Sorting out the lawn!

Kikuyu remains the most popular lawn in SA.

With so much to do in the garden as we head into spring one can easily be distracted by the flowers and we love that. But the basis of a happy garden is a perfect lawn, this month our blog focusus on getting the lawn right.

 A green lawn is the one thing everybody loves. Most lawns in our local area are Kikuyu with evergreen lawns such as Shade-Over and All Seasons Evergreen as options for small spaces and problem areas. LM Grass as a runner lawn in semi-shade is an indigenous alternative which establishes fast and is water wise.

Spring treatment for Kikuyu and LM Grass:

• Scarify to remove the dead mat. This can be done with a rotary lawnmower set low. Rake with a metal rake or hand broom to remove any long shoots and mow again. By removing the dead mat you will find that the lawn is generally healthier and easier to mow through the coming summer.
• Aerate with a spiked roller or garden fork especially in compacted high traffic areas.
• Top dress with Lawn Dressing and rake level. This will help the condition of the soil under the lawn and help with moisture retention in early summer. One bag of Lawn Dressing will cover around 4m2.
• If you have uneven lawn or holes you are trying to get filled first use topsoil or river sand to get the level right and then dress with lawn dressing over it. If you are raising lawn over 4 or five centimetres be aware that the lawn underneath might not come through and will have to re-grow from the sides.

 Feeding:

• Well irrigated lawns are fertilised with Vitaliser 7:1:3 Lawn & Leaf fertiliser, repeated every six to eight weeks. Alternatively feed with Organic BioGanic Lawns every four to six weeks. Organic fertiliser is slow release and can be used safely with any irrigation methods.
• Lawns that are watered less regularly can be watered with the slow release fertiliser 3:2:1 SR until the rainy season starts then we recommend changing to a quick release fertiliser Vitaliser 7:1:3 Lawn & Leaf.

 This article is compliments of Wayne Stewart from Eckards Garden Pavilion www.eckards.co.za