Copper Tape

This is a common method to deter slugs, as the trail causes a reaction and will put them off of coming any closer. This is a good and harmless way to keep them away from your lawn or plants. Simply stick down as a border around plant pots or your lawn and it will act as an invisible wall for snails.

Beer Trap

Slugs love the scent of beer, which is why beer traps are a great way to get rid of them. Simply any cheap beer poured into a small container will lure them into climbing in and drowning. Place the trap near to a spot where you commonly see them hang out at, and check daily to see how effective it has been. Dispose of dead creatures in compost, or leave them out for the wildlife to eat.

If you do not have access to beer, or want to save money, you can mix yeast, flour, sugar and water together and they will like it just as much.

Crushed Eggshells

These can be used as a barrier as the sharp texture will draw snails away. Dry in the oven and crush in a blender, and place around what you want to protect, and slugs should avoid passing it. Make sure you prepare the shells properly, as egg residue could draw even worse pests, like rodents, to visit.

Hand picking

This is the most simple way to keep snails and slugs away, as moving them off of your lawn will slow them down. We recommend avoiding this if you can, as they will likely come back.

Luring Predators

Luring predators like birds can be effective, as slugs are prey and will get eaten. The best way is to offer them food in bird feeders (seeds, berries, worms), or you could plant things that birds are attracted to, especially berries. This is not the quickest way, but may pair well with beer traps.

Slug Pellets

If you are not having any luck, you can use slug pellets. They are the most effective, killing them quickly, but they are dangerous to wildlife and should only be used in a dedicated growing room where children and pets do not have access.

Fertilising

Now would be a perfect time to apply a granulated fertiliser, as it will supply the grass with important nutrients, supporting many things like strong root development. These slow releasing fertilisers provide consistent feeding over a long amount of time, making them an important thing for active lawn care and giving great help towards a bright lawn.

Seaweed

Seaweed is not a replacement for fertiliser, but it will assist soil structure for the best root development and enhance the intake of nutrients from the fertiliser. Instead of delivering its own nutrients, seaweed works by improving the absorption of elements already in the soil or from fertiliser. Improved intake will support stronger and healthier growth in your grass and will support better root development by improving the structure and biology of the soil you do not see.

Seaweed products, usually applied as liquid, can be used consistently across the year, ideally every 2 weeks, to assist the lawn. This will also treat the living foundation under the grass, assisting benefits of both treatments. This combination will help your lawn stand up to the stress of summer, resulting in a healthier and brighter lawn.

Watering

As the heat of summer comes in, you should also water your lawn properly. Watering doesn’t just keep it hydrated but also boosts the effectiveness of those treatments. Both need moisture to activate and soak in, so consistent and deep watering will help carry the nutrients to the roots where they will be properly absorbed.

Without water, fertiliser can sit on the surface and be weaker, and seaweed will not kick in properly. Watering early in the morning once or twice a week and giving a deep watering instead of a light spray is the most effective thing to do. You will be supporting both the grass and the treatments, making the most of your resources during this summer.

Scarifying Information

To know if you need to scarify, there are ways to figure that out, including if your garden has strong weed growth. The best time to scarify is March to September, and the daily temperature should be between 14 and 20 ° C, which is usually normal in spring and autumn. Scarifying should be avoided in summer, when the lawn is used and gets a lot of heat. You should also avoid winter.

In spring, the time between March and May is the best. If you want to use your lawn in summer, you should do maintenance in spring. as it means that your grass has a few weeks of rest after treatment. You should scarify as early as possible, and you should not wait too long. May is often very warm and dry, that is why additional irrigation is necessary so that the sward closes quickly. There are two ways for scarifying in spring, which will be listed here:

Start lawn care with scarifying before the lawn starts growing properly. After scarifying, fertilize the lawn and mow to normal height a week or two later.

Or you could start lawn care with fertilizing. Then mow your lawn to normal height. As soon as the second lawn mowing is due 2 weeks later, it is the right time to scarify.

Scarifying the lawn a second time a year should take place in autumn from September to October. The temperature should be warm, but no longer hot. The second pass with the scarifier removes moss, weeds and lawn felt, preparing the lawn for winter. You should choose the time of lawn care, so that the lawn still has time to recover before winter rest.

You should only scarify when the lawn is dry. If the soil is too wet, the scarifier might tear out healthy plants. Mow the lawn to a height of two centimeters just before scarifying, this is usually the lowest setting of the lawnmower. Before moving on the scarifier, you should remove larger stones from the lawn. Otherwise these could be thrown up by the scarifier and hit you, which is very dangerous.

Scarifying Right

First set the working depth correctly. The right depth for scarifying depends on the soil and the degree of matting of your lawn, which should be between 3-20mm. Then go lengthways across the surface, making a pattern. Make sure that you move the scarifier quickly and do not stand in one place for long, as it could damage the ground too much. When changing direction, push the bar down so that the blades lift, making it easier and better on the lawn

Scarifying Aftercare

If your scarifier does not pick up moss in a grass catcher, use a rake. The deeper you scarify, the more it takes from the ground and the more the collector has to be emptied. Then it is better to work without a grass catcher and then collect the waste with a rake. Sow bald spots directly with fresh lawn seeds, sprinkle lawns on heavy soil with a thin layer of construction sand to loosen up the soil and improve its balance.

First, the lawn could look worn, fertilization will help it to recover. The fertilizer can settle in the loose soil and does not blow away. In the next three weeks, you should regularly water the lawn so that it recovers and grows back. You should avoid touching the lawn after scarifying so it can quickly grow back into a bright lawn.

