EXPERT OPINION The Summer’s Stress ...
Your Festive feast begins at Franklins This Christmas, why not treat the family with
traditional, free range, farm reared turkey, goose, game or red meat from Franklins.
From 'Farm to Fork' Franklins of Thorncote is a
family farm, producing and supplying quality, high welfare meat in our on-site farm shop, on-line and at local Farmers’ Markets.
If you want chicken that tastes like it used to, a goose for that special occasion or the natural flavour of game, then visit us at Thorncote Green near Sandy.
I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING FOR OUR GARDENS IN A VERY LONG TIME.
The sun beating down for weeks, no rain or moisture for months, bedding plants, hanging baskets and even some mature trees have died during the summer. The lawn looks dead, and could well be in some places.
Why do lawns turn brown and look dead during drought conditions? The lawn or grass plant is putting its natural defence in operation to protect its important root structure, reducing evapotranspiration from the root zone. If it didn’t do this the root structure would dry out and the plant would possibly die. Different grass seed mixes are deeper rooting and tend to be more drought tolerant, hence possible patches of green within your lawn.
visi t www. f rankl
insfarm.co.uk
How has dead grass started growing and greening up again? When sufficient rain comes, the lawns will recover from the crown, so unlike most other plants grasses have evolved to grow not from their tips, but from their base, close to the roots. The grass crown contains numerous buds that can produce new shoots called tillers. These develop their own root system and can quickly turn into independent plants. Our drought safe lawn feed will help reduce the recovery period.
Helping with recovery? If your lawn has been severely stressed by dry conditions, take steps to help water penetrate the surface when water becomes available. Some light spiking with a fork or spiked roller will help, but this should only be done when water becomes available again. Aeration, over seeding, topdressing may be needed on some lawns to help with some worse areas, did you know 20% of a lawn dies every year, (I think this year it could be higher) so over seeding is a great way to keep a lawn lush and thick.
Expect Weeds With the dry summer weed seeds have been blown into your garden as they always do, however with no water to get them growing, they have been sitting dormant in the lawn and beds. Once rain has returned, we will see a raise in weed germination, if your lawn is patchy the weeds will start taking over as there is no grass to compete with. Our lawns have endured a lot in the 8 months of this year, from rain, frosts, snow and now heat and drought. Let’s hope winter is not too harsh.
If you have any questions, would like advice, or even a FREE lawn survey, please call me on - 01462 512512, email
jon@lawn-rite.co.uk or visit
www.lawn-rite.co.uk
www.countylifemagazines.co.uk
County Life 33
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