid disastrous results.
Lawns that are a vibrant emerald green shade that makes your neighbours green with envy is what many gardeners strive for.
Luckily, a lawn like that requires minimal effort to maintain, but it takes more than just the occasional mowing and watering.
Many homeowners “unintentionally sabotage” their grassy havens with common mistakes.
So, what are some common lawn mistakes to avoid to keep your grass healthy?
Gardening expert Oliver Johnson at HomeAdviceGuide.com has shared some of the most common lawn mistakes homeowners can make and how to prevent making these mistakes. Oliver also goes over some simple lawn maintenance tips to help ensure your lawn remains as healthy as possible.
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Overwatering lawn
Water is essential for a healthy lawn, but too much of a good thing can be “disastrous”, warned the expert.
Overwatering leads to waterlogging, which stunts root development. If the weather is wet, your lawn may not need any additional watering at all.
However, during dry spells, aim for roughly an inch of water per week to keep your lawn hydrated without drowning it.
Scalping the lawn
Mowing your lawn too short is a “recipe for disaster”, warned Oliver. While it may seem like a time-saver to keep it low, scalping “stresses the grass”, making it vulnerable to disease, drought, and pests.
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According to Chris Bonnett, founder of Gardening Express, when you have long grass, the “worst mistake you can make” is to mow the lawn too short as it will “damage the roots, encourage weeds and damage lawnmowers”.
As a general rule, aim for a height of around three inches. This allows the grass to retain its top growth, staying strong and resilient.
Fertilising wrong
Fertilising can be a great way to keep your lawn healthy, but it’s important to have balance.
Using the wrong fertiliser for your grass can “cause damage”, and applying too much or too little can be “detrimental”, claimed Oliver
Failing to aerate your lawn
Aerating your lawn regularly is a “crucial” task gardeners should be doing if they want “healthy growth”.
But what is aeration? It is essentially the process of allowing water and nutrients to penetrate the soil more effectively, which is especially important for compacted or clay-heavy soils.
You can carry out this task by simply poking holes in the surface with a manual aerator or even a garden fork.