The Lawn

The lawn is the carpet in the garden: soft to walk on and pleasing to the eye, especially in grey winter months or in very densely built-up cityscapes. You don’t want to step out from the house straight onto the turf, so a transitional area between the house and the lawn is crucial. Usually patios and pathways running alongside the house do the job and give an all-year-round steady surface.

Lawns like a sandy and fairly free draining soil, so soil preparation is crucial. If you are settling on a heavy soil or clay, improve the soil before turfing using sand. In very wet conditions land drains will help to create a surface that is usable all year round and avoids the disappointment of muddy patches and pools in the garden.

For domestic gardens, the most commonly used turf is usually made up of a mix of grasses. These fall into two main categories: a shady grown variation, which, as the name suggests, can cope better with shady conditions; and amenity turf, which is slightly more robust and prefers full sun.

Even with the shady-grown turf, avoid creating lawn areas directly under mature trees or dense shade, as that will require an enormous amount of maintenance.

For ease of maintenance it is nice to use an edging around your lawn. It keeps the edges crisp and tidy and allows you to mow along the edging without the need for shearing and tidying up afterwards.

When choosing your turf, make sure it is weed-free and with a strong root layer. Sowing your lawn may not give an instant effect but is a cost-effective alternative for larger areas.

The preparation and sowing/laying of turf requires a fair bit of preparation and hard work. As with many DIY projects, the time spent completing it as a novice may justify the expense of bringing in an expert instead.

A last word on the myth about a meadow being just an uncut lawn: a proper lawn requires care. In contrast, most wildflowers thrive on poor soil and the species of flowers and grasses depend on soil type, microclimate and exposition.

Looking After Your Lawn

Garden designer Marco Schrang’s guide to outside spaces All types of turf need nutrients and maintenance. It is best to do a spring and autumn feed. You can apply a ‘weed-and-feed’ product that suppresses weeds at the same time. This is also a good time to scarify the lawn. It removes unwanted moss growths, dead grass and roots, and allows the lawn to breathe and stay healthy. On heavy or wet soils, aerating (you can use a fork to pinch the surface) will help the lawn to breath and stay healthy. Scatter and brush sand over the surface and re-sow sparse patches. Lawns need watering throughout dry spells.

Marco is available for landscaping advice at www.barthandschrang.com

Further Reading:

• How to Lay a Lawn