If you want a scarifying service, we can do it for you trouble-free at Grasshopper Garden Services. Read more about scarifying here

Spring is the most important time to begin lawn care and mowing, as this is when grass begins to wake up. However, it’s important to time your first mow of the season correctly to avoid damaging your lawn. The first thing to keep in mind when starting lawn care in spring is to wait until the grass starts actively growing. This usually happens when the soil temperature reaches around 10°C. For cold grasses, this could be as early as late March or April, while for warm-season grasses, it might not happen until late April or May.

Mowing your lawn too early before the grass is growing can damage the grass and possibly delay growing. The grass needs time to recover from winter, so wait until the grass has reached a height of about 3 to 4 inches before your first mow. When it’s time for the first mow, avoid cutting the grass too short. Cutting too much off at once can bother the grass and lead to brown patches. Set your mower blades to a higher setting (about 2.5 to 3 inches for cool-season grasses, and 1 to 1.5 inches for warm-season grasses), and slowly lower the mower height throughout the season.

In early spring, the grass is growing fast as the temperatures warm up, especially for cool-season grasses. At this time, your lawn may need mowing once every 7 to 10 days. If you’re dealing with warm grasses, the growth might not speed up until late spring, so you might only need to mow every 10 to 14 days.

As temperatures rise and the grass enters peak growing season, mowing will become more frequent. During late spring, especially for cool grasses, you might need to mow every week to keep your lawn looking healthy. Warm grasses will also become more active and mowing may increase to every 7 to 10 days.

Summer can be a hard time for lawn care, as the heat and conditions can affect grass growth. How often you need to mow your lawn during the summer depends on the weather, the type of grass, and the amount of rain your area gets. It’s important to adjust your mower’s height settings to ensure the grass is cut higher than in the spring. Cutting grass too short in hot weather can stress it and make it more vulnerable. Taller grass provides shade to the soil, helping it stay moist. A height of 3 to 4 inches is generally recommended for most lawns during summer.

If you’re experiencing high temperatures, you might notice that your lawn slows down its growth. You might not need to mow as often, and it’s important to focus on watering to help the grass survive. Watering will encourage the grass roots to grow deeper, making the lawn more resistant. Depending on the temperature, you might only need to mow every 10 to 14 days in the summer, especially if the grass isn’t growing as quickly. For warm grasses, this can extend even longer if your area is dry.

Autumn is one of the best times to care for your lawn and prepare it for winter. Grass is growing during the cooler months of autumn, making it a great time for lawn care. Autumn is also when you can make adjustments before the lawn slows down in the winter.

As the weather cools in late summer and autumn, your lawn will continue to grow at a slower rate. In early autumn, you’ll still need to mow regularly every 7 to 10 days, as the grass will continue growing until the temperatures drop a lot.

As autumn progresses, it’s a good idea to slowly lower the mowing height to prepare the grass for winter. This helps prevent disease and allows sunlight to reach the soil. Do not mow too short, as this can affect the grass. A height of around 2.5 to 3 inches is good for most grass types.

Autumn is a good time to fertilize your lawn. Cool grasses benefit from fertilizer applied in early autumn, which helps them grow strong roots before winter. Warm grasses may still benefit from a light fertilization, but avoid heavy feeding as it cools.

Lawn care requires a lot of special techniques and planning, but you can hire a professional to do the hard work if you can not manage it.

Watering your turf

All plants require a lot of water, and so does grass. The grass plant needs water as only about 15% of the plant is actually dry matter. Water is an essential part of photosynthesis and without it the grass can not make food for growth. It is used to transport nutrients around the plant. The water inside the cells makes it stand upright and without this water, the plant will wilt and eventually die. It is important to keep up the soils reserves in order to maintain a dense and visually pleasing turf. With correct watering, the grass plant will develop a deep and extensive root system. You should apply less water if your soil is heavy and more water if it is more of a light soil, like sand. Here are some of the many benefits from watering your turf.

Your turf will be drought resistant

The grasses will have better colour through the year

The turf will recover from wear much faster

Becomes more resistant to attack from pests and diseases, learn more about pests here

A thick turf discourages growth of many weeds

Overseeding

Overseeding grass is the process of planting new grass seed into existing grass. It can either be done on small worn areas or across the whole surface. It is a way to improve the density and health of your lawn, filling in weak spots and improving its appearance. The best time for overseeding is from late summer to autumn, when soil is still warm and there’s enough moisture. Before overseeding, you should mow the lawn to a shorter height and clear up any debris. After spreading the seeds, keep the soil moist until the new grass comes.

Allows suitable grass types to adapt to your lawn

Increases density and improves the texture

Ensures that it stays healthy through the year and keeps good colour

Increased density will suppress weed growth

Scarifying

Scarifying involves removing the layer of dead grass, moss, and thatch from your lawn. This buildup can block water, nutrients, and air from reaching the grass roots, leading to weak growth. Scarifying helps improve the lawn’s health by allowing it to breathe and better absorb these essentials. It’s best done during early spring or autumn when the grass is actively growing. Use a scarifier or a tool like a rake to remove the debris, then follow with overseeding or fertilizing to encourage a bright and healthy lawn. Scarifying encourages better grass growth and reduces any risk of lawn diseases. Scarifying is something we officially offer as a service.

You can find more information about lawn care here from our professionals at Grasshopper Garden Services.