After this, Monty Don says the grass will start to grow thicker and healthier
Man watering his garden with a hose in a sunny day(Image: Getty Images)
March has arrived, and numerous gardeners will be keen to tackle their lawns, which have probably become overgrown and moss-ridden throughout the colder season.
Monty Don, the renowned gardening expert famed for presenting Gardeners’ World, has explained why it’s more beneficial to concentrate on one essential job – strengthening grass health rather than trying to eliminate moss.
Writing on his website, Monty stated: “The best grass likes very well-drained soil. Moss, for example, is always a symptom of poor drainage, made worse by shade. Unfortunately, even the best-prepared soil becomes compacted by matted roots, rain and, especially, normal family use. The answer is to work on it at least once a year by sticking a fork in the ground and wiggling it about and repeating the process every six inches or so.”
Read More: Update for Irish stores as 15 UK M&S shops and cafes closing
Read More: Irish homes warned stockpile three day supply as World War 3 fears grow
Moss establishes itself in saturated lawns because it flourishes in damp environments, and its presence clearly indicates that compressed soil is hindering proper drainage.
Compressed soil doesn’t just risk decomposing the grass and encouraging disease, but also deprives the roots of essential nutrients and sunlight, making sparse, irregular growth considerably more probable once spring emerges.
Inserting a garden fork into the earth is a straightforward yet powerful method to aerate your lawn, piercing the soil to enable improved movement of air and water reaching the roots. After you’ve completed the aeration process, you can encourage healthier growth by creating a simple homemade mulch that will decompose naturally whilst providing essential nutrients to your turf, reports the Mirror.
Monty advised: “Mix up equal portions of sieved topsoil, sharp sand and sieved leaf mould or compost. If you do not have these things to hand, then just sharp or silver sand will do the job.
“Spread it across the area you have pricked and brush it in with a stiff broom, filling the holes with the mixture. This will help drainage and feed the grass.”
Beyond nourishing the soil, mulching creates a protective layer that prevents weeds and moss from establishing themselves on your lawn, by strengthening the grass so it can readily outcompete any unwanted growth.
Lastly, ensure you work over your lawn with a wire rake, as this will help remove moss and accumulated organic debris that’s preventing nutrients from penetrating down to the soil below.
Monty explained: “It is also worth giving the lawn a good scratch with a wire rake. This will get at all the overwintering thatch and moss, and let light and water get to the soil and to the roots of the grass.
“Put the debris on the compost and then mow. It will look a little bald for a week or so, but will grow back thicker than ever.”
Dedicating time to these straightforward tasks in March will do more than just eliminate moss from your lawn – it’ll also stimulate more robust, vigorous grass development, resulting in a lush, verdant lawn you can appreciate all spring long.
Join Galway Beo’s top stories and breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Want to see more of the stories you love from Galway Beo?
Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Galway Beo as a preferred source, simply click here.
