DIY lawn care is easy as long as you are willing to invest some time in researching and learning those basic steps on lawn caring. Your first task is to make changes to your mowing method, we would suggest raising the height of cut by 1cm above your summer mowing height which will give you an ultimate mowing height of 3cm (1 ¼ inches).
Mowing; be sure that you mow your lawn regularly, and also leave the lawn clippings on your lawn after mowing, notice that clippings provides a high source of slow-release nitrogen totally natural and chemical-free, other recommendations on mowing is to do it when grass is dry and never mow too short. Thus grass may deplete the nutrients of soil when mowed more than necessary.
To thicken up your grass sward in these high traffic areas we must introduce fresh seed, so firstly we must create a seedbed. Add a light layer of clean loamy topsoil, rake this with a flat garden rake to the consistency of large cake crumbs and follow this by shaking on some lawn seed at a rate of 40 to 50g per square metre. Tamp down lightly with the flat of the rake to ensure firm seed-soil contact, alternatively on large areas use a light garden roller.
Watering must be according to the soil type, the grass type and the needs of certain season or climates. The best advice on catering your lawn is never water after rainfall. Keep a good drainage on your lawn and this will avoid pests and fungi, in addition make sure to distribute the water across the lawn evenly, remember excessive watering is as bad as lack of water.
Knowing the basics about tools and their proper maintenance will facilitate your work, your tools must be clean, free of rust or dirt, sharp and kept in a dry place. Taking the above rules in mind, you can keep your lawn as a professional may do, without consuming too much time and money, maybe with the help of used landscaping equipment, and you will proud of showing your work to friends and relatives.
