PLANTING A NEW LAWN

I’ve been hearing the sound of distant lawn mowers this week and it’s got me thinking me about the state of my own lawn. Not that I am planning to plant a new lawn! No, I’ll rake it to get the moss out, throw some seed down and rake again so the seed might go into the ground as opposed to the tummies of the local birds!

Planting a new lawn is a bit more work and as there are many mixes of seed available, choosing one will depend on what the lawn will be used for and the soil and site -Is it sunny, shady, clay or sandy? Is it for children to play or to look well from the kitchen window? Generally if a luxury lawn is wanted – one that looks green and lush, can be cut short and neat and doesn’t get much wear–choose a mix that contains two grasses: Chewing Fescue (8 parts) and Browntop Bents (2 parts).

A more hardwearing grass mix is Utility grade, which contains Rye grass and meadow grass. This will also grow better in shady areas. Thorough soil preparation is important for a new lawn. Weeds need to be cleared and stones taken out, maybe drainage needs to be improved first. The soil then has to be raked level, trodden down, then raked again until a fine level seedbed is produced. This process is very labour intensive, but is worth the effort to achieve an attractive lawn.

I personally like to see flowers in a lawn, daisies, buttercups and other meadow flowers. Perhaps, for me one of the attractions is it only has to be cut twice a year! It is also attractive to butterflies and bees, and to smaller children who like exploring. It is not so easy to play ball games unless your kids favourite game is find the ball! On the other hand, my dad’s preferences were quite the opposite. Every week you could see him on his hands and knees with a penknife in his hand, pulling out any weed that dared to self set in his perfectly manicured lawn. As a keen golfer, he used the back garden to practice his putting technique.

Horticultural.