TradePoint: Top tips for a picture perfect lawn
In most cases it is the tenant's job to maintain the garden at their rental home, although some landlords, particularly those with love of gardening, might choose to do it themselves.
Either way an attractive garden will boost the curb appeal of your property and a neat and presentable lawn is one of the ways to ensure it's looking its best.
Whether you want to learn how to cut grass like a pro or perfect your smooth edging, our partners at TradePoint (B&Q) have come up with a video to help you get it right. You can even share it with your tenants if they need some help.
How to keep the lawn in tip top condition
It is always a good idea to get to know what periods of the year your lawn needs the most attention, for instance, December and January are months when you can rest easy. Between March and October, its going to take a bit more work.
The first thing to do is get rid of the weeds. You will need gloves, weed killer spray and a de-weeding tool. This will allow you to soften the weeds, before pulling them out by the root. You can then fill any holes left behind with soil-based compost.
Once that has settled in, add some grass seed and cover that with another layer of soil and water. You might want to cover it again with some netting to keep the birds away.
Mowing
It is important to wait until the grass is dry before you mow. When you are ready adjust the blades on your mower and raise them to the highest setting and then proceed to take off a third of the height of the grass. You should aim to lower the height of your blades over time and settle for grass that is around 25mm tall.
If you pride yourself on the finest of edges to your lawn, define them with edging shears and then save the grass cuttings you have made and use them for a compost.
Aeration
Over time, your grass will compact like clay. Aeration - essentially making small holes in the lawn - allows oxygen and nutrients to reach the soil.
It is a process that works best when the soil is moist and is something you can do using an aerator or garden fork; you can even buy special spiked shoes to do the hard work for you. Make a row of holes every three to five inches.
Tackle fallen leaves and moss
Once the winter has come and gone, sweep or rake the leaves off the lawn. After you have done that, deal with moss and thatch, removing it by hand or using a machine. It is a process you only need to do once a year and will allow fresh grass to grow. Again, moss and leaves can be added to the compost.
Keep and eye out for change
Look out for discoloured parts in your lawn and any cases of fungus spreading. Use iron sulphate to control disease and moss - and that's it, the perfect lawn for your rental.
Watch the video below for more, and remember NRLA members are eligible for a free TradePoint discount card offering 10% off most purchases. To find out more click here.
