GardenScene | Fen
Mowers Marching Into Spring A
TOP TIPS ON SPRING GARDEN CARE…
fter the high winds and almost constant rain in January and February,
I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to longer days and warmer weather, writes Carol Palmer of Fenland Spirit Services.
A bit of sunshine makes all of us feel so much better. It also means we can finally get started on those gardening tasks. A good place to start is tidying the garden by cutting back winter shrubs, pruning trees and raking winter leaves and debris. Clear up anything the winds spread across your garden and repair fences or structures damaged in the storms. If the ground is not too wet, spring is the ideal time to lay new turf or reseed sparse areas of lawn. Make sure you don’t walk on new grass, give it a chance to root undisturbed and you’ll see the benefit in summer. If it’s dry, remember to water new turf regularly. Taking care of your lawn in the spring isn’t always an easy task. The unreliable weather can wreak havoc with your plans, and April showers might delay
TOP TIPS FOR APRIL:
Sharpen hand tools Rake up any fallen leaves Clear garden debris Repair lawn bumps Reseed where needed
cut, don’t panic - you can still have the perfect lawn by the end of the season. Simply sow more seeds to replenish the patches. The spring weather is perfect for growing new grass.
The RHS advises April and May
are the best months to treat your lawn. If you have a scarifier or even a rake, use this to remove moss or thatch and open up the grass. Aerate the lawn by spiking the ground with a fork or proper aerator tool, this improves drainage. Use a combined moss killer and fertiliser to feed and weed your lawn.
Above: Taking care of your lawn in the spring isn’t always an easy task
that first cut. Because it’s likely that your lawn is still very wet at the beginning of spring, be wary about starting to mow it again. Always check that the lawn is dry before attempting to cut it – if it’s wet you might do more harm than good.
When you start cutting your grass, set the level on the mower at its highest settings so you don’t scalp the ground. If you haven’t done any gardening over the winter, you might notice an abundance of moss and weeds in your lawn. Spring is the perfect time to spray your garden with weed killer, as well as giving your grass the feed of nutrients it needs to grow healthily.
BARE PATCHES e
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If you notice that your grass is full of bare patches after the first
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Compost grass clippings with a mix of shredded paper or newspaper, veg peelings and so on. Too much grass alone will make a wet and slimy mess, you need air and mixed organic matter to make good compost. If you have an allotment or veg garden you might use a tiller or rotavator to loosen the soil. It saves back-breaking digging and mixes nutrients into the soil to feed your growing veggies. To keep the machine running freely, make sure your fuel is fresh and nothing is wrapped around the blades.
If your garden equipment is struggling to get the job done, it may need a service or even replacing. Specialist suppliers like Fenland Spirit Services can help with repairs, servicing and also supply refurbished lawnmowers, ride-on mowers and rotavators.
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