Full lawn tips through the seasons

Spring: is the time to wake up your lawn from winter and prepare for summer. 

• Did you notice any puddling or pooling of water on your lawn during winter? You might consider levelling off during early spring.
• Now’s also the time to feed your lawn with a good stimulating N-P-K (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertiliser. Before spraying, ensure you mow regularly and remove twigs and leaves so fertiliser can absorb into the soil easily. A good tip is to apply fertiliser when rain is forecast to let nature help things along. 
• Springtime is also the time for ‘overseeding’ – sewing new seed into your lawn to improve thickness and discourage weeds and ‘patching’ – to fix any bare patches.
• Weed killing is also important to consider during spring.

Summer: is about maintenance and upkeep of your lawn. A favourite kiwi summertime ritual is mowing the lawn - the smell and sound of a neighbour mowing their lawn signals to us the fine weather is here. 

• During the summer it is important to avoid mowing too short and when it is too hot as the lawn can dry out very easily – depending on your grass type a good range is about 5-7cm. 
• Watering becomes very important during summer and we recommend watering early morning or at night to avoid too much evaporation. 
• Feeding your lawn will depend on your climate – if you have a cool, wet summer your springtime fertiliser application might be enough to get your lawn through but a warm dry summer can necessitate additional nutrients – use a light hand though as your grass is already under some summer stress
• Weed control and defence may be necessary during summer, in fact it is a consideration all year round; and pest and fungal control is important during this time

Autumn: leaves might look pretty but they can damage your lawn. 

• A layer of leaves can promote lawn disease so ensure you remove them with a lawn rake. 
• Aerating your lawn in autumn can avoid drainage problems and your autumn mows should leave the grass slightly longer than normal because lawn growth is stunted throughout the cooler months.
• Depending on grass type, another dose of N-P-K fertiliser will set your lawn up nicely to endure the winter months. Your grass will be well fed and can store these nutrients during dormancy.

Winter: is your lawn’s quiet time where it will become dormant. It is also a good chance for you to do some planning for the lawn-year ahead. 

• Keep fallen leaves raked and check for weeds and pests – treat if necessary
• You may need to mow periodically, although the frequency of mowing will be greatly lessened during the colder months
• check for puddles and note to aerate that area in spring 
• Avoid walking on it if you have a frosty morning or a recent rain deluge as the grass could get damaged
• Winter is also a good time to service your lawnmower and other garden tools before the springtime rush.