With Easter looming, it’s a great time to plan a gnarly garden project if you’re staying put for the long weekend. Freshen garden beds with new shrubs, plant up containers and get in that home orchard you’ve been thinking about all summer. Cull plants that have succumbed to dry weather and cull or lightly prune any that threaten to cast undue shade over winter If your lawn is looking worse for wear, Easter is the best time to deal to it
LAWN RENoVATIoN
Resowing your lawn has the same effect as replacing a worn-out old rug with new carpet. It will breathe new life into your garden and bring you untold enjoyment. Autumn rains prompt new grass growth and green up lawns, but a bit of elbow grease will perfect the transformation.
FoRo AND FUNCTIoN
Foremost in designing a lawn area is its form (shape) and function (purpose). For instance, a child’s play area ideally needs an open, uncluttered lawn area sown with a super-tough seed mix such as Tui Superstrike
Hardwearing. A formal lawn requires well-defined lines of perfectly straight, clean edges. Informal lawns should ideally consist of gently flowing curves – not tight, fussy curves, which are difficult to maintain and unattractive. Consider the end purpose and desired look so you can do any reshaping required prior to starting your lawn renovation.
SPRAY WEEDS
The first priority is to get rid of weeds, which suppress grass growth and look unsightly. The best option is to spray the entire area with a specific lawn weed spray. This will successfully kill spreading perennial weeds such as clover, prickle (onehunga) weed and penny royal. Weeds will take up to two weeks to die, so if you spray this weekend, the lawn should be ready for the next step in the process by Easter!
LEVEL HUoPS
once weeds have died back, assess the lawn for humps and hollows. Either slice off the humps and fill in the hollows with the extracted soil, or simply fill the hollows with good-quality topsoil. Compact loose soil thoroughly by trampling, then level it off with a length of timber.
SoW SEED
Check the different lawn seed ranges to find one that best suits your situation. The names usually provide a clue as to their suitability – for example, Yates Lush Sun’n’Shade or Tui Superstrike Hot N Dry. Sow half the required amount in an eastwest direction, then the other half in a north-south direction to ensure even coverage. Water daily to encourage quick establishment, but don’t mow newly germinated grass until it’s at least 5cm tall.
In small areas where lawn grasses don’t grow well, consider alternatives such as: dichondra and cotula for sun or shade; buffalo grass, acaena or prostrate thyme for sunny areas; paving, pebbles or mass planting of low-growing ground covers such as mondo grass and ajuga.
ooWING AND oAINTENANCE
Never remove more than one-third of leaf growth in any mowing session.
Don’t mow wet or ver y dry lawn.
Clean and sharpen the mower’s blades frequently.
Set mower blades to highest setting over summer, lowest in winter.
Compost lawn clippings.
Apply lawn fertiliser and weed spray every spring and autumn.
Rake out thatch in old lawns (build up of old dried roots at base of grass).
Spike lawns with a garden fork every two to three years to improve drainage and aerate the lawn.