Seasonal Care Tips from INTURF

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January

If the weather permits, aerate the surface using a solid tine spiking machine or, in smaller areas, a garden fork. Keep the surface free from leaves, twigs and other debris. This helps keep the turf dry and reduces the risk of disease. Mowing again, possibly once or twice, to maintain a regular height of cut is advisable.

February

The same procedures apply this month. If there is a hint of spring you might increase the mowing regularity to four times this month ensuring all clippings, if any, are removed. Again over sowing using a little Inturf Classic Seed will give you a head start in the early spring should the temperature start to climb. Another application of Inturf Establish controlled release organic fertiliser will definitely help now! Continue to brush the ground regularly if dry enough to remove any further leaves, twigs, debris, or worm casts.

March

Cut straggly grass with carefully set mower, collecting the grass clippings. Brush ground regularly if dry to remove debris. At sign of growth, roll surface with light-to-medium weight garden roller. Brush surface to remove debris. Mow grass, start reducing mowing height gradually (do not remove more than 25%). Always use a grass box. A two-directional 50/50 mowing is best at first. Make sure the mower is set correctly, achieve a clean cut. Two days after first mowing apply Inturf Establish Organic Fertiliser designed for spring/summer applications. If no rain within three days of application, water fertiliser into top soil.

April

Apply Inturf Establish Organic Fertiliser mid-month. Apply selective weed killer to broadleaved weeds if required. Apply moss killer if needed. Sulphate of iron is useful to controls moss, invigorate desirable grasses and deepen green colour of overall appearance. Gradually reduce mowing height. Step up mowing frequency to twice weekly. Always remove clippings.

May

Scarify area rake to remove dead grass lying in base of sward or "thatch" If a large quantity of material is removed at first pass, scarify every two-to-three weeks during the growing season, until only a small amount of debris is removed. If grass is sparse in areas, over-sow with Inturf Classic Seed mixture by hand or machine, at the rate of approximately 25 grams per square metre. Apply Inturf Premium Top Soil brushed into surface of sward, effectively covering the seeds, approximately 900 kilos (1 bag) per 50 square metre garden. Continue mowing two-to-three times a week and aim to be at an optimum mowing height of between 25mm (1") to 37mm (1¼"). Continue routine rolling. Apply Inturf Establish Organic Fertiliser.

June

Water is vitally important at this time of year so should there be any signs of a drought such as a slightly blue colour to the grass leaf, or worse a light brown colour, water needs to be applied to the lawn area. Avoid excessive watering since this encourages weed grasses to flourish. If other weeds are present, a further treatment of selective herbicide (weed killer) will be necessary. Continue to mow at the frequency of two-to-three times a week ensuring all clippings are removed and disposed of safely or kept for compost. Verticut or lightly scarify once in a while to lift any lateral grass growth; this will also aerate the bottom of the sward of grass. Apply Inturf Establish Organic Fertiliser if the grass is looking hungry or anemic.

July & August

Continue mowing two-to-three times a week and aim to be at an optimum mowing height of between 25mm (1") to 37mm (1¼"), remembering to mow in alternate direction periodically and either compost any grass clippings or use them as a mulch. Water during drought conditions and, if the area has become compacted, a light spiking could be beneficial to relieve any hardness and oxygenate the soil profile, encouraging new growth at the same time. Watering post spiking will assist with getting the water to where the turf needs the moisture the most and will prevent too much evaporation, thus saving on valuable resources. Apply Inturf Establish Organic Fertiliser if the grass is looking hungry or anemic using an appropriate lawn applicator. Above all, during these two months, you should take the opportunity of enjoying your lawn as much as possible. There will be plenty of time to renovate any worn areas in the next couple of months.

September

The frequency of mowing should decrease unless we experience an extended warm/dry spell and the height of cut can be raised gradually to between 6mm (¼") and 12mm (½") above the summer height. If the underlying soil is heavy and firm, start to hollow core (spiking with hollow tines), followed by top-dressings using Inturf Premium Soil. Bulk top-dressings should be applied evenly with an appropriate machine (if the garden exceeds 500 square metres) or by hand and brushed into the sward. NB: Avoid smothering the grass too much!

Coverage on average should be roughly one bag of Inturf Premium Soil per 100 square metres, varying the amounts depending on any depressions or irregularities in surface levels. It is advisable to add a mixture of Inturf Classic Seed in with the top-dressing material in order to increase the population of grass in any worn areas.

Worms may become active again at this time of the year. If this is a problem, treat the area with a proprietary brand of worm killer, although cultural methods are just as effective such as brushing, switching and regular good management.

Autumn Leaf...


Light rolling may be useful, but only if absolutely necessary and if there are no visible worm casts, which can smother the grass if rolled. It will no longer be necessary to scarify the area, apart from maybe a light raking to remove worm casts and providing this has been undertaken on a fairly regular basis throughout the spring and summer. NB: Heavy scarification now may cause too much damage and the grass will only recover next spring! An application of Inturf Establish Fertiliser can be made towards the end of the month. This will provide the nourishment the grass needs and harden the grass plants, making the grass less susceptible to disease.

October

Regular mowing gradually comes to an end, although when weather conditions are suitable, mow the area as frequently as demanded by the length of growth. Keep the area free from debris and leaves and try to use this month to "rest" the area in readiness for the winter months. A further smaller application of Inturf Establish Fertiliser may prove useful to really harden the grass plant off for the winter months. Make sure there is at least four weeks between your September and October applications of Inturf Establish Fertiliser.

November

During frost-free and fairly dry periods this month, mow the area as and when necessary - the blades now set at their highest level. Always remove debris from the surface to help prevent disease.

General

No mention has been made of fungicide applications, as we feel that these are only necessary when the first signs of disease are evident. So, although we don't recommend precautionary treatments of fungicide, it would be recommended that you stock some contact, broad-spectrum fungicide of a proprietary brand and, at the first signs of disease, spray the affected areas very quickly.

December

Not much to be done at this time of the year, but remember to keep the area brushed and raked free from debris to ensure that you don't attract too much moisture which would lead to disease and pest infestations. An application of fungicide may prove beneficial.

Mowing should slow right down, but if you missed an end-of-season mowing, and to keep the grass looking uniform, pick a nice dry day to cut it. Over sowing with a little Inturf Classic Seed at a rate of 15 grams per square metre should pay off if there is an unseasonal mild spell, and a light dressing of Inturf Establish at a rate of 30 grams per square metre will help to protect the turf against the vagaries of the winter should bad weather prevail.

Keep off the turf during wet and frosty weather!